In Second Election, Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi is Chosen

After last month’s tie, Israel’s Chief Rabbinate has elected Rabbi Kalman Ber, a close friend and supporter of Chabad, as the new Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi. He will serve in this role for the next decade alongside the Sephardi Chief Rabbi, Rabbi David Yosef.

By Anash.org reporter

Rabbi Kalman Ber, Chief Rabbi of Netanya, was elected by a majority vote to serve as the Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi in Israel’s Chief Rabbinate. In this new role, he will serve the Ashkenazi community in Eretz Yisroel for the next decade alongside Sephardi Chief Rabbi, Rabbi Dovid Yosef, who was re-elected earlier this month.

Minister of Jerusalem and Jewish heritage, Rabbi Meir Porush, commented: “The appointment of the esteemed Rabbi Kalman Ber as Chief Rabbi is an important and meaningful milestone for the jewish people. Rabbi Ber has received the support of Israel’s leading rabbonim from across communities and will undoubtedly serve as a unifying figure during this complex time. I pray that he merits Divine assistance and succeeds in elevating and endearing the name of Heaven among the Jewish people.”

The election took place today at the Chief Rabbinate building in Yerushalayim, with 136 out of 140 electoral body members casting their votes. Rabbi Ber received 77 votes, while Rabbi Micha Halevi received 58.

This second round of elections followed last month’s tie, in which both Rabbi Ber and Rabbi Halevi received 40 votes each. During the previous vote count, an empty envelope was found in the Ashkenazi ballot box, and in the Sephardi box, a ballot for Rabbi Halevi was found together with a ballot for Rabbi David Yosef, who was elected Sephardi Chief Rabbi. Three weeks ago, the election committee determined that Rabbi Halevi’s 41st ballot, found in the Sephardi envelope, could not be validated, leading to today’s second-round vote.