Minister of Senior Citizen Affairs (Bayit Yehudi) Uri Orbach in a Facebook posting on Tuesday, 19 Sivan 5773 announced unequivocally that he supports the candidacy of Rabbi David Stav for chief rabbi, “without any ifs ands and buts and without compromising the kovod of any of the other candidates”.

“Despite all the deals and the twists and urgent conferences and overt and covert threats, Rabbi Stav a rav gadol in Torah, dati leumi, and he remains committed to the people and State of Israel, a graduate of our wonderful education, and has programs to strengthen the love of Torah and connect the Chief Rabbinate with the people. Yes, the spirit the Tzohar Rabbonim Hashem Yerachem. This is what the vast majority of the public, including lots of rabbis who support him quietly, and most of our voters expect from us. OUR VOTERS!”

The Bayit Yehudi party remains divided, with Orbach and party leader Naftali Bennett supporting Rav Stav’s candidacy while the number two man on the lineup, Uri Ariel and others backed Rabbi Yaakov Ariel. Now that Rav Ariel is not eligible to run, it is unclear who they will back but their rabbonim, including Rabbi Dov Lior and Rabbi Chaim Druckman are unlikely to support Rav Stav. They are more likely to throw their support behind Rabbi Eliezer Igra who announced his return to the race.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)