Dozens of rabbis from the national-religious camp have signed a petition against making former Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked the head of the United Right. Although the petition makes does not explicitly mention Shaked by name, it reads, "We support [United Right leader] Rabbi Rafi Peretz's position that a God-fearing Jew who observes Torah and mitzvot must be at the head of the national religious party."
One signatory to the petition, Ateret Yerushalayim Yeshiva head Rabbi Shlomo Aviner, took his opposition even further, saying that no woman should be appointed party head, regardless of her religiosity.
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In an interview with Israel Radio Thursday morning, Aviner said, "Even if it was a religious woman, it wouldn't be OK. The complicated vortex of politics is not the arena for the role of women."
A secular Jew, Shaked is a highly popular yet controversial figure in Israeli politics. Shaked is currently on a break from politics after she and fellow New Right party leader Naftali Bennett failed to pass the electoral threshold in the last election. It is believed that any party she were to independently head would fare far better come Election Day.
Nevertheless, the rabbis in their petition argue, "The composition of the [Knesset] list makes a statement that reflects our priorities. This statement has far-reaching consequences for us as a public, and the educational message we send our children. Therefore, without heaven forbid ruling out any other candidate, we see the utmost importance in placing a figure who carries the banner of the Torah at the head of the list."
A number of prominent rabbis who serve as yeshiva heads in the sector and who are identified mainly with the ultra-Orthodox-leaning right wing of the national religious community, signed the petition, among them Rabbi Menachem Pearl, who heads the Tzomet Institute and Yeshivat Hakotel head Rabbi Baruch Weider.
