The law passed - but Shas insisted: "No Deal"

Ministerial Committee this morning passed legislation bill that fifty women will be added to the body that selects the Chief Rabbis.

Allegedly, the approval was paved for the appointment of two national religious chief rabbis, and many hope that it will leverage the click of Shas vertices headed by Harav Ovadia Yosef to motivate them to agree to the deal formed on the eve of the election between Habayit Hayehudi and a source close to Rabbi Shlomo Amar.

The deal, which closed Nissim Alkassi and chairman of Habayit Hayehudi talks about extending tenure as chief rabbi, on one hand, for a chief rabbi acceptable to the Habayit Hayehudi, i.e. Rabbi David Stav, Chairman of Zohar rabbis.

Shas oppose the deal, which Alkassi concocted on his own, without first consulting with them, when Harav Ovadia kept saying that at this point one cannot close any deal with Habayit Hayehudi. Even tonight, after the committee approved the above, Shas officials still claim that the resistance is valid, and all it implies – i.e. two national religious rabbis, at worst, in terms of Shas.

But before the Committee of Ministers was another part of the law, some not approved today, and he talks about choosing a prerequisite chief rabbi - actually being a city rabbi and having the power of dayanus. Additional terms can make the candidacies of some rabbis irrelevant, among other things, the Likud Beitenu candidates - who sought to promote (such as Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau, and if decides he does not want to run the job, then his son, Rabbi David Lau Rabbi of Modi'in).

There are a few pulling the strings of selecting the Chief Rabbis. On the one hand, the opinion of the chairman of Tekuma Uri Ariel resisting, not officially, to the election of Rabbi Stav.

On the other hand there is the opinion of Rabbi Eli Ben-Dahan, vice minister of religion, who opposes any deal on that subject, especially opposes, not officially, continued tenure of Rabbi Amar.

Yesh Atid (especially the Minister of Education Shay Piron, leading the subject) would be very pleased to see Rabbi Stav in the role, and in particular, oppose any deal with Shas. Conversely, there is the opinion of the Chairman of Habayit Hayehudi Naftali Bennett, stated: "I gave my word to a source close to Rabbi Amar, a word is a word and I am committed to the deal. Whether Shas decides to withdraw it they can withdraw, it's not me making it."

Some say at Shas that if Amar Law will not pass and will not be reset Amar Hgr"s chances of re-election, they will turn their efforts for the election of Rabbi Avraham Yosef, son of Harav Ovadia and Rabbi of Holon.

Shas are sweating

Between the various parties the coalition chairman Yariv Levin must maneuver like an acrobat. Loyal to his view that he is not a teacher that is not trying to get the details of the disputes between the various parties – this time again tried to sit on the fence. One hand, the law passed in the Ministerial Committee; however, he promised that at present it is still not promoted at the plenum.

"There is no doubt that Shasnikim are sweating now," said a senior official this morning who was involved in the details of the subject, "and there are those at Habayit Hayehudi who really enjoy it, especially those who previously suffered humiliation at the hands of Shas sources."

In any case, my discourse partner explained to me "we are all tired of going through the same big run Shas gives us. Every source says something, explains the second source has no authority and that authority is only for him, and then we pass the next party who claims to us exactly the same things. In this situation they bring contempt toward them."

On the other hand, attempts to exert pressure on Shas in the form of "in the end you will lose both jobs" are almost hopeless after Harav Ovadia Yosef closed an agreement with leading rabbis and Hgray"l Steinman Shlita for cooperation on the issue. In such a situation there is no chance of any deal, and at best Shas will have Rabbi Lau (father or son) - Ashkenazi Haredi rabbi - but will have to give up on the Sephardic tile, which is much more important to her.

Shas starts, it seems, get used to the fact that they are in opposition in the coming months and will lose power in many areas. Among others immediately after the local elections in Cheshvan it is likely Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs will replace the religious council chairmen in charge, which he cannot make on the eve of local elections following the legal opinion obtained from the Attorney's office, Yisrael Pat. Various candidates have been sewing these positions, it seems, the suits, and definitely has what to expect.

Unless a miracle will happen which Shas are waiting for and there will be a rip in the current government, a tear that will insert the haredi parties inside. But for that too one needs an open miracle, one that currently is not in sight.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!