[VIDEO IN EXTENDED ARTICLE]

MK (The Movement) Eliezer Stern used the Knesset podium to respond to MK (Yahadut Hatorah) Moshe Gafne on his bill pertaining to the upcoming elections for chief rabbis. Stern calls for adding 50 people to the voting body of 150 to include women. Yahadut Hatorah objects vehemently to this, and Stern seeks to point out that in his view, the chareidi party has reached the height of hypocrisy.

Stern points out that the chareidim do not rely upon the Chief Rabbinate for weddings, kashrus, shmitah or giyur, asking rhetorically how can they dare to seek to dictate the playing ground for the election.

In addition, Stern rejects allegations that his bill, which seeks to bring women onto the voting body is tantamount to “changing the rules of play in the midst of the process”.

Stern explains that for months prior to the general elections there was no new legislation in Knesset and the same holds true since the election in the 19th Knesset. He adds the election of the chief rabbis is for a 10-year term, and therefore, it is essential to make the necessary changes for the rabbis will be impacting the lives of Israelis for the coming decade.

See the Hebrew video:

Click HERE to watch this video on a mobile device.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)