Rabbi Kalman Ber, Israel’s newly elected Ashkenazi chief rabbi, may appear a contradictory choice at first glance. Yet, his seemingly paradoxical identity reflects both his personal journey and his broader vision for unity within Israeli society.
Born in Tel Aviv in 1958, he is a descendant of prominent rabbanim and rebbes, including Rabbi Akiva Eiger and his namesake, Rav Klonimus Kalman Epstein, author of the seminal chasidic work Ma’or Vashemesh.
“My commitment to unity comes from my home,” Rabbi Ber explains. “My father was raised by his grandfather, the Przedborz Rebbe, because he lost his own father as a young boy. He passed away after performing a taharah for someone who had died from a contagious disease. From him, I learned that while it is noble to die for another Jew, it is equally vital to live for others.”
This ethos was reinforced by his mother’s heritage, which blended chasidish and Litvish traditions. “My mother’s lineage includes the Izhbitzer Rebbe on one side and Rabbi Akiva Eiger on the other,” he recounts. “At home, we were taught to value every Jew regardless of background.”
Rabbi Ber’s educational path mirrors his identity. He studied at yeshivos in Netanya under Rav Simcha Kook and later at the Religious Zionist yeshivah Kerem B’Yavneh. After completing his studies, he served as a combat soldier in the IDF. Following his military service, he returned to yeshivah and continued his learning in kollel. His career took a significant turn when he became a rosh yeshivah. In 2014, he was elected chief rabbi of Netanya.
Rabbi Ber’s ability to transcend divisions was evident then. His candidacy garnered support from a remarkable coalition that included Naftali Bennett, then minister of religious affairs; the secular mayor of Netanya; the Sanz chasidic community; and Rav Ovadiah Yosef, zt”l.
During the recent elections for the chief rabbinate, Rabbi Ber’s candidacy, which was without the backing of any political party, was seen as a long shot, with little chance of success. The electoral body responsible for selecting the chief rabbi—a group comprising of city mayors, rabbanim and public representatives appointed by the minister of religious services—is deeply influenced by political considerations. Securing support from its members is nearly impossible without aligning with vested political interests.
Rabbi Michah Halevi, the chief rabbi of Petach Tikva, was widely seen as the frontrunner. Supported by a formidable coalition that included Shas and the Religious Zionist Party, his path to victory seemed assured. Another strong contender, Rabbi Meir Kahana, av beis din of Ashkelon, gained significant traction among the more liberal factions of Religious Zionist rabbanim.
However, the final tally was a surprise. Rabbis Halevi and Ber were tied with 40 votes each, while Rabbi Kahana secured 30 votes—a deadlock unprecedented in the chief rabbinate’s history.
The shock among committee members was palpable, especially as a candidate without the backing of a political coalition had defied all expectations. Later that evening, committee members claimed to have “discovered” an additional ballot bearing Rabbi Halevi’s name, attempting to declare him the winner by a single vote. The move failed under scrutiny, and the legal adviser ordered a runoff election.
In the subsequent vote, Rabbi Ber emerged as the clear victor, securing the position of Ashkenazi chief rabbi of Israel.
Remarkably, during one of Israel’s most divisive periods, he managed to secure votes from a broad and unlikely coalition: dayanim from both Litvish and chasidish backgrounds, representatives of liberal organizations, and even secular city leaders.
How did a relatively unknown figure without political backing manage such a feat? To find out, I visited Rabbi Ber in his office. Calm and unassuming, he reflected on his unexpected victory with a humility that typifies his character.
“From the outset, I knew everything is in Hashem’s hands,” he says. “I didn’t invest in media or public relations. Instead, I focused on meeting with members of the electoral body, sharing my vision for the chief rabbinate.” Quoting the Gemara in Bava Basra, he adds: “‘Even an appointee over irrigation is appointed from Heaven.’ If this applies to something as seemingly mundane as water distribution, how much more so to the selection of a chief rabbi. As my campaign progressed, several people advised me to bring on political consultants who could help me navigate the complex political landscape. I did hire some advisers, but only as a matter of hishtadlus.”
Rabbi Ber shares his vision of a chief rabbinate attuned to the complexities of modern Israeli society.
“Chazal teach that every generation has its unique leaders and Torah interpreters,” he explains. “Each era demands a rabbinate tailored to its specific challenges. The needs during the chief rabbinate’s founding were fundamentally different from those during Rav Herzog’s time—before and after the Holocaust. Today, we face unprecedented challenges that require a fresh approach.”
Rabbi Ber believes that the rabbinate must adapt its approach to meet today’s challenges. “Waiting passively for people to come to the rabbi is no longer viable,” he asserts. “A rabbi must actively engage with people, meeting them where they are—whether in peripheral towns, rural villages or urban centers. Just as Moshe Rabbeinu descended from the mountain to the people, so too must we descend and connect with our communities.”
Rabbi Ber remains optimistic that even those distanced from religious life yearn for meaningful connection. During his rabbinical campaign, he encountered city leaders far removed from traditional religious observance. “They would ask me, ‘What does the rabbinate have to do with us?’” he recalls. “That very question reveals our fundamental challenge. If people outside the religious community cannot comprehend the rabbinate’s significance, we have failed in our mission.
“It’s not about occupying an office in Yerushalayim,” he emphasizes. “True leadership requires active engagement. We must reach out, influence thoughtfully, communicate with compassion and inspire genuine transformation.”
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