Yosef Calls for Dissolution of Chief Rabbinate, Chief Rabbinate Council to Be Followed by New Electi

Sephardic Chief Rabbi Ovadia Yosef is calling for the dissolution of the present Chief Rabbinate and Chief Rabbinate Council to be followed by new elections for both bodies. He is making the proposal in radio and television interviews, apparently in response to a proposal by the director general of the Religious Affairs Ministry to abolish the traditional dual Chief Rabbinate to serve both the Sephardic and Ashkenazic communities.

Yosef and his Ashkenazic counterpart, Chief Rabbi Shlomo Goren, were elected in 1972 for five-year terms. The two have been feuding constantly ever since and their public quarrels have hampered the functions of the Chief Rabbinate. The 10-member Chief Rabbinate Council has consistently supported Goren in his disputes with Yosef and the latter has boycotted Council meetings, charging that the Council was packed with Goren’s men. Under law, the two Chief Rabbis serve as co-chairmen of the Council.

Yosef is adamantly opposed to abolishing the dual Chief Rabbinate. He said it would destroy a 400-year tradition and be a grave historical error. He also accused Goren of creating discord between them. Goren, who is recovering from a heart ailment, has made no comment but sources close to him said that Yosef’s remarks were “prejudicial to the honor of the Torah.”

Were new elections to be held, Yosef is fairly certain to win the Sephardic nomination since he enjoys the support of virtually all Sephardic rabbis and religious lay leaders in the Sephardic community. Goren’s chances are less certain, observers here say.

The former Chief Chaplain of Israel’s armed forces enjoyed great popularity when he was elected Ashkenazic Chief Rabbi in 1972 but his support has eroded since then. Top sources in the Labor Party who backed Goren three years ago now say privately they would not support him again. But Goren is still strong among the younger elements of the National Religious Party.