Rabbi Moshe Yosef Edri has been chosen as the chief rabbi of the city of Givatayim following a vote conducted by the municipal rabbinical election committee, which was headed by Rabbi Yaakov Zamir, a retired judge of Israel’s Supreme Rabbinical Court.

The announcement was made Sunday after the ballots were counted, confirming Rabbi Edri’s victory in the election. He is the son of the late Rabbi Pinchas Edri, who previously served as Givatayim’s chief rabbi.

The appointment is part of a broader initiative by Israel’s Ministry of Religious Services to establish permanent rabbinical leadership in cities across the country, reflecting the ministry’s emphasis on stable and consistent Torah guidance for local communities. The decision carries particular significance for Givatayim residents following the passing of Rabbi Pinchas Edri.

The election committee was chaired by Rabbi Yaakov Zamir. Other members included Rabbi Dovid Cohen, the chief rabbi of Gan Yavne, as well as Moshik Goldstein, Sivan Goldberg, Yamit Yona, and representatives from the legal department of the Ministry of Religious Services. Tzuriel Porat served as the committee’s secretary.

Once the vote counting was completed, the committee reported that Rabbi Moshe Yosef Edri received 31 votes. Two ballots were submitted blank, while three members of the electoral body did not participate in the vote. Rabbi Edri, the son of the late Rabbi Pinchas Edri, is expected to continue the rabbinical legacy established by his father in the city.

Rabbi Edri studied at the Beit Shmaya and Kol Yehuda yeshivos and received semichah from several prominent poskim, including Rav Nissim Karelitz, Rav Mordechai Eliyahu, Rav Shalom Mashash, Rav Moshe Malka, and Rav Yaakov Edelstein.

He also holds official certification from Israel’s Chief Rabbinate to serve as both a city rabbi and a dayan. In addition, Rabbi Edri previously headed the Rav Pe’alim kollel, which trains rabbis and rabbinical judges, and authored the halachic work Imrei De’ah on the Shulchan Aruch.

MK Michael Malkieli, who previously served as Israel’s minister of religious services, praised the outcome of the election, saying that Givatayim’s residents have gained an outstanding city rabbi and the son of the late Rabbi Pinchas Edri, whom he described as the city’s longtime and beloved rabbinical leader.

Yehuda Avidan, director general of the Ministry of Religious Services, thanked the chairman of the election committee and Givatayim Mayor Ran Konik while congratulating Rabbi Edri on his selection. He said the appointment was the result of an orderly process initiated by the previous minister of religious services and carried out in coordination with all relevant authorities. Avidan expressed confidence that Rabbi Edri will continue his father’s legacy, work to strengthen residents’ connection to the world of Torah, and present Judaism in an accessible and welcoming way. He added that appointing a city rabbi provides spiritual and communal stability and allows residents to benefit from clear and committed Torah leadership.

Eitan Reuveni, chairman of Givatayim’s religious council, also welcomed the decision. He said the selection of a city rov is not merely a ceremonial moment but a meaningful statement about direction, responsibility, and partnership. According to Reuveni, the city has chosen rabbinic leadership that seeks to connect Torah with daily life, tradition with community, and spiritual depth with human sensitivity, marking both a continuation of the past and the beginning of a new chapter for the city and its residents.

{Matzav.com}