Most people have lost track of the number of delays surrounding the elections for chief rabbis of Jerusalem. The latest delay was caused by Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat, who at the last moment failed to appear for a Monday, 26 Iyar meeting of the election committee.

The meeting was set to get underway at 15:00, the first meeting of the election committee in an effort to begin finalizing plans for the election. The meeting was arranged two weeks in advance. However during the late morning hours the rumor spread the meeting was likely to be postponed since the mayor and City Council member Aryeh Ben-Nun would not be able to attend.

The mayor’s staff explained Mr. Barkat was summoned to the Prime Minister’s Office to discuss budgetary matters. The meeting in the PM’s Office was not planned in advance. Meanwhile the election committee was hoping to set a date for the election today but this did not occur.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)