הרב הראשי לישראל
HaRav HaRashi LeYisrael
The spiritual leader of the Ashkenazi Jewish community of Israel, co-heading the Chief Rabbinate alongside the Sephardi Rishon LeZion.
Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel
2024 – PresentRabbi Kalman Ber, senior rabbi of Netanya, was elected Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel in 2024 in a highly contested election following a year of delays. Backed by ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) factions, his election was the subject of significant political and religious debate in Israel. He succeeds Rabbi David Lau, who served 2013–2024.
Source: Times of Israel (2024); Jewish Virtual Library; Chief Rabbinate of Israel
The office of Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of the Land of Israel/State of Israel traces its formal structure to the early 20th century British Mandate period. The first officially recognized Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi under the British Mandate was Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook (1921–1935), one of the most influential figures in modern Jewish religious thought, who developed the theological framework for Religious Zionism.
Under the State of Israel (established 1948), the Chief Rabbinate (HaRabbant HaRashit LeYisrael) was formally constituted with two co-equal chief rabbis: the Ashkenazi (HaRav HaRashi) and the Sephardi (Rishon LeZion). The Chief Rabbinate has jurisdiction over personal status matters (marriage, divorce, burial, conversion) for Jewish citizens and oversees kashrut certification nationally.
The Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi represents the traditions of Ashkenazi (Eastern and Central European) Jewish communities, though the rabbinate serves all of Israeli Jewish society.
First Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of the British Mandate
Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook (1865–1935) is one of the most celebrated and profound Jewish thinkers of the modern era. Born in Grīva, Latvia, he emigrated to the Land of Israel in 1904. As the first Chief Rabbi, he developed the philosophy of Religious Zionism — the theological framework that saw the return to the Land of Israel as the beginning of divine redemption. His works include Orot, Orot HaTeshuva, and many volumes of Responsa. His yeshiva, Merkaz HaRav in Jerusalem, continues to influence Religious Zionist thought. His son Rabbi Zvi Yehuda Kook continued his legacy.
Source: Yosef Ben-Shlomo, The Philosophy of Rabbi Kook (1990); Encyclopaedia Judaica Vol. 12
Son of former Chief Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau. Known for broad halachic engagement and interfaith outreach. His term was marked by debates over conversion and kashrut policy.
Focused on interfaith dialogue internationally. Later convicted of corruption charges unrelated to his religious duties.
Holocaust survivor and one of the most recognizable Jewish leaders globally. His memoir 'Out of the Depths' describes his survival as a child in the camps. Later became Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv.
Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Merkaz HaRav. Known for strong opinions on halachic and political issues regarding the Land of Israel. Co-authored Responsa Me'orot Natan.
First Chief Military Rabbi of the IDF. Scholar, military officer, and halachist. Controversial rulings on the Langer case. Known for blowing the shofar at the Western Wall during the Six-Day War.
Born in Lithuania. Previously Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv. Author of Shevet MiYehuda. Focused on issues of Jewish identity and halacha in the modern state.
First Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of the State of Israel (1948). Born in Łomża, Poland. Worked tirelessly to rescue Jews and reunite children separated during the Holocaust. Father of Chaim Herzog, later President of Israel.
Also see the office of the Sephardi Chief Rabbi:
Sephardi Chief Rabbi — Rishon LeZion