Shas-backed candidate appointed new chief rabbi of Tel Aviv

Shas-backed Rabbi Zevadia Cohen, who currently serves as the head of the rabbinical courts in Tel Aviv, is selected as the city’s new chief rabbi, after almost nine years without one, the Religious Service Ministry announces.

A 64-member committee, including all members of the municipal council and representatives of the Religious Services Ministry, was responsible for choosing from a list of 16 candidates by casting a secret ballot.

Cohen received 37 votes. The second most voted candidate was Rabbi Haim Amsalem, who was considered a more liberal choice and was backed by a plurality of parties in the city council, including Meretz, Yesh Atid and Religious Zionism.

However, Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai is said to have supported Cohen. Earlier today, a spokesperson for the mayor told The Times of Israel that Huldai will be publishing a statement after the results of the elections are announced.

Cohen is close to the Yosef rabbinical dynasty, and especially to former chief rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, son of the late chief rabbi, Sephardic sage and Shas founder Ovadia Yosef, and brother to current Chief Rabbi David Yosef. Like Ansalem, he currently lives in Jerusalem.

Neither Cohen nor his children have served in the army.

The rabbi is considered a respected dayan (rabbinical judge). He is known for his efforts in favor of agunot (women chained in marriages because of their husbands’ refusal to grant them a divorce, as required by Jewish law to end a marriage).

There are currently dozens of municipalities across Israel without a rabbi, and under the current government, Shas has worked to extend its influence over the appointment process for candidates to the posts.