Former Israeli Chief Rabbi Yisrael Lau poised to run for second term

Former Israeli Chief Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau is poised to join the race for chief rabbi, if an amendment allowing chief rabbis to serve more than one term passes as planned, Haaretz has learned.

If Rabbi Lau does declare his candidacy, he would be considered a front-runner in the race. His son, Modi'in Chief Rabbi David Lau, who is currently running, will drop out from the race.

The elections are slated to take place in three months as the terms of current chief rabbis Rabbi Shlomo Amar and Rabbi Yona Metzger have already been extended. The government is hoping to reach an agreement in the political arena on the identity of Israel's next chief rabbis before the elections.

Habayit Hayehudi, affiliated with the national religious movement, is negotiating a deal with Shas, an ultra-Orthodox Sephardic party, whereby Habayit Hayehudi would support Shas' candidate for the position of Sephardic chief rabbi in exchange for Shas' support for a national religious candidate for chief Ashkenazi rabbi. Habayit Hayehudi has been unsuccessful in getting a national religious rabbi elected chief rabbi, because of the strong influence the ultra-Orthodox have over the elections process.

Currently, the incumbent chief Sephardic rabbi, Rabbi Shlomo Amar, is the front-runner to keep his position. However, this is contingent on the government passing an amendment to the law allowing chief rabbis to serve for more than one term.

As for the Ashkenazi chief rabbi, a panel of rabbis, headed by influential national religious Rabbi Haim Druckman, has been deliberating for a few weeks now over which candidate to recommend to Habayit Hayehudi. The front-runners are Rabbi Ya’akov Shapira, Rabbi Eliezer Igra, and Rabbi David Stav, with a fourth candidate recently being considered Ramat Gan Chief Rabbi Ya’akov Ariel. Rabbi Ariel was almost elected chief rabbi in the last elections, until Rabbi Metzger, who was supported by the ultra-Orthodox, pulled out in front.

Shas is said to favor Rabbi Ariel, considering him a good candidate, and certainly preferring him over Rabbi Stav, whom Shas views as too moderate. The nationalist ultra-Orthodox camp is said to support any candidate but Rabbi Stav.

For either Rabbi Ariel or Rabbi Lau to run, another amendment would have to be made to the law, which states that only candidates born after 1942 may run. Both Rabbi Lau and Rabbi Ariel were born in 1937. If Rabbi Ariel does run, he is likely to win.

Haaretz has learned that Rabbi Druckman spoke with Rabbi Yisrael Lau a few days ago to see if he was interested in the position. If he is, Rabbi Druckman's plans could fall apart. Apparently, Rabbi Lau didn't answer.

Rabbi Lau’s office told Haaretz that he “is not dealing with the matter,” but some of his close associates told Haaretz “it is not baseless that the senior Rabbi Lau could run and win."