The ballots are counted and two chief rabbis are elected.
It seems to have been a race on both sides, but like Dallas, dynasties rule.
Unfortunately, unlike strictly political elections, Jews are “stuck” with David Lau, the son of former Ashkenazi chief rabbi Israel Meir Lau, and Yitzak Yosef, a son of former Mizrachi chief rabbi Ovadia Yosef, for 10 years – unless, of course, scandal drives them out of office, as it did the departing Yona Metzger.
R. Israel Meir Lau was known for being open-minded regarding customs of Jews of all traditions. His son claims he is, and will continue to be, a rabbi for all people. “Young” Yosef – he’s 61 now – is said to be more “moderate’ than his father.
The Yosefs had to pull strings In order to get Yitzak elected to serve as Sephardi Chief Rabbi of Israel and Rishon Lezion on July 24 of this year. Candidates for chief rabbi must be municipal rabbis.
In 1980, Yitzak Yosef was ordained as a rabbi and judge by the chief rabbis of Israel (his father being one) and by chief rabbi of Jerusalem Shalom Messas. With the beginning of the second class, he was appointed head of the school.
Older brother Avraham Yosef , chief rabbi of Holon, had been expected to be endorsed by his father, but a police investigation into accusations of breach of trust and conflict of interest which has been re-opened against him in recent days seemingly ended his candidacy
In 1980, Yitzak Yosef was ordained as a rabbi and judge by the chief rabbis of Israel (his father being one) and by chief rabbi of Jerusalem, Moroccan-born Shalom Messas. With the beginning of the second class, he was appointed head of the school.
Will anything change following the election of the few?
Will the helonim accept either chief rabbi’s authority?
Will the extreme haredi accept either chief rabbi’s authority.
Ovadia Yosef is the dominant Mizrachi rabbi; unlike the Ashkenazim, Mizrachi haredim generally are not fragmented. North Africans are less likely to follow Yosef until he proves himself.
Perhaps a greater question will be: Will Lau and Yosef be able to work together?
Yosef, like his father, has been known to rail against Mizrachim and Sefardim giving up their own traditions, often under duress, to conform to Ashkenazi customs. (At the same time. Yosef and other Shas rabbis dress in the Ashkenazi mode. As one rabbi put it, it is the expected uniform for a rabbi today.) http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3506765,00.html
It will be interesting to watch as the two new chief rabbis start to influence their constituents. It also will be interesting to see any changes when Ovadia Yosef no longer casts a shadow over his son.
