As the dati leumi community rallies around the candidacy of Rabbi Aryeh Stern Shlita in the Jerusalem Chief Rabbinate race, it appears Ashkenazi chareidim are divided between Rabbi Eliyahu Schlesinger Shlita and Rabbi Moshe Chaim Lau Shlita as they are both seeking to become the next Jerusalem Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi.

The dati leumi community is working hard to remain united and not divide the vote. The chareidim however cannot say the same. Rabbi Schlesinger, who is the rav/posek of the Jerusalem Religious Council and rav of the neighborhood of Gilo, is backed by the litvish Degel Hatorah faction. That said, the voice of gedolei hador shlita on the matter has yet to be heard. Rabbi Schlesinger announced that in the past he enjoyed the backing of HaGaon HaRav Yosef Sholom Elyashiv ZT”L ZY”A.

Rabbi Moshe Chaim Lau Shlita, a son of Tel Aviv Chief Rabbi Rav Yisrael Meir Lau Shlita and a brother to Chief Rabbi of Israel Rabbi David Lau Shlita is backed by the chassidish faction, Agudas Yisrael and the party’s Moetzas Gedolei Yisrael. This includes the Rebbes Shlita of Gur, Belz, Vishnitz and Sanz. Some of the litvish roshei yeshivos are also backing Rav Lau, not Rav Schlesinger.

Fearing a split vote that might hand a success to the dati leumi candidate, a call for unity around one candidate is heard in Yahadut Hatorah on Monday 19 Tishrei. Yahadut Hatorah is the combined party representing both Degel Yisrael and Agudas Yisrael.

It appears is they do unite, Rabbi Lau will receive the mandate for he has a greater chance of earning additional support of such as Shas and other parties. This is not so regarding Rabbi Schlesinger.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)