Despite the tempting offer: the reason Rabbi Zarbiv refused to enter politics

Rabbi Avraham Zarbiv, a dayan (rabbinical judge), rejected the offer of Religious Zionism chairman, Minister Bezalel Smotrich, to be placed second on the party's Knesset list, and even the possibility of serving as a government minister. His associates said he prefers to continue working for the general public without political affiliation. Against the backdrop of an attempt to broaden the support base, Alon Davidi remains the main candidate for the slot.

Rabbi Avraham Zarbiv, a dayan, responded negatively to the offer of Religious Zionism party chairman, Minister Bezalel Smotrich, to join the party's Knesset list. The offer included a reserved slot in second place on the list, and even the possibility of appointment as a government minister. The rabbi's associates reported that he chose not to enter political life, out of a desire to continue working for the general public without party affiliation, and to remain a figure belonging to all of the people of Israel. The offer came against the backdrop of Smotrich's attempt to broaden his party's support base, following the primaries results last week, and to appeal also to audiences in the center of the country and the periphery. To this end, several candidates for the reserved slot were considered, including Rabbi Zarbiv, but after the negotiations, Alon Davidi, the mayor of Sderot, remains the main candidate for the position. Smotrich intends to wait with the announcement of the reserved slot until the closing of the lists, and to leave open the possibility that Ofer Winter will join. Rabbi Zarbiv serves as a dayan in the regional rabbinical courts in Tel Aviv and Ariel. He gained much publicity during the Swords of Iron war, when he served in the reserves as an operator of a D9 bulldozer in the Gaza Strip and southern Lebanon, documented his activity, and combined words of Torah and prayers in videos. Following his work, he was chosen to light a torch at the last Independence Day ceremony.