The battle over the appointment of a chief rabbi of Jerusalem has not really interested me. The appointment of the rav has, from very close to the start of the process, gone from a discussion of who is worthy and appropriate to a political battle.
Mayor Nir Barkat recently came to an agreement with Shas over a realignment of how the shuls choose the chief rabbi, thus almost ensuring a victory for the rav he is promoting rather than the rav the haredi community is promoting. I am sure they are both worthy and fine rabbonim, but the discussion has and debate is political rather than of worthiness.
What is interesting about it is that Shas has come under some fire of criticism from the supporters of the ashkenaz haredi party UTJ. They are being vilified for agreeing to work with "the mizrachi" and selling out the haredim. Of particular interest is a pashkevil that was spread around Jerusalem, according to Kikar, attacking Eli Yishai.
Among other things written in the pashkevil, imploring Yishai and Rav Yitzchak Yosef (the Sephardic candidate supported by Shas) to reject the deal and to pull out of the race in protest etc, is the following quote (translated): Your election as chief rabbi of Jerusalem through the selection of a ashkenazic chief rabbi will turn you and the Rabbanut of Jerusalem into an irrelevant Rabbanut. All the rosh yeshivas and great rabbonim and the communities of bnei torah both sephardic and ashkenazic will renounce the selection and will not recognize it.
What is interesting about this statement is that the haredi community, the ashkenaz more so than the sephardic but also the sephardic haredi community, have never recognized the chief rabbinate offices and the Rabbanut, no matter who was appointed the chief rabbi of the city. It's not like if they get their rav appointed suddenly they are going to start relying on the rabanut eiruv, the rabbanut kashrus, the rabbanut mikvas, the rabbanut for marriage and divorce, and whatever other religious services are provided by the Rabbanut. I don't know if this is what we call an empty threat, but it is an ironic threat.
Absurd situation indeed. They will not accept Zionist Rabbonim no way!!
ReplyDeleteA plague on all their houses!
ReplyDeletemany charedim eat Rabbanut Yerushalayim Mehadrin.
ReplyDeleteIf a non-charedi Rav is elected,there may be a campaign against this hechsher.
In all likelihood, the mashgichim will remain the same as before, so there should not be a problem. However, I remember a few years ago, my cousin's husband would not eat Rabbanut Yerushalyim because at that time, the head of the Religious Council in Jerusalem was a friend of Omri Sharon (Arik Sharon's son). The mashgichim were the same as before, the hashgacha was the same, the teuda was the same, but he would not eat it. The whole business disgusts me.
ReplyDeleteIn all likelihood, the mashgichim will remain the same as before, so there should not be a problem. However, I remember a few years ago, my cousin's husband would not eat Rabbanut Yerushalyim because at that time, the head of the Religious Council in Jerusalem was a friend of Omri Sharon (Arik Sharon's son). The mashgichim were the same as before, the hashgacha was the same, the teuda was the same, but he would not eat it. The whole business disgusts me.
ReplyDeleteA few months ago yidiot had a 8 page article that shas will stop at nothing to obtain the rabbanut for RYY.
ReplyDeleteThis means the lowly and unpopular hecksher of beit yosef will be required at all jerusalem hotels restaraunts etc
This means JOBS and money.