Rabbi Yuval Cherlow, head of Yeshivat Orot Shaul and head of ethics in the Zohar rabbinical organization, commented on the deal between Shas and the Religious Zionism parties in a conversation with Israel National News. The agreement stipulates that Shas will support the candidate of the Religious Zionism party for the Chief Ashkenazic Rabbi and the Religious Zionism party will support Shas’ candidate for the position of Chief Sephardic Rabbi.

“In my opinion, for the benefit of the people of Israel, for the benefit of the public and for the benefit of religious Zionism – it is of the utmost importance that its Rabbis be diverse – certainly the Sephardic rabbis that we are learning more and more that the world they bring is important for everyone. It is important that they choose and be in very significant positions in the leadership,” says Rabbi Cherlow. “This is true in the rabbinate, in yeshivas and institutions, everywhere and in every field. It is true and just, and a decent thing in light of the fact that a significant part of religious Zionism is Sephardic.”
After that, Rabbi Cherlow addressed the question of the political feasibility of appointing a Zionist Chief Sephardic Rabbi. “If there is no political possibility, there is no point in banging your head against the wall, but if there is a possibility, you should also try to appoint Zionist Sephardic rabbis.”
Rabbi Cherlow sees great value in appointing Sephardi Zionist rabbis. “This is practical, moral, fair, and for the benefit of religious Zionism. It is not doing someone a favor to say that Sephardic Jews can also be involved – the Sephardic Jews are themselves religious Zionists. I do not understand the other option at all. Unfortunately, there are not many religious Zionist rabbis either, so If there is a political possibility and a political effort will bring about the achievement, it must be done, for all the reasons in the world. If there is no possibility, there is no point in banging your head against the wall, I don’t know if this possibility exists, I have no tools to know such a thing.”