Former National Religious Party MK Gila Finkelstein, who was appointed to the Chief Rabbinate voting body of 150 people was asked to step down by Naftali Bennett. Bayit Yehudi party leader Bennett appointed Finkelstein, but later decided that she is too close to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and as such, she may vote for Rabbi David Lau instead of Rabbi David Stav, with the latter being the party’s candidate.

Party MK Ayelet Shaked, who was assigned by the party to oversee the Chief Rabbinate elections, contacted Finkelstein last week. Shaked explained that Bennett requests that she step down. Finkelstein complied with the request, telling the press it is not a big deal and she is fine with stepping aside.

In the race for the next Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi, it appears Rabbi David Lau and Rabbi David Stav both show signs of being frontrunners in the race. For Bayit Yehudi, party leaders want to be certain that its representatives to the voting body cast their vote for Rabbi Stav.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)