The Supreme Court of Justice on Sunday accepted a petition filed by Jerusalem opposition City Councilman Nir Barkat and MK (National Union) Uri Ariel, that elections for a chief rabbi of Yerushalayim would not take place ahead of the city’s mayoral race in November. The court added it did not see the rush since the coming weeks are the Yomim Tovim in any event, so pushing off the elections until after the mayoral race is the most logical step.

Barkat praised the move, calling it a “positive step” towards a democratic election of a chief rabbi of the city, one who is a “Zionist” since 70% of the population is not chareidi and they seek a rabbi who will address their religious needs.

Ariel and Barkat have been working in earnest to prevent Minister of Religious Services (Shas) Yitzchak Cohen from appointing a chareidi chief rabbi to Yerushalayim, insisting this time, the rabbi of the capital must be affiliated with the Dati Leumi (National Religious) camp.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)