Acceptable • Abuhatssira family representative: Rabbi Yaakov Ben Chamu

Get to know the new candidate for the Knesset: Rabbi Yaakov Ben Chamu.

Whoever the name Yaakov Ben Chamu says nothing to him should better learn to know him. To date, (Tuesday) he was an unknown activist. Today he is the Abuhatssira Rabbis candidate for the Shas list in the Knesset.

For the avoidance of doubt, the originator of the move is not Rabbi David Abuhatssira from Nahariya in any way, as the Rabbi is very careful not to intervene in any political issue. He has conducted this over the years, and will continue to do in the future - as illustrated by his associates. But after the appointment received the blessing of the other Rabbis of the family, he will not be the one to stop him. Not intervene, means - does not interfere in any party.

Last Thursday, an increased delegation of three people went up north to Nahariya, to the home of Rabbi David Abuhatssira.

The substantial delegation consisted of three distinguished people from the audience: Shimon Yitzchaki, a member of the Jerusalem City Council, Yosef Yishai (brother) and Yaakov Ben Hamu – 'birthday boy', Shas party candidate for membership, the man the delegation are about to propose his membership to Rabbi David. Among others, Ben Chamu's wife, who is the Rabbi's niece.

"Finally, after years, the Nahariya Rabbi deserves his own representative," the delegation prepared the text they spoke again and again. And there's nothing like his own disciple, Yaakov Ben Chamu, who is also a family member to serve in this role.

The three entered the Rabbi, who heard them, and blessed with the blessing of success as usual, without giving his opinion. This is politics, and he does not intervene.

Somehow the story leaked to the media, and the Rabbi's associates were quick to issue a statement that he does not get involved in politics, as above.

But Rabbi Ben Chamu did not give up. Realizing that Rabbi David will not stand behind him and expedite his membership, he decided to travel south this morning and turn to the homes of other family members, Rabbi Pinchas Abuhatssira in Beer Sheva (son of Rabbi Elazar Abuhatssira ztvk"l) and Rabbi Yehuda Abuhatssira, the son of Baba Baruch from Netivot.

They gave him their consent to the appointment, and now it is up to the Shas movement to meet the challenge.

In fact, until now the Religious Affairs Minister Yaakov Margi, was considered representative of Baba Baruch in Shas, it may be that in the future list Rabbi Ben Chamu will replace the slot. Minister Margi has many other roles of his own, the Ministry of Religious Affairs, in another office or any position imposed on him by the Rabbi, as he declared more than once.

Has the above appointment set out? It is hard to tell. After all, among the decisive factors on the Shas list there is a formal decision that there is no need of community representatives. Something like, 'we are all representatives of everyone', and we will not go into the reasons for the decision.

However, before submission of the list there is still a few more weeks, and everything is quite possible.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!