Chief Rabbis

Supreme Court:

Elections for Chief Rabbinate - no later than September 30

Following Supreme Court decision to freeze Chief Rabbinate elections, court sets September 30 deadline, orders completion of necessary processes.

'Buy Palestinian Matzot!' - a1927 ad

This was the slogan in 1927 when Chief Rabbi Avraham Kook urged Rabbis to have their ongregations buy Matzot from the land of Israel. Op-ed.

Chief Rabbis to lead rally against government reforms

Israel's leading religious authorities have issued an 'emergency call to action' against proposed reforms in religious services in Israel.

New Law will weaken the Rabbinate's choice of chief rabbis

MK Moshe Tur-Paz initiates a change in the election process: fewer rabbinical representatives, more women, and more liberals.

Religious Affairs Minister: I hope Rabbi Lau changes his mind

Kahana: Chief Rabbi's decision to cease authorizing conversions "solely because a certain official did not have his tenure extended."

Chief rabbis pen letter against kashrut reforms

Rabbis David Lau and Yitzhak Yosef call proposed kashrut reforms an attempt to destroy Jewishness of State of Israel.

Chief Rabbis lead protest against kashrut reforms

Rabbis from all over Israel gather to protest against reforms they say would 'destroy' kashrut system in Israel.

The government's next battle: conversion reform

Religious Affairs Minister Matan Kahana expected to meet with chief rabbis in coming days, to discuss conversion reform.

World’s chief rabbis call for Jews to set aside differences

Letter signed by seven chief rabbis calls on Jews worldwide to take practical steps to overcome both personal and communal conflicts.

Chief Rabbis call for 'defense' of Western Wall

Leading Israeli rabbis speak in video calling for public to protect sanctity of Western Wall from 'Women of the Wall organization.'

Chief Rabbis meet with Ethiopian community leaders

Rabbis Yitzchak Yosef and David Lau call for restraint amid wave of violent protests across Israel following shooting of Ethiopian teen.

Chief rabbis: 'Reduce the number of Lag Ba'omer bonfires'

'Obey the instructions of rescue forces and avoid lighting fires in dangerous places,' chief rabbis say, ahead of expected heat wave.

Who does the Western Wall belong to?

Chief Rabbis demand regulations for the preservation of holy sites be changed so that the authority is exclusive to the Chief Rabbinate.

Report: Shin Bet preventing detainees from keeping Shabbat

Families of five Jews under Shin Bet custody for 'Jewish terrorism' plead with rabbis to allow their sons to keep Shabbat.

Chief Rabbis asked to help Meir Ettinger attend son's brit

Wife of Ettinger, who has been held 8 months without trial, writes Chief Rabbis: 'How can a Jewish state ban a father from his son's brit?'

IDF snubs the Chief Rabbinate

In shocking first, top IDF brass refuses to invite Chief Rabbis to take part in event. Latest move distancing Jewish identity from army.

Chief Rabbis Urge Religious Leaders to Condemn Violence

Rabbis David Lau, Yitzhak Yosef warn interfaith leaders they expect all faiths to uphold right to worship at holy sites, i.e. Temple Mount.

Rabbi: Temple Mount Muslim Thugs Boss Jewish Police Around

Video filmed on the Temple Mount attests to what right-wing activists have long contended – that police are afraid of Muslim rioters.

Rabbinate Hints It May Not Renew Rabbi Riskin's Term

The Chief Rabbinate on Wednesday hinted that it was under strong pressure to remove Rabbi Shlomo Riskin as Chief Rabbi of Efrat

Purim Perplexity: Rabbis Debate When to Celebrate Purim in Ramot

A debate many thought had been resolved long ago has been revived this year for residents of a Jerusalem suburb on when to celebrate Purim.

Ahead of Purim, Chief Rabbis Warn Against Firecrackers

Rabbis note the firecrackers are life-threatening and that the Torah forbids purposely endangering one's life.

Chief Rabbis Show Their Support for Hesder Yeshivas

Chief Rabbis Yitzchak Yosef and David Lau this week visited various Hesder yeshivas showing their support for a much maligned institution

Yesh Atid No. 2 Attempts Peace with Chief Rabbis

Yesh Atid minister steps in to pacify Chief Rabbis after party head Yair Lapid called to fire them both.

Yesh Atid No. 2 Opposed Lapid on Women in IDF

Min. Shai Piron has opined that Jewish law opposes female enlistment. Lapid threatened to fire Chief Rabbis for this position.

Ben Dahan To Lapid: Stick to Finance, Not Rabbis

Deputy Religious Affairs Minister Rabbi Eli Ben Dahan said that Yair Lapid should worry about the Finance Ministry, not the Chief Rabbis

Bennett: Lapid Should Respect, Not Insult, Chief Rabbis

Jewish Home party head Naftali Bennett says comments by Finance Minister Yair Lapid about Israel's Chief Rabbis were unacceptable.

Who Are Israel's 'Top Rabbis?'

Who is the most influential rabbi in Israel? According to Channel 10, it is Rabbi Aharon Leib Shteinman.

Chief Rabbis Urge Jewish People to Pray for Rain

Rabbis Yitzhak Yosef, David Lau urge public in letter to pray for rain after weather remains sunny this year.

End to Forced Inspections for Women at Mikveh

Minister of Religious Affairs and Chief Rabbis issue statements telling ritual bath attendants only to inspect women who want inspection.

Ministers Approve 'One Chief Rabbi' Bill

Bill submitted by MK Feiglin with Yesh Atid's Lipman and Lavie may be merged with government bill on the same matter.

Porush: Fewer Rabbis? Try Fewer Politicians

Hareidi MK not pleased by suggestion to elect just one chief rabbi.

Chief Rabbis Join PM for Torah Study Session

Sara Netanyahu also joins the study session, marking the start of the fourth annual renewed "Tanakh Cycle."

Peres Welcomes New Chief Rabbis, Snubs Old Ones

Peres welcomes new Chief Rabbis of Israel in formal ceremony; outgoing Chief Rabbis not invited.

Rabbi Ronsky: No Need for Blame Game on Chief Rabbi

Bennett confidante responds to voices blaming Bayit Yehudi head for failure to elect religious Zionist chief rabbis.

Rabbi: Zionists Fought Hareidim, and Lost

The Rabbinate elections show the religious-Zionist community what happens if it fights the hareidi world, religious-Zionist rabbi says.

Rabbinate Vote ‘Exposed Rift in Religious Zionism’

Member of voting board says religious Zionists chose hareidi-religious candidates. ‘Deep rift in religious-Zionist society.’

Bennett: They’re Trying to Scare Us

Bennett: No need to fear staying in our land.

Netanyahu Meets New Chief Rabbis

Tells newly elected rabbis: "You are, first and foremost, the rabbis of the non-religious public.”

Ben-Dahan: Rabbinate Results show Rabbi Yosef’s Power

Deputy Minister: religious-Zionist rabbis lost because the religious-Zionist community has no Rabbi Ovadia Yosef.

Rabbi Ben Dahan: Disappointed with Results

Deputy Religions Minister says he hopes the secular public will not “give a kick to the institution of the Rabbinate.”

Bennett: Next Time, One Chief Rabbi

Wednesday may be the last time Israel gets two new Chief Rabbis, Religious Affairs Minister Naftali Bennett said.

Rabbi Stav: 'Heartbroken Over the Divisive Atmosphere'

In his first comments on the latest controversy surrounding him, Rabbi David Stav expressed regret at the “divisive atmosphere”

Shas Unexpectedly Shelves 'Amar Law'

Just as the Knesset was preparing to vote on the Shas-promoted Amar Law, MK Aryeh Deri announced he was shelving it.

Bennett Proposes Bill: One Chief Rabbi, not Two

Bayit Yehudi head sees no need for separate Ashkenazi and Sephardic chief rabbis.

Chief Rabbis Receive Threats from 'Women of the Wall'

Threatening letters were sent Monday to the offices of Israel's Chief Rabbis, signed by 'Women of the Wall.'

Rabbi Ovadia Yosef Endorses Rabbis Amar, Ariel

Rabbis Shlomo Amar and Ya'akov Ariel were endorsed in their elections bids for Chief Rabbi by Rabbi Ovadia Yosef

Proposal: Women to Help Choose Chief Rabbis

MK proposes that at least 25% of those choosing new chief rabbis be women, raises bar for candidates.