During the torch-lighting ceremony that took place this evening (Tuesday), the camera focused twice on the figure of someone who looked like the First of Zion.
But, much to our embarrassment, the man is not the Rishonim LeZion, Rabbi Yosef, nor is he one of the Rishonim LeZion in the past.
According to a report by Eli Hirshman on Channel 12, the person seen on the broadcast is Eyal Tsionov, who maintains a TikTok account in which he disguises himself as the Chief Rabbi.
Tsionov has been spotted at quite a few public events recently, with many mistakenly thinking it was Rishon LeZion and coming to receive the blessing. For example, Sarah's husband in the government approached Tsionov at an event on Mount Herzl to receive the rabbi's blessing.
Today he entered the torchlight ceremony and the director even focused on him several times during the ceremony.
A source familiar with the details told Channel 12 that Tsionov did not tell the security guards upon entering that he was the Chief Rabbi, and even entered with a proper invitation, but the general public and the director thought he was the First Rabbi of Zion.
According to the Channel 12 report, last week Zionov ascended the Temple Mount. An Shin Bet official called the rabbi's house and asked why they hadn't coordinated the Chief Rabbi's ascent to the Temple Mount. The rabbi's house explained that it wasn't Rishon LeZion.
A source in the Chief Rabbinate told Channel 12: "It's crazy, the man is walking around and people think he's the Chief Rabbi and approach him to be blessed. We are examining what we can do about this and whether there is a possibility of legal action, because this is a gray area, it is not clear whether and how we can take action against a person who wears a hat and a robe and misleads people that he is the Chief Rabbi.".
He noted that "the Rabbinate's Legal Bureau is examining the issue with all relevant parties.".
