Senior Israeli and Iranian rabbis were among the religious leaders to commemorate Turkish Chief Rabbi Ishak Haleva during a Thursday online ceremony organized by the Alliance of Rabbis in Islamic States (ARIS).

Israeli Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi Kalman Ber, former Israeli Sephardi chief rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, Ohr HaChaim Yeshiva head Reuven Elbaz, and Iranian Chief Rabbi Yehuda Gerami joined a Zoom service to mark thirty days since the passing of Haleva, who died on January 14 at the age of 84.

The proceedings were held in Hebrew but, at times, were difficult to follow due to technical problems.

Ber, who spoke with an Israeli flag alongside him, praised Haleva as an example for all rabbis. Haleva knew how to pilot at the helm of his community and attend to individual livelihood needs, which Ber said was not an easy task in Muslim nations.

Yosef recalled meeting Haleva in Israel decades ago when he learned at the Porat Yosef Yeshiva. Yosef committed the Jewish community always to remember him.

Chief Rabbi of the Jewish community in Turkey Isak Haleva, at right, speaks with the Mufti of Istanbul Rahmi Yaran during a July 2016 event in Istanbul. (credit: Onur Coban/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
Chief Rabbi of the Jewish community in Turkey Isak Haleva, at right, speaks with the Mufti of Istanbul Rahmi Yaran during a July 2016 event in Istanbul. (credit: Onur Coban/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

Rabbis around the world pay respects

Gerami gave a sermon on the weekly Torah portion, Jethro, in which the people of Israel gather at Sinai for the giving of the Torah.
The Iranian rabbi mentioned the importance of offering thanks to God for miraculous salvation from dire times with the Hallel prayer and for the hope of redemption by the Messiah.
ARIS Presidential Council members, to which Haleva belonged, Montreal Moroccan community Rabbi David Raphael Banun, and Tunisian Chief Rabbi Chaim Biton also spoke. Banun encouraged the Jewish leaders to teach their communities to continue on the path of Torah, kashrut, tradition, education, and all aspects of Judaism, not just in Turkey but around the world. He said that they were all friends and part of the family of rabbis.
Kazakhstan Chief Rabbi Yeshaya Cohen recited psalms in memory of his Turkish counterpart.
Russian Chief Rabbi Berel Lazar said that while Haleva had a difficult job in a place that was not easy, he knew how to touch the heart of every Jewish person.
Istanbul Chief Rabbi Naftali Haleva, who, according to JTA, is a candidate to replace his father as Hakham Bashi (the Turkish name for the Chief Rabbi), read from the Mishnah.
“Because of his characteristic personality, he touched everyone’s heart,” Naftali Haleva said in an interview, according to JTA. “In these past two days, I’m getting that message from everyone who calls, Jews and non-Jews, locally and internationally.”
Haleva’s passing was met with international mourning and tributes, including from Israeli President Isaac Herzog, who said on X/Twitter that Haleva “will be remembered as a great leader and educator, a man who not only led the historic Jewish community in Turkey but was a champion of dialogue and friendship between peoples of all faiths, especially between Jews and Muslims.”
ARIS said in the January 14 statement that it was deeply saddened by the death of Haleva and offered condolences to the Jewish community of Turkey and to his family.