Rabbi Shalom Cohen Shlita, head of Shas’ Moetzas Gedolei Yisrael has instructed party representatives on the voting body in the Jerusalem Chief Rabbinate race to vote for Rabbi Shlomo Amar Shlita and Rabbi Moshe Chaim Lau Shlita.

Shas has finally announced its support for Rabbi Amar in the race for Chief Sephardi Rabbi and not surprisingly, the party is not going to support the dati leumi candidate for Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi, preferring to endorse Rabbi Moshe Chaim Lau.

Shas’ support all but guarantee’s Rabbi Amar’s success in the race, providing the 48 men and women eligible to vote do so in line with instructions and their loyalties. One must remember it is a secret ballot. Rabbi Amar is also backed by the Bayit Yehudi party and Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat and is viewed as the likely successor.

Backers of Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu Shlita in the Chief Sephardi Rabbi race feel many voters are likely to say one thing but when it comes to casting a ballot, there may be many surprises when ballots are tabulated.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)