Jerusalem names two chief rabbis after 11-year hiatus

After 11 long years of infighting, scheming and political ploys, two chief rabbis for Jerusalem were elected on Tuesday.

Sephardi Rabbi Shlomo Amar and Ashkenazi Rabbi Aryeh Stern were chosen after 48 electors voted from a pool of 12 candidates to fill the two spots, regarded as the most prestigious rabbinical positions behind the country's two chief rabbis.

The top two candidates for Ashkenazi chief rabbi were Stern, considered a leader of the national religious sector, and Rabbi Moshe Chaim Lau, son of former chief Ashkenazi Rabbi of Israel Yisrael Meir Lau and brother of the current Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel David Lau. Lau had the support of much of the ultra-Orthodox community.

Amar, a former chief rabbi of Israel, was the Sephardi frontrunner, while Chief Rabbi of Safed Shmuel Eliyahu was also in the running for the position, despite objections from Attorney-General Yehuda Weinstein.

For the better part of the race, Amar received the cold shoulder from his own Shas party due to bad blood between him and the movement's now deceased spiritual leader and former Chief Sephardi Rabbi of Israel Ovadia Yosef during the elections for chief rabbi of Israel.

Amar was considered the candidate of what has been called "the Zionist camp" of Orthodox Sephardi Jews, while Eliyahu was one of the better known religious Zionist rabbis and received the support of those who opposed Amar.

Ultimately, Amar received 28 votes to beat Eliyahu, who received 18. Stern, with 27 votes, defeated Lau, who received 20 votes. Both winners were the preferred candidates of Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat and the Habayit Hayehudi party.

Following the victory, Stern and Amar met with Barkat at Jerusalem's City Hall.

"Two worthy rabbis who will bring honor to Jerusalem were chosen," said Barkat. "They represent the rich diversity of Jerusalem's entire population. We waited 11 years for you, and I am happy to begin a new chapter."

According to Stern: "We will lead a campaign of bringing people from all sectors of the public closer together, particularly in Jerusalem.

Amar said, "We will be productive and try to fulfill our purpose, as is expected of us."

Religious Services Minister and Habayit Hayehudi chairman Naftali Bennett said, "Something new has now begun in Jerusalem. I congratulate the chief rabbis. This is an important victory for the religious Zionist camp in Jerusalem; we will continue to lead a line of Judaism tied to the people of Israel."

Deputy Religious Services Minister Rabbi Eli Ben-Dahan said, "For the first time, after more than a decade, we managed to institute a transparent, functional electoral system for the Jerusalem chief rabbinate."

Weinstein had opposed Eliyahu's candidacy because of antagonistic remarks he made toward Israeli Arabs in the past. He was also the subject of a 2006 police investigation after an incitement complaint was filed against him. The case was eventually closed after the rabbi retracted his comments and apologized for them.