Full Breakdown
Rabbi Zevadia Cohen Elected Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv-Yafo After Nine-Year Vacancy
4/27/2026, 1:54:44 AM
Election Outcome
Rabbi Zevadia Cohen, head of the Tel Aviv Rabbinical Court, was elected chief rabbi of Tel Aviv-Yafo on 26 April 2026, ending the vacancy since 2017. He won a majority of votes, defeating former MK Rabbi Chaim Amsalem.
Background & Key Players
The chief rabbi oversees marriage registration, kashrut certification, and sits on the Chief Rabbinate Council. The post has been empty since Israel Meir Lau left in 2017. Candidates included Rabbi Tzvi Yehuda Lau, Rabbi Aryeh Levine, and Rabbi Chaim Amsalem. Cohen was backed by Shas, which aims to control municipal rabbinates.
Timeline & Numbers
Legal challenges began in December 2025 when council members petitioned the High Court over ministry-appointed candidates. The Supreme Court froze the 6 January vote. The election was held on 26 April 2026. One source reports Cohen won 37 of 61 valid votes; another describes a 64-member committee split 50 % council, 25 % municipal, 25 % ministry. The vacancy lasted 8 years, 8 months.
Official Reactions
Mayor Ron Huldai praised the election as a sign of Tel Aviv-Yafo’s liberal character and expressed confidence in Cohen’s respect for diversity. MK Michael Malkieli said the result reflects residents’ support for tradition. Former IDF chief Gadi Eisenkot urged mayors to reject rabbis opposed to IDF enlistment, framing the vote as part of a national debate on military service.
Opposition Views
Tani Frank of the Shalom Hartman Institute said the election shows the need to give locally elected officials authority over rabbi selection. Rabbi Dr. Kenneth Brander argued the Chief Rabbinate must adopt a pluralistic approach for Tel Aviv’s social fabric, noting top-down mandates often fail.
Impact
The chief rabbi controls marriage licensing and kashrut certification, shaping daily life and Tel Aviv’s kosher restaurant sector. Cohen’s election strengthens Shas’s influence over municipal religious services and renews debate on religious leaders’ support for IDF enlistment.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the vote count and committee size: one cites 37 of 61 valid votes, another a 64-member body. The composition of ministry-appointed representatives and the full candidate list remain unclear.
Verbatim Quotes
- “MK Michael Malkieli congratulated him, saying: “At the end of a complex election campaign, during which various actors attempted to incite against the election of a city rabbi, the great Rabbi Zevadya Cohen was elected to this important position.” — Michael Malkieli, MK
- “not to lend a hand to the election of a rabbi who does not support IDF enlistment,” — Gadi Eisenkot, former IDF chief of staff
- “The result of the Tel Aviv city rabbi election only underscores the urgent need to change the regulations and transfer the authority to choose city rabbis to local elected officials,” — Tani Frank, Shalom Hartman Institute
What’s Next
Cohen will oversee marriage registration, kashrut supervision, and serve on the Chief Rabbinate Council. Advocacy groups plan to lobby for legislation giving local elected bodies greater authority over future rabbinic appointments.
