Big Deal: Has a 'deal' actually been struck between the people of the Rashaltz, the Gersham Amar, and the people of the Gaon Rabbi Aryeh Stern, the religious Zionist candidate for the rabbinate of the city of Jerusalem? Apparently so. But neither side is willing to confirm.
In recent months, we have reported here - at Haredim10 - several times about the ongoing talks between the parties, mediated and encouraged by Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat, who is very interested in having both rabbis serve as the capital's rabbis.
Rabbi Amar's people were quick to deny the allegations, time and again. In the latest wave of publications, about a month ago, they claimed: "Interested parties are taking advantage of the rabbi's stay abroad to discredit him.".
However, in recent days it appears that the 'deal' has indeed been closed. According to reports, the agreement is that the people of Religious Affairs Minister Naftali Bennett and Mayor Nir Barkat will support the candidacies of the two as a single entity.
Is this really so? It turns out that it is.
Evidence of this is what 10 senior figures in religious Zionism are telling the ultra-Orthodox, according to which at least two of the minister's representatives on the electorate for the city rabbinate are clear supporters of Rabbi Amar - which proves the existence of such a deal.
Rabbi Amar's people continued to deny the publications yesterday, and rushed to issue a clarification statement stating: "Regarding the publications about the 'deal' for the Jerusalem rabbinate, those around Maran Rashal Gersham Amar Shlita clarify that despite the repeated requests from Shas leaders to present his candidacy for rabbi of Jerusalem, Maran sees no need to address the matter, since the issue is not on the agenda and the election date is not in sight.".
And what about Shas?
A very senior Shas source said this week, in closed-door talks, that reconciliation with Harrish Amar is expected to occur in the near future, and that most of the edges have already been closed in preparation for the presentation of unity. These things are being confirmed by several sources in the Shas leadership.
On the other hand, Rabbi Amar was not invited to the memorial services in memory of Rabbi Yosef, zt"l, which will open this coming Thursday at the Bininei Ha'uma.
The explanation for this lies in an internal dispute within Shas: whether to pursue reconciliation, at least externally, or to continue with the existing policy, which is complete disregard for the other side.
Deri is inclined to lead reconciliation and support for Grand Rabbi Amar in his bid for the position of Sephardic rabbi of Jerusalem, which would prevent him from standing behind political organizations of one kind or another.
But other elements in the movement prefer that the situation remain as it is now. This disagreement, incidentally, also exists among Rabbi Amar's people.
Let us recall that Nir Barkat maintains very good relations with the Minister of Defense Amar, but also with Deri - and the possibility of a political connection between the parties exists.
Let us also recall that a similar deal was proposed at the time between Rabbi Stern and Rishon Lezion, the late Rabbi Yosef - and the late Rabbi Yosef strongly opposed it. Although there are several versions on this issue as well.
Along with all this, it is important to remember: United Torah Judaism, especially the Lithuanian faction, has declared war on Rabbi Stern, and they will fight with all their might, something that already happened in the previous round.
Currently, there is cooperation between Shas and United Torah Judaism in efforts to postpone the elections until at least after November, so that Rabbi Aryeh Stern will be over the age of 70 - and disqualified from running.
Rabbi Stern's headquarters said that they are not involved in the selection of the Sephardic rabbi.
At the time, Barkat's office stated: "There is no transaction or deal to elect one or another chief rabbi for Jerusalem. Barkat does not act for the sake of a person, but rather for the sake 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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