A post once held by some of the most prominent rabbis in modern Jewish history is set to be filled again after standing vacant for eight years, as Israel moves ahead with the selection of a new chief rabbi of Tel Aviv.
The position, considered one of the most prestigious in the rabbinical world, was last held by Rabbi Israel Meir Lau, who stepped down eight years ago. Since then, the role has remained unfilled. While Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai was reportedly content to continue without a serving city rabbi, the Ministry of Religious Services has advanced the process following the approval of new regulations allowing a city rabbi to be chosen without the mayor’s consent.
In two weeks, members of the electoral assembly are scheduled to convene at the Tel Aviv Religious Council building to select the city’s next rabbi. The position has historically been held by leading figures, including Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook, rabbi of Jaffa and the agricultural settlements; Rabbi Ben-Zion Meir Hai Uziel; Rabbi Ovadia Yosef; Rabbi Shlomo Goren; Rabbi Yitzhak Yedidya Frenkel; Rabbi Meir Lau; and Rabbi Shlomo Amar.
Several candidates have emerged as potential contenders. Among the leading figures is Rabbi Zevadia Cohen, head of the rabbinical courts in Tel Aviv, who is expected to receive the backing of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party. Cohen is considered close to former Sephardi chief rabbi Yitzhak Yosef. In the past, his name was raised as a possible candidate for Israel’s chief rabbinate, though that bid did not materialize. Cohen studied at prominent Sephardi ultra-Orthodox institutions, including the Porat Yosef Yeshiva, and in a kollel led by the late Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, who appointed him as a rabbinical judge. He later advanced with the support of Yosef’s son, Yitzhak. In recent years, Cohen has dealt extensively with complex cases involving the conversion of minors and sensitive divorce proceedings.
Another candidate is Rabbi Haim Amsalem, a former Knesset member for Shas who left the party over ideological disputes. He later founded the Am Shalem movement and unsuccessfully ran for parliament. Amsalem previously sought the position of Sephardi chief rabbi of Jerusalem and is now seeking the Tel Aviv post.
The Lau family, which has produced two generations of chief rabbis, is also represented in the race. The candidate is Rabbi Tzvi Yehuda Lau, the son of Tel Aviv’s former chief rabbi. He studied at the Beit Midrash Binyan Av headed by former chief rabbi Eliyahu Bakshi-Doron and received rabbinical ordination from Israel’s chief rabbis. Lau serves as a community rabbi in Tel Aviv’s Yad Eliyahu neighborhood, heads a yeshiva and in recent years has taught Judaism in various settings, including to secular audiences, sometimes outside the city. He is also involved with organizations providing medical assistance.
Additional names mentioned include Rabbi Aryeh Levin, rabbi of northern Tel Aviv; Rabbi Zion Algazi of the hesder yeshiva in Ramat Gan, who is an active reserve-duty officer; and Rabbi Avi Reznikov, rabbi of Tel Aviv’s Ichilov Hospital. The list of candidates is not final and may change ahead of the vote.
In Israel, a city rabbi is responsible for overseeing kosher certification in the city, supervising inspectors and granting or revoking kosher certificates for businesses and food manufacturers. The rabbi also oversees marriage registration for city residents and supervises religious services such as ritual baths, synagogues and burial services. In many cities, the rabbi also plays a broader communal leadership role around life-cycle events and Jewish holidays.
The electoral assembly that will choose Tel Aviv’s next rabbi is composed of 31 members of the city council, 21 representatives appointed by the minister of religious services and 11 public representatives. The election committee is chaired by retired rabbinical judge Rabbi Yaakov Zamir. Its members include Rabbi Yitzhak Levy, attorney Rachel Dayan, Tal Tenaami and Yonit Gispen.