While different parties have been working to advance the position of their respective candidates for the position of Jerusalem’s chief rabbi, the family of Tel Aviv Chief Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau Shlita has been working quietly, behind the scenes, obtaining support for the candidacy of HaGaon Rav Moshe Chaim Lau from Netanya. There are reports that to date, a number of more prominent admorim has signed recommending Rav Moshe Chaim for the post.
According to a Chadrei Chadarim report, the Seret Vishnitz Rebbe Shlita, Rav Yisrael Hager Shlita and the Sanz Rebbe Shlita have already signed in support of Rav Lau. There are also reports that Maran Rav Yosef Sholom Elyashiv Shlita is backing him as well.
It appears the various communities are increasingly willing to reach agreement to avoid a repeat of the divisiveness that dominated the Jerusalem mayoral race.
At present, the Dati Leumi camp appears interested in running its own candidate but some believe that Rav Moshe Chaim Lau’s good relations with the Dati Leumi community will ultimately result in gaining Dati Leumi support as well. Helping achieve that goal is the fact that the candidate’s father, Rav Yisrael Meir Lau Shlita, is also working diligently towards enlisting support from the Dati Leumi community.
HaRav Moshe Chaim Shlita is Rav Yisrael Meir’s bachor, known for his vast Torah knowledge and unique personality traits, following in the footsteps of his father. He is a well known, liked and respected figure in Netanya and viewed as a candidate in the future for the position of Chief Rabbi of Israel.
Chadrei Chadarim reports that Rav Yosef Efrati Shlita was very interested in the position, but now realizes it will not be reality. He is currently doing a comprehensive reevaluation of his kashrus network.
(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)
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6 Responses
Excellent choice
Well respected by everyone
A chashuva family.
Given that the Jewish (meaning Orthodox) population of Jerusalem is well served by rabbanim of their own choosing, and are highly unlikely to care what the government’s “rabbi” says about halacha (as opposed to listening to their own rabbanim), why do they have such a position?
For the paper pushing involved in running various services, they would be better served by a frum yeshiva-dropout with an MBA (to cure the reputation of the rabbinate as being poorly run from a bureaucratic perspective).
u misunderstood what chadrei charedim wrote about R Efrati. It DID NOT say he was evaluating his kasharus organization (-why would that stop him from running for chief rabbi?)
it says that there is an INVESTIGATON going on abot his kashurus oqrganization………
BH Horav Lau Jr. is following in the esteemed footsteps of generations of Lau family rabbonim who have made a beautiful impact on Klal Yisroel of both previous generations and our own. He is a true achdus candidate and will bring an all around feeling of achdus to Yerushalayim and Eretz Yisroel.
#2 “Given that the Jewish (meaning Orthodox) population of Jerusalem is well served by rabbanim of their own choosing, and are highly unlikely to care what the government’s “rabbi” says about halacha (as opposed to listening to their own rabbanim), why do they have such a position?”
Evident that you are not aware of the various roles of the chief rabbi in securing jobs for dayanim, kashrus mashgichim, rabbinical positions in towns, cities and moshevim, plus chaplains in the army. All of these positions are coveted (& deserved) by charedei talmidei chachamim. Do you rememember years ago when Rav Elyashuv was a dayan on the Yerushayalim Beis Din (not Badatz beis din)?
#5 thanks for explaining it well to #2