Has a deal been struck between Rabbi Amar and Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat, whereby Barkat will support Rabbi Amar in the elections for the Jerusalem rabbinate as a Sephardic rabbi, or is this an attempt to defame the revered rabbi?
In recent days, reports have been circulating again that a deal has been struck between Barkat and the people of Gersham Amar, according to which the mayor will support Rishon Lezion for the position of Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem, while the Ashkenazi rabbi will be the candidate of religious Zionism, Rabbi Aryeh Stern.
The rumors about such a deal are not new and have been spread in the past - then repeatedly denied by the parties. Barkat, for his part, stated that he is committed to one Haredi rabbi, while according to the summaries, the Haredi rabbi will be the Sephardi rabbi.
In the past, there was even talk of a similar deal, whereby Barkat would support the then Shas candidate, the late Harav Yosef, in exchange for Shas' support of Rabbi Stern. However, at the time, the late Harav Yosef rejected the deal, and ultimately the entire election campaign was postponed for several years.
The relationship between Barkat and the exiled Amar is very close. On the other hand, there is also a friendship between Barkat and his advisors and Shas Chairman MK Aryeh Deri, and only in recent months have the two reached several conclusions regarding the mixed neighborhoods in Jerusalem.
The list of synagogues whose representatives will participate in the Jerusalem Rabbinate's electoral body was published on Tuesday. Haredim10 learned that the Haredi factions are seeking to challenge the list, claiming that the list was compiled about three years ago and is not relevant now, and that the balance of power between the city's synagogues should be reexamined.
On the other hand, religious Zionist elements are also not satisfied with the list. They told the Haredim10 that it was expected that in a city with a Zionist majority, there would be a majority of Zionist synagogues.
Sources from the Haredi factions in Jerusalem estimate, in a conversation with Haredim10, that this move will postpone the elections by several months, and that they will not be held on the scheduled date in the middle of the month of Elul.
The goal of the postponement is to cause the religious Zionist candidate, Rabbi Stern, to pass the age of seventy and be disqualified from running.
On the other hand, religious Zionism tells the Haredim10 that if the Haredim continue to procrastinate and try to disqualify Rabbi Stern, the Ministry of Religious Affairs is already working on changing the law, which will also allow rabbis over the age of 70 to run for city rabbinate.
Response from the office of the Gersham Amar - who is currently abroad: "Maran Shlita expressed his opinion firmly on this issue, in a letter he published in the Ktika about a year ago, and since then until now there has been no change in his opinion.
""The rabbi is not at all interested in running for this position. Those who speak in his name on this issue are committing a serious act, sinning against the truth and are hurting Maran. We regret that there are vested interests who are taking advantage of Maran's stay on a strengthening trip abroad, in order to discredit him and link him again to fabricated stories. And may the listeners be pleased.".
Rabbi Stern's headquarters' response: "Rabbi Stern's headquarters does not deal with the selection of the Sephardi rabbi.".
Barkat's office stated: Contrary to what has been published, there is no transaction or deal to elect one or another chief rabbi for Jerusalem. Barkat does not act on behalf of a person, but rather on behalf of an issue and is solely concerned with promoting the principle of appointing a chief rabbi from the Zionist sector, alongside a rabbi from the Haredi sector, as is appropriate for Jerusalem.
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