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Kalman Ber

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Rabbi
Kalman Meir Ber
קלמן מאיר בר‎
Rabbi Kalman Bar speaking at a podium
Rabbi Kalman Ber at a Jerusalem Day event at Mercaz HaRav Yeshiva, 2015
TitleAshkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel
Personal
Born
Kalman Meir Ber

(1957-12-24) 24 December 1957 (age 66)
Yad Eliyahu, Tel Aviv, Israel
ReligionJudaism
NationalityIsraeli
SpouseDaphna Ber
Children6
Parent(s)Emanuel Ber (father), Miriam Ita Ber (mother)
DenominationOrthodox Judaism
Alma materYeshivat Kerem B'Yavneh
OccupationRabbi, educator
Jewish leader
PredecessorDavid Lau
PositionRosh Yeshiva
YeshivaYeshivat Kerem B'Yavneh
PositionAshkenazi Chief Rabbi
OrganisationChief Rabbinate of Israel
Began2024
OtherChief Rabbi of Netanya (2014–2024)
ResidenceNetanya, Israel
SemikhahKerem B'Yavneh (1980)

Kalman Meir Ber (Hebrew: קלמן מאיר בר; born 24 December 1957) is an Israeli rabbi who serves as the Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel, appointed in 2024. He previously served as Chief Rabbi of Netanya from 2014 to 2024.

Biography

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Ber was born in 1957 in the Yad Eliyahu neighborhood of Tel Aviv. He is the son of Miriam Ita, a descendant of Rabbi Akiva Eiger and the Izhbitza-Radzin Hasidic dynasty, and Emanuel Ber, the grandson of the Admor of Peshdvorz and a descendant of Rabbi Kalonymus Kalman Halevi Epstein, author of Maor Vashemesh, for whom Rabbi Kalman Meir is named.[1]

He studied at the Netanya yeshiva high school under Rabbi Simcha HaCohen Kook. In 1975, he began his studies at Yeshivat Kerem B'Yavneh as part of the Hesder program. He served in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) as a soldier in the Nahal Brigade and continued in the reserves for many years. During his yeshiva years, he studied the writings of Rabbi Kook with Rabbi Uzi Kalchaim. Later, he studied in the kollel at the yeshiva and received his ordination as a city rabbi. In 1980, Rabbi Chaim Yaakov Goldvicht appointed him as a lecturer (ram) at the yeshiva.[2]

Alongside his role at the yeshiva, Ber served as head of the women's seminary at Kibbutz Hafetz Haim and as a rabbi at Talpiot College. He also undertook a rabbinic mission in Antwerp, where he led Yavneh Yeshiva and served as rabbi of the Mizrachi "Rabbi Amiel" community. Previously, he hosted a Torah segment on Kol Chai radio and currently presents a weekly Torah segment on Kikar HaShabbat.

Chief Rabbi of Netanya

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Rabbi Kalman Meir Ber at an emergency conference for kashrut supervisors and employees of religious councils, organized by the Histadrut, following the kashrut reform proposed by the Ministry of Religious Services in the Economic Arrangements Law

In late 2014, after a 26-year vacancy in the role, Rabbi Ber was appointed as the Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Netanya. He received the support of the Bayit Yehudi party, the Admor of Sanz, and Netanya Mayor Miriam Feirberg.[3] In this role, Rabbi Ber established the "Be’hidur HaKashrut" division within the Netanya Rabbinate's kashrut system.[4][5]

Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel

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From right to left: Rabbi Kalman Ber, Rabbi Tzion Luz, Rabbi Moshe Amsalem, and Rabbi Moshe Bigel at a Jerusalem Day event at Mercaz HaRav Yeshiva

In 2024, Rabbi Ber ran in the election for Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel, with the endorsement of the Degel HaTorah party,[6] as well as Rabbis Yaakov Shapira,[7] Mordechai Greenberg, Aryeh Stern,[8] Eitan Eisman,[9] Aharon Friedman,[10] David Stav,[11] and other rabbis affiliated with Mercaz HaRav, Kerem B'Yavneh, and additional institutions.[12][13]

In the first round of voting held in late 2024 (September 2024), Rabbi Ber received 40 votes, tied with Rabbi Micha Halevi, Chief Rabbi of Petah Tikva, who also received 40 votes. In the second round of voting, held approximately one month later, Rabbi Ber was elected with a majority of 77 votes against Rabbi Halevi's 58 votes.[14]

In a statement following the vote, Meir Porush, the Minister of Jerusalem Affairs and Jewish Heritage, said:

“…the election of the Gaon Rabbi Kalman Ber—may he live many long and good days—to the position of chief rabbi is important and significant news for Israel’s tradition… [Ber] received support from “all denominations and circles and will unite all of Israel during this difficult period.”[15]

Personal life

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He is married to Daphna, granddaughter of Rabbi Zusman Rieger and Tova Rieger, sister of Rabbi Shalom Natan Ra'anan and Rebbetzin Penina Shapira, wife of Rabbi Avraham Elkana Kahana Shapira, to whom Rabbi Ber was close.[16] He resides in Netanya. The couple has six children. His son-in-law, Rabbi Avraham Pelheimer, is the head of a kollel in Netanya. His brother, Rabbi Moshe Avraham Ber, serves as the Ashkenazi rabbi of the Yad Eliyahu neighborhood in Tel Aviv.

Notable works

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His works include:

  • Maaseh Rokeam – a three-volume series on the weekly Torah portions and Jewish holidays:
 * Volume 1: Genesis, Exodus
 * Volume 2: Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy
 * Volume 3: Holidays[17]

In addition, Rabbi Ber has published numerous articles in the fields of Halacha, Jewish thought, and Biblical studies. Among his publications:

  • "The Commandment of Tekhelet in Tzitzit in Our Time," in BeLechtecha VaDerech, vol. 1, Kerem B'Yavneh, 1996, pp. 18–25
  • "On the Counting of the Days of Mourning," in BeLechtecha VaDerech, vol. 2, Kerem B'Yavneh, 1996, pp. 25–29
  • "For Its Own Sake and Not for Its Own Sake in the Study of Torah and Mitzvot," in Be'er Mayim Chaim, Kerem B'Yavneh, 1999, pp. 173–179
  • "And Afterward They Shall Go Out with Great Wealth," in BeLechtecha VaDerech, vol. 2, Kerem B'Yavneh, 2000, pp. 219–233
  • "The Story of Miriam bat Bilgah – and the Reasons for the Sacrifices," in BeLechtecha VaDerech, Kerem B'Yavneh, 2004, pp. 170–176
  • "Visiting One's Rabbi on the Festival in Our Time," in Mipri HaKerem, Alon Shvut, 2004, pp. 134–139
  • "'And He Shall Give It to Your Neighbor Who Is Better than You': Between the Kingdom of Saul and the Kingdom of David," in Shmaatin 155, Tevet-Adar 2004, pp. 28–37
  • "On the Concept of the Evil Eye," in BeLechtecha VaDerech, Kerem B'Yavneh, 2008, pp. 250–257
  • "'Rabbi Yehuda Used to Give Them Signs,'" in Moadei Hashem: Pesach, Yeshivat Kerem B'Yavneh, 2008, pp. 188–193
  • "Haftarah of Hannah," in Moadei Hashem: High Holidays, Kerem B'Yavneh, 2009, pp. 138–142
  • "The Law of Listening as Responding in Kiddush," in Gevurat Aryeh: A Collection in Memory of Rabbi Aryeh Kupinsky, Kerem B'Yavneh, 2016, pp. 51–62

References

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  1. ^ "Rabbi Kalman Meir Ber Elected as Chief Rabbi of Netanya". Chabad.info. 2014. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  2. ^ Yavneh and Its Sages: The Story of the Mother of Hesder Yeshivot (in Hebrew). Kerem B'Yavneh. 2004. p. 470.
  3. ^ "Religious Zionism Candidate, Rabbi Kalman Ber, Elected as Chief Rabbi of Netanya". Srugim (in Hebrew). 2014. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  4. ^ "First Interview: The Message According to Netanya's New Chief Rabbi". Makor Rishon (in Hebrew). Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  5. ^ "Rabbi Kalman Ber: We Will Bring the Kashrut Revolution in Netanya to the Chief Rabbinate". Arutz Sheva (in Hebrew). Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  6. ^ "Degel HaTorah: Supporting Rabbi Kalman Ber". Arutz Sheva (in Hebrew). Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  7. ^ "Opposition to Smotrich: Head of Mercaz HaRav Yeshiva Supports Rabbi Kalman Ber for Chief Rabbi". Makor Rishon (in Hebrew). Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  8. ^ "Rabbi Aryeh Stern: Supporting Rabbi Kalman Ber". Arutz Sheva (in Hebrew). Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  9. ^ "Rabbi Eitan Eisman: Supporting Rabbi Kalman Ber". Arutz Sheva (in Hebrew). Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  10. ^ "Kerem B'Yavneh Yeshiva Unites Around Rabbi Kalman Ber". Arutz Sheva (in Hebrew). Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  11. ^ "Second Round in Chief Rabbinate Elections: Surprising Support and Public Criticism". Makor Rishon (in Hebrew). Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  12. ^ "Rabbis Hershkowitz and Burshtin: Supporting Rabbi Kalman Ber". Arutz Sheva (in Hebrew). Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  13. ^ "Head of Shavei Shomron Yeshiva: Supporting Rabbi Kalman Ber". Arutz Sheva (in Hebrew). Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  14. ^ "With a Majority of 77 Votes: Rabbi Kalman Ber Elected as Chief Rabbi". Arutz Sheva (in Hebrew). Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  15. ^ "Kalman Ber to be Israel's Ashkenazi chief rabbi". Jewish News Syndicate. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  16. ^ "Her Sole Aspiration Was for Him to Grow in Torah". Arutz Sheva (in Hebrew). Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  17. ^ Chorash, Rabbi D. (2003). "Maaseh Rokeam" by Rabbi Kalman Meir Ber: Sheets of Torah and Thought for the Festivals (in Hebrew). Shmaatin. pp. 172–173.
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Media related to Kalman Ber at Wikimedia Commons

Jewish titles
Preceded by Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel
2024–Present 		Most recent
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