Members of the Jewish Home party welcomed on Tuesday evening the election of two new Chief Rabbis for Jerusalem.

Former Israeli Sephardic Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar was elected as the new Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem, while Rabbi Aryeh Stern of the Halacha Brura Institute was voted in as Ashkenazic Chief Rabbi.

In a statement, Jewish Home chairman Naftali Bennett, one of Rabbi Stern’s main backers, said that “something new has begun in Jerusalem”.

“I congratulate the newly elected chief rabbis, Rabbi Stern and Rabbi Amar, who will glorify the Torah. This is an important victory for religious Zionism in Jerusalem; we will continue to lead a line of Judaism with a connection to Israel.”

Deputy Minister of Religious Services Rabbi Eli Ben-Dahan said after the results of the election were announced, “We promised and we kept our promise. Jerusalem has elected a Zionist rabbi who believes in the people of Israel and the State of Israel.”

“When I was elected I promised that it was time for religious Zionist rabbis to be appointed to key positions and that day has come. We believe this will have a significant impact on the image of religion in the country,” he added.

“Today we can announce to Jerusalem that we have two new rabbis who match the character of the city,” said Rabbi Ben-Dahan.

Deputy Education Minister Avi Wortzman also welcomed the results and said that after the tumultuous election campaign, the new chief rabbis of Jerusalem must unite and work together.