Proposed Law: New method of election for city rabbis

MK Moshe Feiglin (Likud Beyteynu) recently pushed a law proposal through its initial hurdles by which Israel would move to elect only one Chief Rabbi for future terms. MK elazar Stern (Hatnua) is now extending that with a law proposal of his own. Stern's proposal is that cities should also only elect one chief rabbi instead of two.

The ministerial legislative committee approved Stern's law, and now it will move forward for further debate and be prepared for voting.

Stern's law is actually a bit broader than just switching from two city rabbis to one - Stern also proposes in his bill that the term of the city rabbi should be limited to 10 years, upon which he can stand for re-election, rather than the lifetime term currently in place. As well, Stern's bill would also change the election system -  currently each city appoints and electoral board made up of local rabbonim, gabbais and shul representatives, while MK Stern would have the city council elect the city rabbi.

According to the article it seems that the purpose of these proposals is to make it more difficult for Haredi rabbonim, specifically Shas-affiliated rabbis, to be appointed as city rabbi in "mixed" cities. I am not quite sure why this would make it more difficult. The same deals that would be made and the same influence exerted over the previous electors will be adjusted to city council members. I don't see the level of influence to be changed in any significant way. The tactics might have to change a bit, but I don't see how this will be a major stumbling block.

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