Rabbi was leader of non-Hasidic Lithuanian Haredi community, with hundreds of thousands of followers, head of Ponevezh Yeshiva and spiritual guide of United Torah Judaism party
Despite focusing on ultra-Orthodox education, Edelstein found himself at political helm of Ashkenazi Jewry where he championed coexistence and pragmatism
Experts and voters say Religious Zionism doubled support by finding people worried about security and willing to ignore more extreme stances, given lack of right-wing options