Photo: cursorinfo
The elections for the Chief Rabbis of Israel, originally scheduled for August 2023, have finally been set. The term of the current rabbis expired on October 31, 2023, and again on July 1, 2024. After numerous disputes and delays, the new Sephardic and Ashkenazi Chief Rabbis will be elected on Sunday, September 29, as reported by israelinfo.
Candidates for Chief Sephardic Rabbi
Three candidates have been nominated for the position of Chief Sephardic Rabbi:
- David Yosef — son of the late Chief Rabbi Ovadia Yosef.
- Shmuel Eliyahu — Chief Rabbi of Safed, known for his controversial statements.
- Micha Amuss — Chairman of the Great Rabbinical Court.
Candidates for Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi
Five candidates have been put forward for the Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi position:
- Kalman Bar — Chief Rabbi of Netanya.
- Micha Halevi — Chief Rabbi of Petah Tikva.
- Meir Kahane — Chairman of the Ashkelon Rabbinical Court.
- Moshe Lau — brother of the current Chief Rabbi of Israel, David Lau.
- Eliezer Igra — an experienced rabbi.
Political Struggle and Delays
The elections for the Chief Rabbis are marked by fierce competition for political positions among various religious factions, including ultra-Orthodox and religious Zionists. The lack of unity in negotiations over the division of roles has led to delays in the re-election process.
Secular Israelis have not experienced significant consequences from the lack of leadership in the state rabbinate, but a similar situation has arisen in other crucial government structures. The judicial branch has been without a head for a year, and the Minister of Justice is employing all possible means to ensure that the Supreme Court remains without a legally elected president for as long as possible. The crisis has also impacted the defense ministry, where the “almost fired” Minister of Defense continues to serve, with his dismissal postponed indefinitely.
