Estonia Chief Rabbi Awarded State Honor by President After 25 Years of Service

Estonian President Alar Karis has announced that Estonia’s chief rabbi, Efraim Shmuel Kot, will receive the White Star decoration, a state honor awarded in recognition of service to the Republic of Estonia. The ceremony is scheduled for February 14 as part of the official events leading up to Estonia’s Independence Day, with the award recognizing 25 years of service by Rabbi Kot to the Jewish community in Estonia and situating the honor within the broader national framework for recognizing contributions to the country’s cultural, and community life.

Rabbi Kot has served as the chief rabbi of Estonia and as a Chabad shaliach since arriving in the country in 2000 with his wife, Chani. Over the past quarter century, he has played a central role in strengthening Jewish religious life in Estonia and in ensuring the continuity of the local Jewish community. His work has focused on building and sustaining communal institutions, religious services, and educational frameworks for Jews living in the country.

The nomination for the state decoration was submitted jointly by the Jewish Community Council of Estonia and the Jewish Museum. In a public statement, the Jewish Community Council congratulated Rabbi Kot on receiving the honor by decision of the Estonian president. The council described the recognition as a fitting appreciation for many years of devoted service, thanked him for his significant contribution to the spiritual development of the Jewish community in Estonia, and wished him good health, inspiration, and continued success in his mission.

In a statement released with the list of honorees, the President’s office said: “On the eve of Estonia’s Independence Day, we thank people with decorations in recognition of their work and dedication. They have helped Estonia become greater and better, wiser and more caring, more determined and more enterprising.”

The White Star decoration, established in 1936, is awarded to Estonian citizens and foreign nationals alike in recognition of services rendered to the Estonian state. Recipients come from a wide range of fields, including public service, culture, education, and community leadership, marking both a personal milestone for Rabbi Kot and a moment of public recognition for the Jewish community’s place within Estonian society.