Despite enjoying the support of Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat, as part of the deal made with the dati leumi camp ahead of the mayoral elections, the dati leumi community is coming to the painful realization that it is highly unlikely that a dati leumi rav will be elected as the next ashkenazi chief rabbi of Jerusalem, despite the added support of City Hall and others.
As such, there is a growing sentiment to abandon the ashkenazi post and set sights on the sephardi chief rabbi position, with leaders of the effort pointing to one of two candidates, Rabbi Yaakov Yosef or Rabbi David Chai Cohen, both viewed as acceptable to the dati leumi camp.
From Rav Yosef’s point of view, the mention of his name is irrelevant, releasing statements that he is not a contender for the position, adding that despite what others may wish, he does not believe one can appoint a chief rabbi who is contrary to the view of gedolei yisrael, in this case his father Maran HaRav Ovadia Yosef Shlita and Maran Rabbi Yosef Sholom Elyashiv Shlita.
After the news from the dati leumi community regarding the possible candidates reached the media, Yonatan Yosef, a son of R’ Yaakov released a message on his father’s behalf, stating unequivocally that his father is not a candidate for the chief rabbi post.
R’ Chai Cohen also responded, releasing a statement that he was approached but explained he was not planning to enter the race, leaving the dati leumi camp without any truly viable candidates for the ashkenazi or sephardi posts.
(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
3 Responses
May Barkat’s machinations always come to this kind of an end (without any violent demonstrations on the part of fringe elements among the self appointed kanoim). A mayor of his ilk in Yerushalayim Ir Hakodesh is the equivalent of lehavdil a chozzer banquet on Yom Kippur morning at the Kosel.
How about Rav Shlomo Aviner? I think he would be an excellent – if not THE excellent – dati leumi candidate.
He is pretty ‘normal’ from a chareidi point of view, he is not too extremist in anything; he opposes going on Har HaBayis, he has good relations with different directions…
I have only heard positive things about Rav Shlomo Aviner. In fact, I’d support him over most of the ‘chareidi’ candidates as well.
Do a search on Rav Shlomo Aviner. He is not even near the caliber of a rav who should be serving as the rav of Yerushalayim Ir Hakodesh.
In any case he is not a candidate and Barkat will not get his tzioni rav in Yerushalayim.