In 1983, his father appointed him as a lecturer in Mercaz Harav, and until 1993, he served as his father's right-hand man in the Chief Rabbinate. After his father's death in 2007, Rabbi Yaakov Shapira was appointed Rosh Yeshiva, in accordance with his father's will. In 2008, during his first year as Rosh Yeshiva, an Arab from
Jabel Mukaber in
East Jerusalem entered the yeshiva with a gun and began firing indiscriminately,
killing eight students and wounding 15 others. In
2013, Rabbi Shapira competed for the position of
Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel, but lost to Rabbi
David Lau. In October 2014, he submitted his candidacy for the position of
Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem, but withdrew from the race on election day. ==References==