The Times of Israel https://www.timesofisrael.com/topic/ashkenazi-chief-rabbi/ News from Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World Wed, 23 Sep 2026 12:07:08 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://static-cdn.toi-media.com/www/uploads/2018/11/toi_icon_512-200x200.png Ashkenazi chief rabbi | The Times of Israel https://www.timesofisrael.com/topic/ashkenazi-chief-rabbi/ 32 32 Ultra-Orthodox rabbis secure majority in Israel’s top Jewish legal body https://www.timesofisrael.com/ultra-orthodox-rabbis-secure-majority-in-israels-top-jewish-legal-body/ Wed, 19 Feb 2025 14:34:25 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3486314 Chief Rabbinate Council is the main authority on Jewish law for government and religious services; head of advocacy group says new members all appear to back religious status quo

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]]> Ultra-Orthodox-backed Kalman Ber chosen as Ashkenazi chief rabbi in runoff https://www.timesofisrael.com/ultra-orthodox-backed-kalman-ber-chosen-as-ashkenazi-chief-rabbi-in-runoff/ Thu, 31 Oct 2024 18:02:42 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3409358 Top Netanya cleric beats out Rabbi Micha Halevi, who drew anger from religious Zionists by reneging on promise to stay out of race, after initial balloting ended in tie

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]]> Divisive, long-delayed election for chief rabbi to proceed Thursday https://www.timesofisrael.com/divisive-long-delayed-election-for-chief-rabbi-to-proceed-thursday/ Wed, 30 Oct 2024 14:10:43 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3407736 Over a year late, the vote for Israel's top Ashkenazi authority seems to be on track amid political strife and broken commitments

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]]> Following inconclusive vote, AG demands second round in chief rabbi election https://www.timesofisrael.com/following-inconclusive-vote-ag-demands-second-round-in-chief-rabbi-election/ Tue, 08 Oct 2024 15:00:35 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3393268 Call for runoff comes after a single miscast ballot left rabbis Micha Halevi and Kalman Ber with 40 votes apiece in last Sunday's Chief Rabbinical election

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]]> David Yosef elected as Sephardic chief rabbi, the third from his family in the role https://www.timesofisrael.com/david-yosef-elected-as-sephardic-chief-rabbi-the-third-from-his-family-in-the-role/ Sun, 29 Sep 2024 20:48:26 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3386533&preview=true&preview_id=3386533 Second round for Ashkenazi chief rabbi to be held next week, following tied vote; election held after disagreements and competing political deals kept positions vacant since July

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]]> Election underway for new chief rabbis, after repeated delays and political deals https://www.timesofisrael.com/election-underway-for-new-chief-rabbis-after-repeated-delays-and-political-deals/ Sun, 29 Sep 2024 14:01:25 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3386198 Results to be announced Sunday evening; election of Ashkenazi and Sephardi religious leaders for 10-year term comes after disagreements kept roles vacant since July

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]]> Lead candidate for chief rabbi in legal hot water due to unkosher loan — report https://www.timesofisrael.com/lead-candidate-for-chief-rabbi-in-legal-hot-water-due-to-unkosher-loan-report/ Sat, 28 Sep 2024 10:00:10 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3385419 Nonprofit run by Rabbi Micha Halevi loaned NIS 100,000 to company that pays kashrut inspectors in Petah Tikva, where he heads local rabbinate; chief rabbi vote set for Sunday

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]]> A fight over women’s representation leaves Israel’s Jews without chief rabbis https://www.timesofisrael.com/a-fight-over-womens-representation-leaves-israels-jews-without-chief-rabbis/ Fri, 05 Jul 2024 18:17:32 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3323924 The Justice Ministry's demand that the rabbinate consider women for a position traditionally reserved for rabbis is key to the delay in succession for the first time in over a century

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]]> Israel’s chief rabbis leave their posts with no successors lined up to replace them https://www.timesofisrael.com/israels-chief-rabbis-leave-their-posts-with-no-successors-lined-up-to-replace-them/ Fri, 05 Jul 2024 01:34:48 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3325424 Interim rabbis to fulfill duties after Religious Affairs Ministry fails to set date for elections to replace outgoing rabbis, Ashkenazi David Lau and Sephardi Yitzhak Yosef

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]]> Citing nepotism concerns, High Court of Justice halts rabbinical courts appointments https://www.timesofisrael.com/citing-nepotism-concerns-high-court-of-justice-halts-rabbinical-courts-appointments/ Sun, 26 May 2024 20:47:21 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3298672 Petition filed by attorney notes that Chief Rabbi David Lau is a member of the committee considering the promotion of two of his relatives

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]]> Knesset votes to postpone election for new chief rabbis https://www.timesofisrael.com/knesset-votes-to-postpone-election-for-new-chief-rabbis/ Tue, 04 Jul 2023 06:41:32 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3045464 Heated race delayed until spring of 2024 as Shas reportedly scrambles to choose candidate

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]]> Otzma Yehudit brawls with Shas over Chief Rabbinate election delay https://www.timesofisrael.com/otzma-yehudit-brawls-with-shas-over-chief-rabbinate-election-delay/ Sun, 18 Jun 2023 23:50:47 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3035685 Haredi party minister tells far-right faction to stay in its lane, claiming control of tax-funded state body and threatening to kill domestic abuse bill if it doesn't get its way

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]]> Zionist rabbis tap Meir Kahana, reserves commander, as their pick for chief rabbi https://www.timesofisrael.com/zionist-rabbis-tap-meir-kahana-reserves-commander-as-their-pick-for-chief-rabbi/ Sun, 04 Jun 2023 18:56:48 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3027399 Nomination seen as surprising since it knocks out hardliner favored by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich; Haredi factions yet to coalesce around nominee ahead of vote this fall

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]]> Selection of new chief rabbis postponed until after municipal elections https://www.timesofisrael.com/selection-of-new-chief-rabbis-postponed-until-after-municipal-elections/ Sat, 03 Jun 2023 18:42:07 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3026930 Religious Services Minister Michael Malchieli cites fear the municipal voting could appear to taint the process

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]]> Chief rabbi calls for government to change immigration law to keep non-Jews out https://www.timesofisrael.com/chief-rabbi-calls-for-government-to-change-immigration-law-to-keep-non-jews-out/ Mon, 21 Nov 2022 17:37:38 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?post_type=liveblog_entry&p=2879367 Speaking at New Jersey event, David Lau echoes comments by Sephardi Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, who said incoming government could offer chance to 'amend the law on who is a Jew'

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