Chief Rabbinate of Israel

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David Lau 1

The Chief Rabbinate of Israel is the supreme rabbinic and spiritual authority for Judaism in Israel. It was established during the British Mandate of Palestine and continues to function as the central institution for religious affairs in the country. The Chief Rabbinate oversees various aspects of Jewish life, including kashrut, marriage, divorce, and conversion to Judaism.

History

The Chief Rabbinate was established in 1921 by the British authorities to create a unified religious authority for the Jewish community in Palestine. The first Chief Rabbis were Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook for the Ashkenazi community and Rabbi Jacob Meir for the Sephardi community.

Structure

The Chief Rabbinate is divided into two main branches: the Ashkenazi Chief Rabbinate and the Sephardi Chief Rabbinate. Each branch has its own Chief Rabbi, and together they form the Council of the Chief Rabbinate. The Chief Rabbis are elected for a ten-year term by a special assembly composed of rabbis, public officials, and representatives of various Jewish communities.

Responsibilities

The Chief Rabbinate has several key responsibilities:

• **Kashrut**: Supervising the certification of kosher food products and establishments.
• **Marriage and Divorce**: Overseeing Jewish marriage and divorce procedures in accordance with Halakha (Jewish law).
• **Conversion**: Managing the process of conversion to Judaism.
• **Religious Courts**: Operating the rabbinical courts that handle matters of personal status, such as marriage, divorce, and conversion.

Controversies

The Chief Rabbinate has been involved in various controversies over the years, particularly regarding its strict control over marriage, divorce, and conversion. Critics argue that the institution's policies are too rigid and exclude many Jews, especially those from non-Orthodox backgrounds.

See Also

• Rabbinic literature
• Halakha
• Beth Din
• Kashrut
• Conversion to Judaism
• Marriage in Judaism
• Divorce in Judaism