Hakham Bashi News Today

Throughout the Jewish world, Israel stands out by having two chief rabbis. The ‘Magazine’ looks at why – and asks if this model should continue

Not every Jew in the world celebrates the traditions of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, in the same way.

The ornately carved chair that Samuel presented to Kook on behalf of King George V remains in its place of honor on the synagogue’s eastern wall next to the aron hakodesh (Torah ark).

Hasköy is one of the oldest districts where Jews used to live and one of the older still-used Jewish cemeteries is located there.

In an interview with The Jerusalem Post, Hakham Bashi (Chief Rabbi) Ishak Haleva said Israelis should feel at home in Turkey, contradicting repeated warnings by Foreign Minister Yair Lapid.

From the blog of Mendy Chitrik at The Times of Israel

The experience of Jews in the Ottoman Empire is particularly significant because the region “provided a principal place of refuge for Jews