Rabbi Avraham Zerbiv responded negatively to the proposal of the chairman of Religious Zionism, Minister Bezalel Smotrich, to accept a position in the party.
According to a report by journalist Amit Segal, those around Rabbi Zerbiv say that there was also talk of a ministerial position - but he refused for several reasons, including his desire to continue "to belong to the entire Jewish people and not to something partisan.".
Minister Smotrich met with Rabbi Zerbib about a month ago and presented him with a proposal for a guaranteed seat on the party's list in second place. The move was intended to inject new blood into the party and appeal to a new target audience.
About two weeks ago, Chief Rabbi Rabbi Kalman Bar met at an event for wedding planners with the Dayan Rabbi Zerbib - and during his remarks at the event, he spoke about the advice he gave the Dayan.
Rabbi Bar: "Don't get into politics. Politics is like a cholent - you know how you get in, you don't know how you get out.".
Rabbi Zerbib confirmed the news and said that the person who helped him make the decision to stay out of politics was his wife. He compared the case to the story of On ben Pelat from the Korach incident, saying: "On ben Pelat - his wife saved him.".
Rabbi Zerbiv became one of the most recognizable figures among the reserve soldiers during the 'Iron Swords' War, when during the war he served as a D9 bulldozer operator in the Engineering Corps - and invented new methods for demolishing buildings in the Gaza Strip.
On the last Independence Day, Rabbi Zerbiv was chosen to lead a torchlight procession on Mount Herzl.
