List of Chief Rabbis

Dow Ber Meisels , Grand Rabbi of Kraków (1832–1856) and Warsaw (1856–1861)

This is a list of Chief Rabbis . Chief Rabbi , or rarely Grand Rabbi , is the name given to the chief rabbi of the Jewish community in a larger city or country. The letters ABD ( Av Beth Din ) often follow the name of a chief rabbi .

There are two chief rabbis in Israel - one Ashkenazi and one Sephardic . David Lau and Jitzchak Josef have been Chief Rabbi in Israel since July 2013 . Both are sons of former chief rabbis, namely Israel Meir Lau and Ovadia Yosef .

Chief Rabbi in Israel

Ashkenazi

• Isaak HaLevy Herzog (1949–1959)
• Isser Jehuda Unterman (1964–1973)
• Schlomo Goren (1973–1983)
• Avraham Shapira (1983-1993)
• Israel Meir Lau (1993-2003)
• Jona Metzger (2003-2013)
• David Lau (2013–)

Sephardic

• Ben-Zion Meir Hai Uziel (1939–1953)
• Jitzchak Nissim (1955–1973)
• Ovadja Josef (1973-1983)
• Mordechai Elijahu (1983-1993)
• Eliyahu Bakshi-Doron (1993-2003)
• Shlomo Amar (2003-2013)
• Yitzchak Josef (2013–)

Other states

In Europe

 Denmark

• Marcus Melchior (1947–1969)
• Bent Melchior (1970–1996)
• Bent Lexner (1996-2014)
• Jair Melchior (since 2014)

 England

Ashkenazi

• Tevele Schiff (1765–1766 and 1780–1791)
• Solomon Hirschell (1802-1842)
• Nathan Marcus Adler (1845–1890)
• Hermann Adler (1891–1911)
• Joseph Hertz (1913-1946)
• Sir Israel Brodie (1948-1965)
• Immanuel Jakobovits (1966–1991)
• Jonathan Sacks (1991-2013)
• Ephraim Mirvis (since 2013)

Sephardic

• Moses Gaster (1887-1918)

Reform Judaism

• Laura Janner-Klausner (since 2011)

 Finland

• Abraham Werner (1881-1891)

 France

• Abraham Vita de Cologna (1808–1826)
• Emmanuel Deutz (1810-1842)
• Marchand Ennery (1846-1852)
• Salomon Ulmann (1853-1865)
• Lazare Isidore (1866-1888)
• Zadoc Kahn (1889–1905)
• Alfred Lévy (1907-1919)
• Israël Lévi (1920–1939)
• Isaïe Schwartz (1939–1952)
• Jacob Kaplan (1955–1980)
• René Samuel Sirat (1981–1987)
• Joseph Sitruk (1987-2008)
• Gilles Bernheim (2009-2013)
• Haïm Corsia (since 2014)

 Ireland

• David Rosen (1979–1985)

 Luxembourg

→ Main article : List of Grand Rabbis of Luxembourg

 Netherlands

• Binyomin Jacobs (since 2008)

 Norway

• Michael Melchior (1980-2010)

 Poland

• Pinchas Menachem Joskowicz (1988–1999)
• Michael Schudrich (2004–)

 Czech Republic

• Filip Bondy (1830-1907)
• Karol Sidon (1942–)

 Hungary

• Meir Eisenstadt (1708–)
• Alexander ben Menahem
• Phinehas Auerbach
• Jacob Eliezer Braunschweig
• Deer Semnitz
• Simon Jolles (1717–?)
• Samson Wertheimer (1693? –1724)
• Issachar Berush Eskeles (1725–1753)
• Joseph Hirsch Weiss
• Samuel Kohn
• Simon Hevesi (father of Ferenc Hevesi)
• Ferenc Hevesi
• Moshe Kunitzer (1828-1837)
• Koppel Reich
• Chaim Yehuda German
• József Schweitzer
• Robert German

In Africa

 South Africa

• Joseph H. Hertz (1898–1911) (unofficial)
• Judah Loeb Landau (1915-1942)
• Louis Rabinowitz (1945–1961)
• Bernard M. Casper (1963-1987)
• Cyril Harris (1988-2004)
• Warren Goldstein (since 2005)

In America

 Argentina

• Gabriel Davidovich

Cities

Some chief rabbis of some cities:

Cities in Europe

Amsterdam, Netherlands

• Joseph Zevi Hirsch Dünner (1874–1911)
• Tzvi Ashkenazi
• Aryeh Ralbag

Antwerp, Belgium

• Chaim Kreiswirth (1953-2001)

Baden near Vienna, Austria

• Wilhelm Reich (1880–1929)
• Hartwig Naphtali Carlebach (1931–1938)

Bremen

• Natanel Teitelbaum

Budapest, Hungary

• Yonasan Stiff , before World War II

Frankfurt am Main

• Sabbatai Halevi Horwitz (1632–1642)
• Isaiah Halevi Horwitz (1678–1686)
• Jakob Jehoschua Falk (around 1740–1750)

Geneva, Switzerland

• Alexandre Safran (1948–1989)

Graz, Austria

• Schlomo Hofmeister (since December 2016), State Rabbi of Styria and Chief Rabbi of Graz

Hamburg, Germany

• Anschel Stern (1820–1888), Chief Rabbi of Hamburg

Istanbul, Turkey
See also: Hahambaşı ( Turkish : Grand or Chief Rabbi)

• Eli Capsali (1452-1454)
• Moses Capsali (1454-1497)
• Elijah Mizrachi (1497-1526)
• Mordechai Komitano (1526–1542)
• Tam ben Yahya (1542-1543)
• Eli Rozanes ha-Levi (1543)
• Eli ben Hayim (1543–1602)
• Jehiel Baschan (1602-1625)
• Joseph Mitrani (1625-1639)
• Jomtov Benjaes (1639-1642)
• Jomtov Hananiah Benjakar (1642–1677)
• Chaim Kamhi (1677-1715)
• Judah Benrey (1715-1717)
• Samuel Levi (1717-1720)
• Abraham Rozanes (1720-1745)
• Salomon Hayim Alfandari (1745–1762)
• Meir Ishaki (1762-1780)
• Eli Palombo (1780-1800)
• Chaim Jacob Benyakar (1800-1835)
• Abraham Levi Pasha (1835–1839)
• Samuel Hayim (1839–1841)
• Moiz fresco (1841-1854)
• Yacob Avigdor (1854-1870)
• Yakir Geron (1870–1872)
• Moses Halevi (1872–1909)
• Chaim Nahum Effendi (1909-1920)
• Shabbetai Levi (1920-1922)
• Isaac Ariel (1922-1926)
• Haim Bejerano (1926-1931)
• Haim Isaac Saki (1931-1940)
• Rafael David Saban (1940-1960)
• David Asseo (1961-2002)
• Ishak Haleva (since 2002)

Copenhagen, Denmark

• Max Friediger (1920-1947)
• Marcus Melchior (1947–1969)
• Bent (Binyamin) Melchior (1969–1996)
• Bent Lexner (1996-2014)

Krakow, Poland

• Dow Ber Meisels (1832-1856)

Leiden, Netherlands

• Simon de Vries

London, UK

• Jonathan Sacks, Baron Sacks (1991-2013)
• Ephraim Mirvis (since 2013)

Lyon, France

• Richard Wertenschlag (present)

Lviv, Ukraine

• Meir Dick (-1653)
• David ben Samuel ha-Levi (1653–1667)
• Zwi Hirsch Aschkenasi (-1717)
• Jacob Jehoschua Falk (1717–1731)

Moscow, Russia

• Yakov Maze (before 1924)
• Shmarya Yehuda Leib Medalia (1933–1938)
• Shmuel Leib Levin (1943–1944)
• Shlomo Shleifer (1944–1957)
• Yehuda Leib Levin (1957–1972)
• Adolf Shayevitch (1983, officially 1993 – since 2007)

Munich, Germany

• Hans Grünewald (until 1984)
• Pinchas Paul Biberfeld (1984–1994)
• Steven Langnas (1999-2011)
• Arie Folger (since 2011)

Nové Zámky, Slovakia

• Ernest Klein (1931–1944)

Paris, France

• Rene Gutman
• Isaie Schwartz
• Israel Levi
• Julien Weil (1933–1950)
• Jacob Kaplan (1950–1955)
• Joseph Sitruk
• Gilles Bernheim

Saint Petersburg, Russia

• Jizchak Blaser (1861 / 62–1880)

Prague, Czech Republic

• Judah Löw (1597-1609)
• Isaiah Horovitz (around 1614 – around 1621)
• Solomon Juda Rapoport (1840–1867)
• Heinrich Brody (1912–1930)

Rome, Italy

• Israel Zolli (1940-1943)
• Elio Toaff (1951-2002)
• Riccardo Di Segni (since 2002)

Rotterdam, Netherlands

• Josiyahu Pardo
• Arye Leib Breslau
• Joseph Isaacsohn
• Bernhard Löbel Knight
• ABN Davids
• Lou Vorst (1945–1971)
• A. Hutterer
• Raphael Evers

Sátoraljaújhely, Hungary

• Mosche Teitelbaum (1808–1841)
• Leopold Teitelbaum
• Jekutiel Teitelbaum (1841-1856)
• Jeremiah Loew
• Koloman Weisz
• Isidor Goldberger

Trier, Germany

• Samuel Marx (1804–1827), Chief Rabbi of Trier
• Joseph Kahn (1841–1875), Chief Rabbi of Trier

Venice, Italy

Chief Rabbi Adolfo Ottolenghi (Livorno, Italy 1912)

• Adolfo Ottolenghi (1919–1944), Chief Rabbi of Venice

Vienna, Austria

• Jitzchok ben Mosche , "Or Sorua" (lived around 1200 to 1270)
• Jomtow Lipmann Heller , "Tosfos Jomtov" (lived from 1578 to 1654)
• Scheftel Horowitz (lived from 1561 to 1619)
• Gershon "Uliph" Ashkenazi (lived from approx. 1612–1693)
• Samson Wertheimer (lived from 1658 to 1724)
• Mosche Chanoch Berliner (lived from 1727 to 1793)
• Isaak Noah Mannheimer (1824-1865)
• Lazar Horowitz (1828–1868)
• Adolf Jellinek (1865-1893)
• Moritz Güdemann (1894–1918)
• Zwi Perez Chajes (1918–1927)
• David Feuchtwang (1933-1936)
• Israel Daylight (1936), Provisional Chief Rabbi
• Insp. I. Öhler (1946), preacher in the city ​​temple
• Akiva Eisenberg (1948–1983), Chief Rabbi of Vienna
• Paul Chaim Eisenberg (1983-2016), Chief Rabbi of Vienna
• Arie Folger (2016–2019), Chief Rabbi of Vienna
• Jaron Engelmayer (from August 2020), Chief Rabbi of Vienna

Warsaw, Poland

• Dow Ber Meisels (1856–1861)
• Pinchas Menachem Joskowicz (1988–1999)
• Michael Schudrich (since 2004)

Cities in america

Baltimore, Maryland, USA

• Abraham N. Schwartz (died 1934)
• Joseph H. Feldman (retired 1972, died 1992)

Caracas, Venezuela
Ashkenazi:

• Isaac Cohén (since 2007)

Sephardic:

• Pynchas Brener (since 2007)

Chicago, USA

• Yaakov Dovid Wilovsky known as Ridbaz , Grand Rabbi of the Russian-American Congregations 1903–1905

Hoboken, New Jersey, USA

• Chaim Hirschensohn (1904-1935), Hoboken , Jersey City , Union Hill and surrounding areas

Montreal, Canada
Ashkenazi:

• Pinchas Hirschprung (1969–1998)
• Avraham David Niznik (1998-2006)

Sephardic:

• David Sabbah

New York City, USA

• Jacob Joseph
• Yosef Yitzchok Parnes

St. Louis, Missouri, USA

• Menachem Zvi Eichenstein
• Sholom Rivkin (since 2007)

Cities in Israel

Haifa, Israel
Ashkenazi:

• Yehoshua Kaniel
• She'ar Yashuv Cohen (1975-2011)

Sephardic:

• Eliyahu Bakshi-Doron (1975-1993)

Hebron

• Chaim Hezekiah Medini (1891-1904)

Jerusalem, Israel
Ashkenazi:

• Meir Auerbach (-1878)
• Shmuel Salant (1878–1909)
• Chaim Berlin (1909-1915)
• Abraham Isaak Kook (1919–1921)
• Tzvi Pesach Frank (1936–1960)
• Betzalel Zolty (1977-1982)
• Yitzhak Kolitz (1983-2002)
• Aryeh Stern (since 2014), after twelve years of vacancy

Sephardic:

• Raphael Meir Panigel (1880-1892)
• Jacob Saul Elyashar (1893-1906)
• Jacob Meir | Yaacob Meir (1906)
• Elijah Moses Panigel (1907-1909)
• Nahman Batito (1909-1911)
• Moshe Franco (1911-1915)
• Haim Moshe Elyashar (1914-1915)
• Nissim Yehudah Danon (1915-1921)
• Jacob Meir (1921-1939)
• Shalom Messas (1978-2003)
• Shlomo Amar (since 2014), after eleven years of vacancy

Tel Aviv-Jaffa, Israel
Ashkenazi:

• Schlomo HaCohen Aharonson (1923–1935)
• Mosque Avigdor Amiel (1936–1946)
• Isser Jehuda Unterman (1946–1964)
• Schlomo Goren (1972–1973)
• Isaak Jedidia Frenkel (1973–1986)
• Israel Meir Lau (1988–1993)

Sephardic:

• Ben-Zion Meir Hai Uziel (1911-1939)
• Ja'akov Moshe Toledano (1942–1958)
• Ovadia Yosef (1968–1973)
• Chaim David HaLevi (1973-1998)

Acting alone:

• Shlomo Amar (2002-2003)
• Israel Meir Lau (since 2003)

References and comments

1. ↑ Personality of the week: Issachar Berush Eskeles . Beit Hatefutsot . Archived from the original on December 13, 2004. Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved March 11, 2013. 
2. ↑ Isidore Singer, Stephen S. Wise:  Weiss, Joseph Hirsch. In: Isidore Singer (Ed.): Jewish Encyclopedia . Funk and Wagnalls, New York 1901-1906.
3. ↑ RootsWeb: WISE-L [WISE] Treasure found - autobiography of Stephen WISE . Archiver.rootsweb.com. April 28, 2001. Archived from the original on August 17, 2011. Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved November 9, 2011. 
4. ↑ Recovery wishes from Israel. In: Israelnetz .de. February 27, 2019, accessed March 16, 2019 . 
5. ↑ The names - whether it is "Grand Rabbi" or "Chief Rabbi" - differ from town to town and have also changed in individual towns over the years.
6. ↑ Thomas Eliser Schärf: Chief Rabbi Prof. Wilhelm Reich 1852–1929 ( Memento of the original from January 6, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. . In: juedischegemeinde.at , 2003, accessed on April 11, 2013. 
7. ↑ Thomas Eliser Schärf: Chief Rabbi Dr. Hartwig Naftali Carlebach 1889–1967 ( Memento of the original from December 24, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. . In: juedischegemeinde.at , 2003, accessed on April 11, 2013. 
8. ^ Front page of Malki Ba-Kodesh, Vol. 2; Hoboken, 1921
9. ↑ http://www.cjnews.com/viewarticle.asp?id=7872
10. ↑ http://www.cjnews.com/viewarticle.asp?id=7872
11. ↑ http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/?p=3993#more-3993
12. ↑ http://www.rabbinat.qc.ca/
13. ↑ Archive link ( Memento of the original dated August 9, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
14. ↑ In older accounts, the end of his term of office was occasionally given as 2003. The error originated from the fact that Yitzhak Kolitz died on July 25, 2003. However, due to illness, he had resigned from office in 2002.
15. ↑ ^{a b} Jerusalem appoints two chief rabbis , accessed October 23, 2014.
16. ↑ TEL AVIV HAS A NEW MAIN RABBIN. In: Israeli Embassy in Berlin . March 21, 2002, accessed August 9, 2019 . 

Web links

• Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth