Levin Appoints Yehuda Avidan as Acting Director General of Israel’s Chief Rabbinate

Religious Services Minister Yariv Levin announced today (Wednesday) the appointment of Yehuda Avidan, director general of the Ministry of Religious Services, as acting director general of Israel’s Chief Rabbinate. The appointment will take effect subject to resolving the existing conflicts of interest in his case in the area of kashrut.

The decision was made after consultation with the Civil Service Commissioner, followed by approval from the Justice Ministry and from the legal offices of Israel’s Chief Rabbinate and the Ministry of Religious Services.

According to the ministry’s announcement, the appointment continues a practice that was common in the past, under which, during periods when the Chief Rabbinate did not have a permanent director general, the directors general of the Ministry of Religious Services served as acting director general of the Chief Rabbinate.

The Ministry of Religious Services and the Chief Rabbinate welcomed the move, saying that Avidan "brings with him extensive experience and broad knowledge in public service, and his entry into the role is important news for the continued strengthening and advancement of Israel’s Chief Rabbinate."

It was also announced that the appointment received the blessing of Israel’s chief rabbis: the Rishon LeZion and president of the Beit Din HaGadol, Rabbi David Yosef, as well as Israel’s Chief Rabbi and president of the Chief Rabbinate Council, Rabbi Kalman Meir Ber.