The battle between Degel HaTorah and Shas for the position of Sephardic rabbi of Yerucham produced one winner tonight: Rabbi Yitzhak Shalev, a member of the Torah core in Yeruham, was elected this evening (Monday) as the chief rabbi of the southern city.
When the polls opened, it became clear that Rabbi Shalev won nine votes, Rabbi Heiman - the United Torah Judaism candidate, received four votes, while the Shas movement candidate, and son of Rabbi David Malul zt"l - Rabbi Yosef Malul, was satisfied with only three votes.
Rabbi Shalev, 33, married with four children, has been a resident of Yeruham for 15 years. He came to study at the city's Heder yeshiva and settled there.
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The rabbi currently teaches at the local Hesder Yeshiva and is involved in volunteer social projects. He has served as rabbi of the central synagogue - 'Rabbi David Ben Baruch - The Dome' - for about a decade.
Upon his victory, Rabbi Shalev said: "I thank the city's residents and their representatives for putting their trust in me, and I hope that with God's help I will continue to serve them faithfully, bring the residents closer to Jewish tradition, and unite the various communities in the city.".
The chairman of the Jewish Home, Minister Naftali Bennett, said: "The election of Rabbi Shalev marks a new path in the rabbinate. Rabbi Shalev grew up in the Hesder yeshiva in Yeruham and teaches in the yeshiva. This is another achievement on the path of religious Zionism and I am happy that the rabbis of religious Zionism are integrated into the top national Torah leadership.".
Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs Rabbi Eli Ben Dahan, who promoted his election, said that the election of his rabbi is good news for the city of Yeruham and the people of Israel. "Rabbi Shalev is a distinguished student of the great Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu, and he learned the path of halakhic rulings, and has dedicated and continues to dedicate his life to working for the people of Israel. We are continuing the revolution in religious services.".
The Tzohar Rabbinical Organization also congratulated the election of their rabbi and expressed hope that he will lead the religious institutions in Jerusalem for many years to come.
