Persons close to Rabbi Chaim Druckman Shlita accuse Bayit Yehudi leader Minister Naftali Bennett of torpedoing efforts to pass the Ariel Bill, a bill intended to lift the 70-year-old age ceiling for a candidate for chief rabbi of Israel. The bill is being pushed by Rav Druckman to permit Rabbi Yaakov Ariel Shlita to run for the post of Ashkenazi chief rabbi. Bennett on the other hand prefers to see Chief Rabbi of Shoham Rabbi David Stav in the post, Maariv reports.

While Bennett was pressured by Rav Druckman into agreement to support the bill and Rav Ariel’s candidacy, in actuality he has been working behind the scenes to push for Rabbi Stav, who heads the Tzohar Rabbis organization.

Chief Rabbi of Ramat Gan Rabbi Yaakov Ariel denies the accuracy of reports that he is uninterested in the post. He explains that while it is true when he is quoted as saying “I don’t see myself as a candidate now” it is not because of his age, 76, but because of the current law that bars him from running. Rabbi Ariel told Maariv “I am not responsible for everything that it written”, clearly stating that if permitted to run, he would seek the post as Ashkenazi chief rabbi.

Bennett on the other hand promised Rabbi Druckman that if the Ariel Bill passes and Rav Ariel is a contender, he would support him. Rabbi Stav announced that if Rabbi Ariel is a contender he would drop out of the race.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)