By now it is clear to all that the election of the chief rabbis of Israel is for the most part, strictly a political process. There have been Torah giants in the position, but this is not a major criteria. Many of those in the 150-member voting body are not interested in the depth and breadth of one’s knowledge of Shas, Rishonim and Acharonim as much as they want to know how the candidate feels about state giyur, marriage, women davening at the Kosel in tallis and tefilin and other issues that have become a hot potato. With Shmitah only two years away, this too, the issue of heter mechira is a prominent one.
In addition to the fall of the Amar/Ariel deal, the vetoing of the Stern Bill, and candidates entering and leaving the race, there is much is taking place outside of the media spotlight as well. For one thing, the race is still on and many are vying for the post of Ashkenazi and Sephardi Chief Rabbis of Israel, both ten-year appointments. For the first time in many years, the dati leumi tzibur has not resigned itself to a chareidi fait accompli and efforts continue to find the candidate who will enlist enough support to land the post.
The failure of the efforts mentioned above have shown us that the lack of unity which exists in the chareidi camps, subdividing to Litvish, Chassidish and Sephardi, exist in the dati leumi camp as well, which remains sharply divided on selecting appropriate candidates. There is the Merkaz camp, Har HaMor camp, the rabbonim siding with the more right-wing hashkafa affiliated with Rabbi Dov Lior and Rabbi Chaim Druckman, and the more liberal branch that sides with Tzohar Rabbonim and its supporters.
Perhaps some have realized that the Prime Minister’s Office has been somewhat conspicuously quiet on the matter of the chief rabbis, but reports based on media leaks and conversations with people in the know point to the prime minister supporting the election of Modi’in Chief Rabbi David Lau as the next Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel. Rabbi Lau also happens to be a son of former chief rabbi and current Tel Aviv Chief Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau Shlita. He is viewed by the dati leumi camp as a chareidi candidate, despite his widespread popularity in Modi’in, a primarily non-frum city.
Just this week two senior advisors to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu met in secret with leaders of the Bayit Yehudi party along with a small number of Likud confidants, reminding Bayit Yehudi that the election of new chief rabbis is not exclusively a Bayit Yehudi matter. It’s no secret that party leader Naftali Bennett is an avid supporters of Shoham Chief Rabbi David Stav, who stands at the helm of the Tzohar Rabbonim organization as well.
Ultimately, the parties will back a specific candidate based on political affiliation and gain, and therefore; if one requires or seeks the support of another party, such a move will compel new deal-making and political maneuvering towards earning enough votes in the body of 150. These 150 voters, which contains a large percentage of Shas party influence, will determine who stands at the head of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel in the coming ten years.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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7 Responses
While a “Chief Rabbi” might be gadol, that only happens by accident. The job is as an administrator or a large government bureaucracy. It requires administrative skills and excellent political skills. Knowledge of Torah is helpful, but as with most political positions, integrity is probably a liability.
Mr. Akuperma – While I generally admire your analyses, your statement above impugning the integrity of some big תלמידי חכמים is אסור, and you should retract it.
as much as they want to know how the candidate feels about state giyur, marriage, women davening in tallis and tefilin and Shmitah, etc.
SORRY you are missing the most impt component, City RABBIS, MASHGICHIM, DAYANIM and many many salaried jobs $$$$$ that are essentially what both camps desire to fill.
Which gadol have ever aspired to be “chief rabbi” of Israel. Usually it is a gadol telling the candidate to run, and the candidate has to be “drafted” by the gedolim. R. Yosef got the job “by accident” and the people doing the selection deeply regretted it and considered it to have been a big mistake.
Note I did NOT say that the the people hired as “Chief Rabbi” lack integrity, I said that it was a liability to have integrity while trying to be a “Chief rabbi”, and I’m sure that those with integrity have held the job would agree with me.
Mr NaarYisroel, akuperma happens to be correct. the Chief Rabbi of Israel is only a office.
Rabbi Yisroel Meir Lau SHLITA said it himself that it is only an office.
Listen to the the interview of Rabbi Yisroel meir Lau SHLITA on the OU site where he relates an episode of Rabbi J.B. Soleveitchik when he was offered the position of Chief Rabbi of Israel and he refused.
Rabbi Solomon David Sassoon was another who was offered the position. In both 1953 and again in 1964, he declined invitations to become Chief Rabbi of Israel.
He reason was ,there were better ways to use of his life.
“By now it is clear to all that the election of the chief rabbis of Israel is for the most part, strictly a political process”
Ho hum,it was clear until now.
“For the first time in many years, the dati leumi tzibur has not resigned itself to a chareidi fait accompli and ”
Say that again.
It was closer always to dati leumi tzibur fait accompli
“The failure of the efforts mentioned above have shown us that the lack of unity .. exist in the dati leumi camp as well, which remains sharply divided on selecting appropriate candidates”
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“He is viewed by the dati leumi camp as a chareidi candidate, despite his widespread popularity in Modi’in, a primarily non-frum city.”
More naivete.
He is more to the left of his father.