Responding to reports that Rabbi Yitzchok Dovid Grossman may enter the race to become the next Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi of Israel, Tzohar leader Rabbi David Stav is quoted in the daily Yisrael Hayom saying “I like and respect Rav Grossman and I am familiar with his work. I bring to the Chief Rabbinate my connection with the Israeli population which we must work with to assist in dealing with many issues. If the Rabbanut does not undergo the required change, in ten years there will be two peoples. Therefore, in all due respect to Rav Grossman, our way, the Tzohar Rabbonim way is the hashkafa that must lead the Chief Rabbinate in the coming years.”
Rav Grossman, who currently serves as the Chief Rabbi of Migdal HaEmek has yet to officially announce his candidacy amid reports he may enter the race.
Rav Grossman is expected to visit HaGaon HaRav Aaron Yehuda Leib Shteinman Shlita in the coming days, at which time he will hear the wishes of the Gadol Hador vis-à-vis his entering the race.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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6 Responses
just as important is supporting rav shmuel eliyahu the son f rav mordechai eliyahu for chief rabbi of sefardim
anybody from the chassidish/litvish velt running?
Rabbi stav foes to the cinema with his wife, rabbi grossman doesn’t, so I guess stav is more “conected” to the poeple of israel
Oh what a selfless person this rabbi stav. Not caring about his kavod but only that of the populace. Remember what they say about a man that chases after kavod…
But even if you take this on face value, which a certainly dont. if the charedi velt don’t respect the chief rabbi there is no way any “changes” come about in regards to charedim and dati lumi and secular yidden. All we would do is take all he paskanim and his attempts to breach halachah with a secular mindset and abhore them, and him for attempting to lower the standards of our yedishkit. Because for some strange reason I don’t think he means to change the relationship between charedi and secular life styles by making the standards of yedishkit higher but infact lower them….
I’m not sure others have the same reaction, but I find it disgusting that these rabbonim engage in the type of lashon haroah against one another that would ordinarily be condemned among askanim. The other day we read about another rav making an outrageous comment like some Chicago political hack that Rav Stav was “evil”, a comment that was correctly rejected by just about every other leader in EY. Today’s comments are along the lines of Rav paloni almoni is an OK guy but he is not well suited for the job of chief rabbi and if appointed many will leave yiddeshkeit. Isn’t it time for these rabbonim to get out of politics.
On this, Rabbi Stav seems correct. The Tzohar hashkafah can increase the connection between the observant and non-observant while preserving Torah standards.