Rabbi David Stav, a candidate to become the next Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel will be the guest of honor at the launching of the mayoral campaign of Ra’anana Mayor Nachum Chofri. Chofri is seeking another term in office. He also happens to be a member of the 150 member voting body that will elect the next chief rabbis.

Some feel that Rabbi Stav’s willingness to appear at the guest of honor at this political event before the Chief Rabbinate elections is at the very least a lapse in judgment and at worst, a conflict of interests. Chofri on his Facebook page adds that he has even asked the rabbi to affix the mezuzah to the door of his election campaign headquarters.

Chofri adds “It is indeed an honor to have Rabbi Stav join and there is no reason he cannot affix the mezuzah. He is my candidate for the chief rabbi post.

Aides to Rav Stav explain that the rabbis has attended dozens of these types of events in recent years in his capacity as the head of Tzohar Rabbonim, adding in this specific case, Chofri and Rav Stav are also close personal friends.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)