Comments on: PM’s Office Working to Elect R’ David Lau as Chief Rabbi

By: About Time

About Time — Fri, 31 May 2013 23:01:22 +0000

“By now it is clear to all that the election of the chief rabbis of Israel is for the most part, strictly a political process”

Ho hum,it was clear until now.

“For the first time in many years, the dati leumi tzibur has not resigned itself to a chareidi fait accompli and ”

Say that again.
It was closer always to dati leumi tzibur fait accompli

“The failure of the efforts mentioned above have shown us that the lack of unity .. exist in the dati leumi camp as well, which remains sharply divided on selecting appropriate candidates”

Top of the Morning to you

“He is viewed by the dati leumi camp as a chareidi candidate, despite his widespread popularity in Modi’in, a primarily non-frum city.”

More naivete.

He is more to the left of his father.

By: About Time

About Time — Fri, 31 May 2013 22:52:54 +0000

Rabbi Solomon David Sassoon was another who was offered the position. In both 1953 and again in 1964, he declined invitations to become Chief Rabbi of Israel.
He reason was ,there were better ways to use of his life.

By: scy4851

scy4851 — Fri, 31 May 2013 19:22:56 +0000

Mr NaarYisroel, akuperma happens to be correct. the Chief Rabbi of Israel is only a office.

Rabbi Yisroel Meir Lau SHLITA said it himself that it is only an office.

Listen to the the interview of Rabbi Yisroel meir Lau SHLITA on the OU site where he relates an episode of Rabbi J.B. Soleveitchik when he was offered the position of Chief Rabbi of Israel and he refused.

By: akuperma

akuperma — Fri, 31 May 2013 16:25:09 +0000

Which gadol have ever aspired to be “chief rabbi” of Israel. Usually it is a gadol telling the candidate to run, and the candidate has to be “drafted” by the gedolim. R. Yosef got the job “by accident” and the people doing the selection deeply regretted it and considered it to have been a big mistake.

Note I did NOT say that the the people hired as “Chief Rabbi” lack integrity, I said that it was a liability to have integrity while trying to be a “Chief rabbi”, and I’m sure that those with integrity have held the job would agree with me.

By: zionflag

zionflag — Fri, 31 May 2013 15:48:48 +0000

as much as they want to know how the candidate feels about state giyur, marriage, women davening in tallis and tefilin and Shmitah, etc.

SORRY you are missing the most impt component, City RABBIS, MASHGICHIM, DAYANIM and many many salaried jobs $$$$$ that are essentially what both camps desire to fill.

By: NaarYisroel

NaarYisroel — Fri, 31 May 2013 15:27:03 +0000

Mr. Akuperma – While I generally admire your analyses, your statement above impugning the integrity of some big תלמידי חכמים is אסור, and you should retract it.

By: akuperma

akuperma — Fri, 31 May 2013 13:37:37 +0000

While a “Chief Rabbi” might be gadol, that only happens by accident. The job is as an administrator or a large government bureaucracy. It requires administrative skills and excellent political skills. Knowledge of Torah is helpful, but as with most political positions, integrity is probably a liability.