A seemingly local and insignificant event, the election for the Tel Aviv rabbinate in 1935 had an impact on the future of Jewish life in many ways and places.
The first Ashkenazic Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv was Rav Shlomo Ahronson. With his passing, three primary candidates arose over the summer of 1935 - Rav Moshe Avigdor Amiel, who was the ultimate winner, Rav Yitzchak Isaac Herzog and Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik, at that time a young Rabbi in Boston.
The leaders of the Mizrachi backed Rav Amiel, though Rav Moshe Soloveitchik wrote a strong letter of support on behalf of his son. Rav Soloveitchik made his only visit to the Land of Israel that summer, and met the ailing Rav Kook.
Meanwhile the nascent Tel Aviv based Poalei Agudath Israel was eager to participate in the upcoming elections. Wary of the official Agudah position of non participation with the Zionist establishment, the PAI leadership penned a letter to the Ger Rebbe the Imrei Emes asking his opinion about voting in the election.
The final result ensconced Rav Moshe Avigdor Amiel as the Chief Rabbi. He would go on to have a major impact on religious life in the first Hebrew city.
Subscribe To Our Podcast on:
PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/
Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites
You can email Yehuda at yehuda@yehudageberer.com
The Great Defender of Israel: Rav Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev
Radical Mussarites: The School of Novardok
Jews of the Maghreb: The Uniqueness of Moroccan Jewry
Great American Jewish Cities #21: Monsey Part II
Great American Jewish Cities #21: Monsey Part I
Torah for Eternity: Stories of Rav Shmuel Rozovsky
The Kabbalists of Komarno: Part II
The Kabbalists of Komarno: The Komarno Dynasty Part I
Stories Of Ner Israel Part III
Nathan Gutwirth & the Dutch Rescue Scheme
An Angel Amid the Ashes: The Klausenberger Rebbe Part I
Great American Jewish Cities #20: Toronto Part III
Great American Jewish Cities #20: Toronto Part II
Great American Jewish Cities #20: Toronto Part I
Building the 'Kehilla': The Leadership of Rav Dr. Joseph Breuer
Great American Jewish Cities #19: Worcester & Boston
Rav Hakollel: The Tragic Story of Rabbi Jacob Joseph Part I
From Oberland to Boro Park: The Arugas Habosem & His Descendants
Back to his Roots: The Novominsker Rebbe & His Predecessors
The History of the Kiruv Movement Part I
Join Podbean Ads Marketplace and connect with engaged listeners.
Advertise Today
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Hello Heaven Podcast
Rav Gershon Ribner
For Heaven’s Sake
The Nightingale of Iran
Unpacking Israeli History
Identity/Crisis