Western Wall exhibit at Ben-Gurion airport sparks debate The Israel Antiquities Authority is pushing back against the country's chief rabbis’ objections to the display at the airport of a 2000-year old, 5-ton stone from Judaism's holiest site. Etgar Lefkovits March 27, 2025
Israel’s Ashkenazi chief rabbi to visit Russia The announcement comes just one day after Israel joined the United States in voting against a U.N. resolution reaffirming the world body’s condemnation of Russia for its invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. JNS Staff Feb. 26, 2025
Chief rabbis urge Israelis to pray for rain "We are in the midst of the month of Kislev and have not yet received the rains of blessing," the rabbis wrote. Dec. 16, 2024
Kalman Ber to be Israel’s Ashkenazi chief rabbi A moderate rabbi with links to the Religious Zionism movement, he won the second round by a vote of 77-58. Oct. 31, 2024
David Yosef elected Israel’s chief Sephardic rabbi; Ashkenazi undecided A tie between hardliner Micha Halevi and moderate Kalman Ber requires a later second round. Canaan Lidor Sept. 30, 2024
Israel votes for new chief rabbis The posts have been vacant for the first time in the state’s history. JNS Staff Sept. 29, 2024
Israeli Chief Rabbinate’s mandate voided, prompting renewal push A dispute with the court on women's representation and the independence of the clergy is paralyzing it ahead of belated chief rabbi elections. Canaan Lidor Sept. 17, 2024
Judge seeks rabbis’ input on separated prayer in Tel Aviv The court needs to know whether the Chief Rabbinate requires a divider between the sexes when praying outside. Canaan Lidor Sept. 12, 2024
High Court orders Chief Rabbinate to elect chief rabbis by Sept. 30 The justices' ruling bypasses the dispute on appointing women to Israel's Chief Rabbi Election Assembly. Etgar Lefkovits Aug. 12, 2024
