In about a week, the 32-member voting body will select a new Chief Rabbi for the city of Bat Yam. With Shas in charge of the Ministry of Religious Services, it is working towards the selection of HaGaon Rav Eliyahu Bar-Shalom, a son of the previous chief rabbi of the city, HaGaon HaRav Yosef Bar-Shalom ZT”L.

Rav Bar-Shalom’s candidacy is backed by the president of the Shas Moetzas Gedolei Hatorah, HaGaon HaRav Shalom Cohen Shlita. He is also backed by Rishon L’Tzion Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef Shlita.

Rav Bar-Shalom is competing against 12 other rabbonim. Shas is working hard to advance elections for chief rabbis of cities as the party is aware as municipal elections near, legal officials will no loner permit electing a new chief rabbi of a city prior to the municipality elections.

As often occurs, there is a petition filed with the High Court of Justice seeking to push off the Bat Yam elections. The petition was submitted by attorney Asher Dell on behalf of City Councilman Uri Buskila, who was a member of the committee electing the new Chief Rabbi. Buskila claims he was ousted from the committee after mentioning to Aryeh Deri he will not back the Shas candidate, and mysteriously, he found himself off the voting committee. He alleges political involvement by Shas and wants the elections postponed.

Dell is quoted telling Kikar Shabbos News he accuses Deri and Shas of interfering with the election. He is hoping their petition is in time and that the court will delay the elections.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)