A blow to Shas: Supreme Court Justice Yitzhak Amit issued an interim order this evening (Sunday) postponing the elections for the position of Chief Rabbi of the city of Tel Aviv - at least until January 31, 2026.
The elections were scheduled to take place on January 6.
The order is based on the claims detailed in the petition submitted by several members of the Tel Aviv City Council and factions within the City Council.
The petition claims that the Minister of Religious Services advanced the elections for the city rabbi in violation of the law and while canceling the obligation to consult with the city council before appointing public representatives in the electoral assembly.
According to the petitioners, this is a move that deprives the city and its residents of the ability to influence the body that elects the city's mayor, in a way that does not reflect the unique character of Tel Aviv.
Judge Amit proposed a "short postponement" of the election date to allow the City Council to express its opinion on the public representatives, because the state admits that not all the information was presented to the council members before the hearing - and because of this, there are legal claims raised by the petitioners that require examination.
The decision stated: "After considering the positions of the parties, including the practical difficulties in holding a supplementary hearing on the matter of the list of ministerial representatives prior to the election date currently set for January 6, 2026 - I have decided to issue a temporary order according to which elections for the rabbi of Tel Aviv-Yafo will not be held at this stage until January 31, 2026.".
""Respondent 3 (Tel Aviv Municipality) is expected to act by the aforementioned date to hold a supplementary hearing in its council, as stated in paragraphs 8-10 of its response. Under the circumstances, the respondents will submit an update notice by January 28, 2026 at 11:00. Thereafter, a decision will be made on the continuation of the case.".
Candidates for the position of Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv were: Rabbi Zavadia Cohen, who currently heads the Tel Aviv Rabbinical Court, which is supported by Shas; Rabbi Zvi Yehuda Lau, Rosh Yeshiva Netivot Yitzhak, community rabbi in the Yad Eliyahu neighborhood and son of former Chief Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau; Rosh Yeshiva Hesder in Ramat Gan and head of the Zurba Marvanan Institute; Rabbi Ben Zion Algazi; Rabbi Avi Reznikov - rabbi of the Ichilov Medical Center; Rabbi Aryeh Levin from north Tel Aviv; Rabbi Ram Ravad, who previously served as rabbi of the Air Force; and Rabbi Chaim Amsalem.
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