While it may appear to some elections for an Ashkenazi and Sephardi Chief Rabbi of Rehovot was going to take place, already approved by City Hall, which has to fund the additional salary, these elections now appear will be on hold. Currently, there is one rav in the city, HaGaon HaRav Simcha HaKohen Kook Shlita.

The issues holding back elections are two; internal machlokes among Sephardi candidates and askanim in the city and persons opposing the addition of a second rav, hence doubling the budget on City Hall. Many feel Rav Kook as served the city well, tirelessly in fact, for decades; questioning the need for a second rabbinical position and the expense that accompanies such an appointment.

What was expected, is that Rav Kook was going to retire and his nephew, HaGaon HaRav Bentzion HaKohen Kook with assume his post heading the Beit Hora’ah for Halacha and elections would be held for Sephardi Chief Rabbi only. However, today Mayor Rachamim Malul is under pressure not to approve a second Chief Rabbi budget, including protests against him.

This being the case, there may be pressure to elect a Sephardi Chief Rabbi only but the city’s Ashkenazi kehilla and political parties oppose this.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)