After a razor-thin and highly charged contest, Be’er Sheva has a new chief rabbi. Rabbi Avraham Deri was elected to serve as the city’s rabbi, winning by a margin of just one vote in an election widely viewed as a significant test of strength for Shas and for broader chareidi and political influence.

The closely fought race ended with Rabbi Deri securing 26 votes. His main rival, Rabbi Yoram Cohen, who was backed by Be’er Sheva Mayor Ruvik Danilovich, received 25 votes. A third candidate, Rabbi Gad Revach, garnered two votes, and one ballot was found to be blank.

Rabbi Avraham Deri is the son of the late Rabbi Yehuda Deri zt”l, the longtime and iconic chief rabbi of Be’er Sheva, and a nephew of Shas chairman Aryeh Deri. With his election, he formally assumes the rabbinic mantle once held by his father.

The election committee was chaired by retired Supreme Rabbinical Court judge Rabbi Yitzchak Elmalich. Other committee members included Rabbi Yitzchak Levi, the chief rabbi of Nesher; Moshe Ben Zaken; Dr. Chefzi Zohar; and representatives of the legal department of the Ministry of Religious Services. The committee secretary was Tzuriel Porat.

As noted, the newly elected rabbi is the son of Rabbi Yehuda Deri zt”l, who served as Be’er Sheva’s chief rabbi, head of the city’s rabbinical courts, and a member of the Chief Rabbinate Council of Israel.

Reb Avraham, a native of Be’er Sheva, learned at the Ateres Yisrael Yeshiva, Yeshivas HaNegev in Netivot, and a kollel for rabbinic and judicial ordination. He received semichah for both rabbinic leadership and dayanus from the Chief Rabbinate of Israel and holds formal certification to serve as a city rabbi and dayan. He previously served as a dayan in a rabbinical court abroad recognized by the Chief Rabbinate.

The dramatic result, decided by a single vote, is seen as a major achievement for Shas in the race for the city rabbinate. Beyond the personal identity of the chief rabbi, the election was widely interpreted as a broader barometer of power within the chareidi public and the national and local political arenas.

Rabbi Deri enjoyed the backing of leading Torah authorities, including the nosi of the Moetzet Chachmei Hatorah, Rav Yitzchak Yosef. In the weeks leading up to the vote, Shas chairman Aryeh Deri invested considerable effort to secure his nephew’s victory in the tightly contested race. On the other side, Rabbi Cohen benefited from the open support of the mayor, heightening the tension and sensitivity surrounding the election.

In the end, the narrow decision brought the contest to a close: Be’er Sheva has a chief rabbi, and the struggle over the city’s rabbinic leadership concluded with a Shas victory—by the slimmest possible margin.

Following the announcement, the Rishon LeTzion and Chief Rabbi of Israel, rav Dovid Yosef, spoke with Rabbi Avraham Deri to congratulate him on his election and his entry as a member of the Chief Rabbinate Council of Israel. He told him: “You have merited to fill the place of your great father zt”l; under your fathers shall be your sons.”

Shas chairman Aryeh Deri, the rov’s uncle, also responded, saying: “It is a day of joy for me with the election of my dear one, the gaon Rabbi Avraham Deri, as chief rabbi of the city of Be’er Sheva, as the successor of his father, my beloved brother, the gaon Rabbi Yehuda Deri zt”l, who brought about a spiritual revolution in the city with selfless dedication. This is an especially moving moment also for his wife, the rebbetzin Miriam, may she live long, who worked at my brother’s side for decades with devotion and sacrifice, and now merits seeing her son continue his path in the city rabbinate.”

“I bless Rabbi Avraham that he continue to carry the legacy, to work among all the residents of the city, to bring hearts closer together, to strengthen Torah and Judaism, with a pleasant countenance and gentle ways, and to sanctify the name of Heaven.”

Director General of the Ministry of Religious Services Yehuda Avidan thanked the chairman of the election committee, retired Supreme Rabbinical Court judge Rabbi Yitzchak Elmalich, and Mayor Ruvik Danilovich, and congratulated the new rabbi: “Thanks to an orderly process that began under the outgoing minister for religious services, MK Michael Malchieli, and was coordinated with all relevant parties, we are able to congratulate Rabbi Avraham Deri on his selection as chief rabbi of the city.”

“I believe the rabbi shlit”a will continue his father’s tradition in the city rabbinate and work to connect residents to the world of Torah while making Judaism accessible and welcoming. Appointing a chief rabbi for Be’er Sheva provides spiritual and communal stability. The appointment also strengthens the Chief Rabbinate of Israel with his joining it as a member of the Chief Rabbinate Council, and enables residents to benefit from clear and committed Torah leadership.”

Religious Council chairman Ofer Karadi also congratulated the new rabbi, saying: “This is a historic and formative day for religious services in Be’er Sheva. The election of Rabbi Avraham Deri is truly good news for every resident of the city. The religious council will stand at the side of the newly elected chief rabbi to ensure accessible, illuminating, and unifying religious services, with respect for the glorious legacy of his late father and with an eye toward a future of unity and spiritual growth.”

{Matzav.com}