2003 Israeli chief rabbi elections

gov הבחירות לרבנות הראשית לישראל (2003) 2003 04 14 yes Israel 2013 1993 1993 Israeli chief rabbi elections 2013 Israeli chief rabbi elections yes Sefardi Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar Shmuel Eliyahu Ratzon Arusi Eliyahu Abragel he אליהו אברז'ל שלמה משה עמאר (3) (cropped).jpg Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu.jpg 124 14 4 3 Shlomo Amar הרב רצון ערוסי בערב השקה בסוכות.jpg הרב אברזל.jpg yes Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi 110x110px Yona Metzger Yaakov Ariel Shlomo Dichovsky PikiWiki Israel 8089 Yona Metzger (cropped).jpg Yaakov Ariel, July 2017 (0332).jpg 63 56 20 Yona Metzger 2003 Israeli chief rabbi elections Shlomo Dichovsky, July 2017 (0332).jpg Elections for the Chief Rabbinate of Israel were held on April 14, 2003 (28 Adar 2, 5763 - Hebrew calendar). Rabbi Shlomo Moshe Amar and Rabbi Yona Metzger were elected.Marciano Ilan April 14, 2003 הרבנים הראשיים: יונה מצגר ושלמה עמאר https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-2566694,00.html October 16, 2025 Yedioth Ahronoth he Background Originally, the position of Chief Rabbi of Israel was a life-long appointment. After the passing of Rabbi Yitzhak Herzog, the term was limited to a 10-year term. Over the years, age limits and reelection for additional terms has been restricted. There are two chief rabbis that server in Israel simultaneously, with two separate and simultaneous elections: one for the Sefardic Chief Rabbi, and one for the Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi. The electorate for Israel's Chief Rabbinate is composed of 150 members: 80 rabbis who hold official positions and 70 public figures including Knesset members, local authority heads, and religious council heads. Campaign The candidates for the Sephardic rabbi position were: Rabbi Shlomo Moshe Amar, rabbi of Tel Aviv; and Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu, rabbi of Safed. Rabbi Amar was endorsed by Rabbi Ovadia Yosef and the Shas party, while the Nationalist Movement Party supported Rabbi Eliyahu, who was the son of Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu, whom the Nationalist Movement Party considered one of its spiritual leaders. The candidates for the position of Ashkenazi rabbi were: Rabbi Yaakov Ariel, the rabbi of Ramat Gan, who was supported by the National Religious Council; and Rabbi Yona Metzger, the rabbi of North Tel Aviv. Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, the spiritual leader of Degel Hatorah, endorsed Rabbi Metzger's candidacy. Religious public figures claimed that Rabbi Elyashiv supported the Metzger's candidacy in order to damage the status of the Chief Rabbinate.Ben Haim Avishai March 21, 2006 "הרב מצגר הוא בור ועם הארץ" https://www.makorrishon.co.il/nrg/online/1/ART1/062/876.html 2025-10-16 Makor Rishon Those close to Rabbi Elyashiv said that he did this to torpedo the sale permit and because, in his opinion, no more suitable candidate was on the agenda at the time.2012-07-20 כך השפיע הרב אלישיב על חיי כולנו https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-4258239,00.html https://web.archive.org/web/20250125153513/https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-4258239,00.html 2025-01-25 2025-10-16 Yedioth Ahronoth he It was also claimed that he was also helped by the fact that he was the brother-in-law of Nati Grossman.Grossman Mindy February 3, 2017 לא ידעו, לא שמעו: העסקנים שקידמו את מצגר מנסים לתרץ https://www.makorrishon.co.il/nrg/online/11/ART2/861/110.html 2025-10-16 Makor Rishon he The circumstances of his election aroused resentment among many in the national religious community.המפד"ל מתכוננת למערכה נגד הרב מצגר https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-2568814,00.html https://web.archive.org/web/20241130230536/https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-2568814,00.html 2024-11-30 2025-10-16 Yedioth Ahronoth he After his conviction, religious journalists returned and pointed the finger of accusation at the ultra-Orthodox activism that led to his election over the Rabbi Ariel. In a joint political 'deal', Shas supported the candidacy of Rabbi Metzger and in return, United Torah Judaism supported the candidacy of Rabbi Amar, which led to the election of both candidates.Liss Yonatan April 15, 2003 דיל בין יהדות התורה לש"ס הבטיח בחירת מצגר לרב האשכנזי https://www.haaretz.co.il/0000017f-e5aa-dc7e-adff-f5afd6d30000 October 16, 2025 Haaretz References Category:Chief rabbis of Israel Category:2003 elections in Israel Category:Religious elections