It appears that the Chief Sephardi Rabbi of Beit Shemesh is at the heart of a battle being spearheaded by the Shas party. While Rabbi Shimon Biton Shlita, 80, has served in the post for decades, he is not affiliated with Shas and the party is trying to use a law that sets the age limit for the post at 80 to oust him against his will and replace him with a party-affiliated rav.

It is pointed out that Rav Biton continues to maintain good relations with all the residents of the city, chareidi, dati and secular alike and no one other than Shas seeks to replace him.

The 1975 law states anyone appointed after the law was signed may not serve past the age of 80. In this case, the rav was serving prior to 1975 but the official signing of his position only occurred after the law was in place. This gives Shas the opening to use the law to remove him against his will, to replace him with Rabbi Shlomo Ben-Ezra. Shas has already placed a motion before the Chief Rabbinate Council to replace Rav Biton.

Degel Hatorah activists in the city along with others, including many Shas supporters, are working to torpedo Shas’ effort to oust the rav who has been faithfully serving the city for many decades. Opponents to the move explain that Shas is perturbed over the reality that Rav Biton maintains a good relationship with Jerusalem Chief Sephardi Rabbi Shlomo Amar Shlita, and this does not sit well with Shas’ current political agenda.

Officials in the Chief Rabbinate of Israel explain that once Rabbi Biton passed the age of 80 his appointment expired in line with the law. It remains unclear if he will be removed from the post and if this is the case, it remains to be seen if Rabbi Ben-Ezra will be his replacement.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)