Official State of Israel

Chief Rabbis of Israel

הרבנות הראשית לישראל

The two supreme religious authorities of the State of Israel — the Sephardi Rishon LeZion and the Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi — jointly leading Jewish spiritual life since 1921.

Rishon LeZion

ראשון לציון

Sephardi Chief Rabbi

&

HaRav HaRashi

הרב הראשי לישראל

Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi

The Chief Rabbinate of Israel (הרבנות הראשית לישראל) is the supreme halachic and spiritual authority for Jews in the State of Israel. It was established under the British Mandate in 1921 and formally constituted under Israeli law in 1953. It is co-led by two Chief Rabbis of equal standing — one Sephardi and one Ashkenazi.

Source: Chief Rabbinate of Israel Law, 5713–1953; Encyclopaedia Judaica Vol. 5

ראשון לציון

Sephardi Chief Rabbi of Israel

Rishon LeZion

Current Office Holder — 2024 – Present

Rabbi David Yosef

Rishon LeZion · 2024 – Present

Rabbi David Yosef is the son of the late Sephardi Chief Rabbi Ovadia Yosef z"l, one of the most influential halachic authorities of the 20th century. Rabbi David Yosef is the Rosh Yeshiva of Yechaveh Da'at in Jerusalem and a prolific halachic author. He was elected Sephardi Chief Rabbi of Israel in 2024 following the conclusion of Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef's term.

Source: Chief Rabbinate of Israel official records; Jewish Virtual Library

הרב הראשי לישראל

Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel

HaRav HaRashi

Current Office Holder — 2024 – Present

Rabbi Kalman Ber

HaRav HaRashi · 2024 – Present

Rabbi 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

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