On motzei Shabbos after midnight, dozens of prominent rabbonim arrived for an urgent meeting in the home of Rabbi Chaim Druckman Shlita. Among those present were Dayan Rabbi Eliezer Igra, Rabbi Chananya Etrog, Rabbi Micha Halevy, Rabbi Elisha Vishlitzky, Rabbi Elyakim Levanon, Rabbi Yehoshua Shapira and Rabbi Yaakov Shapira.

According to a Sruga report, they discussed the how a voice was heard from the camp of Rabbi David Stav compromising the kovod of Rabbi Yaakov Ariel Shlita, alleging he is too old to run as a candidate in the race for chief rabbi.

The rabbonim decided to; (1) increase the pressure against Rabbi David Stav to make good on his promise to step down from the race if Rabbi Ariel runs. Rav Stav was asked to step down after Rav Ariel announced his candidacy but he did not comply. Rav Stav is waiting to see if the Kalfa Bill to lift the 70-year-old age ceiling for eligibility is lifted before resigning.

(2) The rabbis will also be increasing pressure on Bayit Yehudi leader Naftali Bennett to do his utmost to push the Kalfa Bill through in Knesset.

(3) Increase pressure on relevant persons to topple the Stern Bill, which seeks to increase the size of the voting body for Chief Rabbis, including the addition of many women to the voting body.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)