While Bayit Yehudi, Shas and Yahadut Hatorah are in the same coalition, presumably at peace with one another, when it comes to appointing chief rabbis, all bets are off. Take the recent appointment of a new Chief Rabbi of Nesher, which went to a second round and Shas emerged the victor.

Now, the drums of war are beating as there are openings, including a major appointment like Tel Aviv followed by Beit Shemesh, Lod, Sderot and Ramat Gan to name some. The races to elect a new chief rabbi have potential to get quite dirty and ugly, as has been the case in previous races.

The person who handles these elections in Bayit Yehudi is Deputy Defense Minister Rabbi Eli Ben-Dahan, who ran the office of the late Rishon L’Tzion HaGaon HaRav Mordechai Eliyahu ZT”L as well as standing at the helm of the nation’s batei din. Deal-making is already underway, including an offer to giver Bayit Yehudi the Tel Aviv race in return for Shas remaining in charge of Beit Shemesh.

Ben-Dahan explains the person with the real power if a municipality’s mayor, for he has the authority to appoint many of the voting body. Hence, as these races move ahead the players will have to court the respective mayors.

Amazingly, Rav Lau stepped down as Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv less than 24 hours ago and the behind-the-scenes askanim are already beginning the deal-making in the hope of placing their man in the post.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)