Historic Transition: Turkey’s Jewish Community Installs Rabbi David Sevi As Its 34th Chachom Bashi

Turkey’s Jewish community, which numbers approximately 15,000-20,000, has welcomed its new chief rabbi, Rabbi David Sevi, officially installing him last week in his new post in a ceremony at Istanbul’s Neve Shalom synagogue, nearly a year after the passing of his predecessor, Rabbi Ishak Haleva z”l.

Rabbi Sevi, who was born into a family with deep roots in Turkey, is the fourth Chachom Bashi (the title of the chief rabbi) since the founding of the Republic of Turkey in 1923, and the 34th in office since the days of the Ottoman Empire.

For decades, he has worked to promote chinuch in the country, preserve the traditional and storied minhagim of the Turkish Jewish community and strengthen Yiddishkeit in the community life. He also served as Shochet and Chazzan in the community and is a member of the Alliance of Rabbis in Islamic States.

Rabbi Sevi was elected ahead of Rosh Hashana after the city’s Jewish community held an internal election. He was chosen unanimously, with no other candidates running for the position.

“We wish the newly installed Chief Rabbi of Turkiye Hahambaşı Rav David Sevi and the entire Jewish Community much success on the occasion of this historic installation at the Neve Şalom synagogue,” the Alliance of Rabbis in Islamic States said on X (Twitter).