Rabbi Elyakim Levanon Shlita, Rav of the Shomron and Mora D’asra of Elon Moreh has joined the rabbonim expressing their opposition to the so-called Stern Bill. This refers to the bill sponsored by MK (The Movement) Elazar Stern, seeking to expand the voting body for Israel’s chief rabbis from 150 people to 200, to include many more women and among them, rabbinical advocates. Rav Levanon supports the candidacy of Rabbi Yaakov Ariel Shlita in the race for Ashkenazi chief rabbi.

In his letter to MKs, the rav explains the election of Rav Ariel is the correct choice as well as the choice that will avoid machlokes, calling upon them to support the bill to lift the current 70-year-old ceiling for eligibility in the chief rabbi race to permit Rav Ariel to run. In the letter he writes “סור מרע” in reference to the Stern Bill and “עשה טוב” in reference to the bill to permit Rav Ariel to run.

At present it remains unknown regarding which of the candidates Bayit Yehudi will support as party leader Naftali Bennett favors Rabbi David Stav while the number two man on the party list, Uri Ariel, favors Rabbi Ariel.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)