Modern Orthodox Rabbi David Stav poses for a photograph at his office in Soham, central Israel, Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2013. When Rabbi David Stav launched his official campaign last month to wrest control of Israel's top religious institution from its longtime hardline leadership, it was a long shot. But just two weeks later, Israelis went to the polls and surprisingly shifted the country toward the center of the political spectrum — creating a rare window of opportunity for the modern Orthodox rabbi to capture the title of chief rabbi and fulfill his pledge to revolutionize the contentious role that religion plays in the Jewish state. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
{}