The race for Israel's next chief rabbi received another twist on Monday after Rabbi Yitzhak Dovid Grossman, the chief rabbi of Migdal Haemek, announced his decision not to run. As early as last week Grossman was believed to be considering running for the post.
Even though he never officially declared his candidacy, and was only said to be considering the option, over the past few weeks Grossman was viewed as someone who could drastically alter the race, due to the respect he has garnered from many on the selection committee.
In recent days, Grossman has consulted with two senior Ashkenazi rabbis, who deemed he should withhold his candidacy.
Grossman explained his decision to Israel Hayom on Monday, saying, "I acted in accordance with [the mitzvah] of 'abiding by the teachings of your sages.' My father wrote a will in which he directed me not to run for the position. My father was a Brisk Hassid, and apparently had his opinions on matters of Zionist identity. [The late] Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyashiv tried convincing my father during the previous term to allow me to accept the position, but he was unsuccessful. I asked the rabbis what to do, and this is the decision.
"My father was opposed; I thought the rabbis would abrogate [his decision] and release me from this oath and that I would run, but that didn't happen. If I would have gone against my father's will it would have followed me for the rest of my life."
Grossman added that the institutions he currently heads also played a factor in his uncertainty.
"It is hard to leave," he said. "There are a thousand people there and a great burden that is impossible to give up."
Meanwhile, Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger was remanded on Monday to three further days of house arrest. His driver and personal assistant Haim Nissan Eisenshtat was remanded for a further seven days.
Metzger's authority to choose members of the chief rabbi selection committee was transferred to Sephardi Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar.
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