The question is already being asked as to who will become the next Chief Rabbi of Beit Shemesh as the current Chief Rabbi, Rav Shimon Biton Shlita has retired. Rabbi Shlomo Ben-Ezra is serving as Acting Chief Rabbi and is among the names in the race.
It appears clear to all the incoming rabbi will be chareidi as was his predecessor.
Shas-affiliated Mayor Moshe Abutbul wishes to see another Sephardi rav. A committee is being formed to probe and recommend qualified candidates. Others rabbonim interested in the post include Rabbi Elchanan Peretz, Rabbi Yinon Raviv, Rabbi David Benizri and Rabbi Barak Cohen.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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2 Responses
Is there any reason why the mayor would prefer a Sephardeshe rebbe? Is the frum population of BS primarily Sephardic or is there a political consideration
involved.
#1- Much of the Ashkenazi ‘frum’ population won’t follow the city’s chief rabbi no matter who he is. The people who don’t have their own rabbis and who would turn to the city’s chief rabbi are largely Sefardic.