New Chief Rabbis of Israel Sworn In During Ceremony at Presidential Residence

A swearing-in ceremony for the newly elected Chief Rabbis of Israel was held earlier today at the Presidential Residence in Jerusalem, after an extended period without Chief Rabbis in Israel.

During the ceremony, Rabbi David Yosef, the Sephardic Chief Rabbi and President of the Supreme Rabbinical Court, and Rabbi Kalman Bar, the Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi and President of the Chief Rabbinate Council, took their oaths of office. The two Rabbis will serve for the next ten years..

The event featured prayers for the peace of the state, the safety of IDF soldiers, and the singing of ‘Acheinu Kol Bait Yisroel’ for the return of hostages and the healing of the injured.

Among the attendees were Minister of Religious Services Rabbi Michael Malchiali, various ministers and Knesset members, members of the Chief Rabbinate Council, judges from the Supreme Rabbinical Court, the CEO of the Chief Rabbinate, the CEO of the Ministry of Religious Services, the CEO of the Rabbinical Courts, city rabbis, heads of yeshivas, and other dignitaries.

Rabbi David Yosef said in his speech: “I will follow in the path of my father, Maran Chacham Ovadia Yosef Zatzal, which today marks 11 years since his Petirah. I will uphold his pure legacy, which is rooted in the leadership of Chief Rabbi Herzog, the grandfather of the President. We will work for a welcoming and inclusive rabbinate that embraces all communities and guides the people in the spirit of Halacha. Together with my friend, Chief Rabbi Kalman Bar, we will strive for unity among all segments of the nation. We will visit military camps, encourage our soldiers, uplift them, and reach out to the families of the hostages. Together, we will raise the profile of the rabbinate and Judaism within the people, and with God’s help, we will succeed.”

Rabbi Kalman Bar said: “My greatest mission is to foster unity among all parts of the nation in the spirit of the vision of Rabbi Kook. We will provide the word of Hashem to everyone who lives in this land, work towards connections, and ensure that everyone recognizes the worth of their friend. From my late grandfather, a Holocaust survivor who lost his entire family, I learned that the most important thing is to live for others. During these days, we recite the special prayer ‘Acheinu Kol Bait Yisroel.’ We feel the suffering and distress of all Am Yisrael. As long as 101 of our brothers and sisters remain in captivity, and until the last soldier returns from the battlefield, our hearts are with them. I take this evening to call upon the Creator to put an end to our suffering.”

The two Chief Rabbis will alternate in leading roles as Chair of the Chief Rabbinate Council and President of Rabbinical Courts.

The Chief Rabbis of Israel oversee Kashrus, Geirus (conversions), and other religious matters. In this period, they are also focused on resolving issues related to Agunot of Israeli soldiers and hostages and addressing religious questions concerning Israel’s current wars