Israel Elects New Chief Rabbis Amid Controversy

Rabbi David Yosef has been elected as Israel's next Sephardic chief rabbi, continuing a family legacy as the son of the late Rabbi Ovadia Yosef and brother of recently retired Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef. Yosef received 72 out of 140 votes from the Chief Rabbi Election Assembly, supported strongly by the Shas party. The race for Ashkenazi chief rabbi resulted in a tie between Rabbi Micha Halevi and Rabbi Kalman Bar, necessitating a second round of voting next week. The election has been marked by political struggles and delays, with the Ashkenazi race featuring five candidates, including prominent figures like Rabbi Meir Kahana and Rabbi Moshe Chaim Lau. The voting process, held at Jerusalem's Ramada Hotel, did not include women delegates despite court rulings advocating for their inclusion. The Chief Rabbinate's refusal to diversify the electing assembly has been a point of contention, highlighting ongoing political and legal tensions in the selection process.