Rabbi Shalom Mashash, former Chief Rabbi of Morocco who immigrated to Israel only two weeks ago and Rabbi Bezalel Zolti, a member of the Supreme Rabbinical Court of Appeals, were elected Sephardic and Ashkenazic Chief Rabbis, respectively, of Jerusalem today ending a long period in which the city was without a religious leader. There had been no Ashkenazic Chief Rabbi in the capital for 17 years and none for the Sephardic community for seven.
Zolti won by a margin of 37-23 votes over his closest rival, Rabbi Dov Lior of Kiryat Arba. Rabbi Mashash overwhelmed Rabbi Haim Shlush of Netanya by a vote of 40-19. One blank ballot was cast. Mayor Teddy Kollek visited the newlyelected rabbis immediately after the results were announced. He congratulated them and expressed hope that they would exert their influence to bring religious and secular residents of the city closer.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
