Rabbi battle: combination for the throne of Chief Rabbi • Special

Chief Rabbinate storm is climbing new heights in the coming weeks, prior to the expected appointment of the new chief rabbi's job.

Let's start from the end: the law is about to end the term of the current Chief Rabbis, HaGaon Amar and Hagaon Metzger on 13th Nissan, after 10 years, as stipulated in the law, and so far, despite recalcitrant attempts, no law was passed extending the priesthood.

To select new rabbis a choosing board convenes, which serve 25 Main cities, six major local mayors, four major regional mayors, 14 religious mayors of large cities, four heads of the religious councils of major local - these representatives are already known, arriving from staffed roles.

The spicy part lies in the other participants: Assembly is not perfect without two ministers chosen by the government, and 10 public officials to appoint a Minister of Religious Affairs - in consultation with the Chief Rabbis of Israel and the government. Since there is still no government, no minister of religion (if the job is not canceled) - you cannot come to the assembly on the specified date.

Chief Rabbinate Law states that in such a case the eldest rabbis will be appointed amongst the members of the Rabbinical Council. Some question the very appointment, claiming that the law is talking about replacing rabbis because no elections were held but were still cases of incapacity. This matter must have come from the legal decision, it is not clear who will give it - a prosecution, the Attorney General, or any other tribunal.

Additional question concerns the case where replaced by rabbis. Is the place of Rabbi Metzger replaced by Rabbi Yosef Meir Glicksberg rabbi of Givatayim, who also serves as chairman of the rabbis in Israel? Law stipulates that the Ashkenazi chief rabbi will appoint the senior Chief Rabbinate Council members, but it must be "a person who is not over 70", and Rabbi Glicksberg – is much older. Followed by him according to ages, by the way, is Rabbi Yitzhak Ralbag, the question is whether he could legally win the job – in light of candidacy of Rabbi David Lau, a relative, in the Ashkenazi slot.

Concerning the Sephardic slot, the candidate should be the senior of judges; it is now Rabbi Zion Boaron. But it is not clear whether he could play the role for personal reasons. The next in line is Rabbi Zion Algebri, who will become Acting President of the Court as he continues in his role as a judge.

Even so, in recent years a desperate shortage of judges was created, barely able to reach the full ensemble once a week, when Rabbis Amar and Metzger serve as deputy on duty - just to complete vehicles. The absence of rabbis will be a fatal blow to the Great Court, who their orders are needed by agunot and families whose future depends on and is standing due to take duration of the decision.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!