Difference between revisions of "Yehuda Gerami"
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| − | '''[[Yehuda Gerami]]''' (Hebrew: יהודה גרמי; born 1983 or 1984) is the Chief Rabbi of Iran and the spiritual leader of the country’s Jewish community since 2011. He oversees synagogues, mikvehs, kosher slaughter and religious education for Iran’s | + | '''[[Yehuda Gerami]]''' (Hebrew: יהודה גרמי; born 1983 or 1984) is the Chief Rabbi of Iran and the spiritual leader of the country’s Jewish community since 2011. He oversees synagogues, mikvehs, kosher slaughter and religious education for Iran’s Jewish community, concentrated mainly in Tehran, Shiraz and Isfahan.<ref name="ToI2021">Lazar Berman, [https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-us-irans-chief-rabbi-says-he-feared-vengeance-after-soleimani-killing/ In US, Iran’s head rabbi says he condemned Soleimani killing to protect Jews] ''The Times of Israel'', 15 November 2021.</ref> |
==Early life and education== | ==Early life and education== | ||
| − | Gerami was born in Tehran to a religious Persian Jewish family | + | Gerami was born in Tehran to a religious Persian Jewish family. His father, Dr Shlomo Gerami, was a surgeon who worked at several Tehran hospitals, including the Dr Sapir Jewish Hospital.<ref name="ToI2021" /> |
| − | He attended local schools and received supplementary Talmud Torah education. At the age of 15 he travelled via Turkey to Jerusalem, where he studied for a year at [[Yeshivas Ateres Yisrael]] under Rabbi [[Boruch Mordechai Ezrachi]]. After returning briefly to Iran he continued his studies at [[Yeshivas Ner Israel]] in Baltimore, Maryland | + | He attended local schools and received supplementary Talmud Torah education. At the age of 15 he travelled via Turkey to Jerusalem, where he studied for a year at [[Yeshivas Ateres Yisrael]] under Rabbi [[Boruch Mordechai Ezrachi]]. After returning briefly to Iran he continued his studies at [[Yeshivas Ner Israel]] in Baltimore, Maryland. He received rabbinical ordination from Rabbi [[Moshe Heinemann]] at the age of 25.<ref name="ToI2021" /><ref name="Anash2021">[https://anash.org/iranian-chief-rabbi-meets-agudas-harabonim/ Iranian Chief Rabbi Meets Agudas Harabonim] ''Anash.org'', 3 November 2021.</ref> |
==Career== | ==Career== | ||
| − | Upon returning to Iran and marrying his Iranian-born wife Tzipora, Gerami began delivering Torah classes and gradually assumed responsibility for | + | Upon returning to Iran and marrying his Iranian-born wife Tzipora, Gerami began delivering Torah classes and gradually assumed responsibility for communal roles in kashrut, the bet din and mikveh supervision. He was subsequently recognised as Chief Rabbi of Iran.<ref name="ToI2021" /> |
| − | Under his leadership the community has maintained | + | Under his leadership the community has maintained kosher restaurants in Tehran, Shiraz and Isfahan, renovated and new mikvehs, a yeshiva and kollels, and training programmes for religious functionaries. He has also overseen arrangements allowing Jewish students to take examinations on the Sabbath with assistance.<ref name="ToI2021" /><ref name="Ynet2026">[https://www.ynetnews.com/jewish-world/article/b1mwtrmmge Weddings and Jewish rituals resume in Iran after weeks of wartime silence] ''Ynetnews'', 1 July 2026.</ref> |
| − | Gerami is a member of the [[Alliance of Rabbis in Islamic States]] | + | Gerami is a member of the [[Alliance of Rabbis in Islamic States]] and participated in its first summit in Istanbul in 2021. He has maintained contacts with rabbinic leaders including Rabbi [[Berel Lazar]] of Russia and Rabbi [[Mendy Chitrik]] of Turkey, both of whom are from [[Chabad-Lubavitch]].<ref name="Anash2021" /> |
| − | In November 2021 he visited Jewish communities in the United States, meeting organisations including Chabad-Lubavitch and the Agudas Harabonim. During the visit he faced criticism | + | In November 2021 he visited Jewish communities in the United States, meeting organisations including [[Chabad-Lubavitch]] and the [[Agudas Harabonim]]. During the visit he faced criticism for earlier public statements critical of Israel and for a condolence visit to the family of [[Qasem Soleimani]] after the latter’s killing in 2020. Gerami stated that such positions were adopted out of concern for the physical safety of Iran’s Jewish community, saying “we are guests and we have to be diplomatic.”<ref name="ToI2021" /> |
| − | He continues to lead public religious observances, including Tisha B’Av services at Tehran’s Yusef Abad Synagogue and Purim readings at the traditional Tomb of Mordechai and Esther in Hamadan.<ref name="ToIPurim">[https://www.timesofisrael.com/iranian-chief-rabbi-reads-the-book-of-esther-at-the-tomb-of-mordechai-and-esther/ Iranian chief rabbi reads the Book of Esther at the Tomb of Mordechai and Esther] ''The Times of Israel'', 14 March 2025.</ref> | + | He continues to lead public religious observances, including Tisha B’Av services at Tehran’s Yusef Abad Synagogue and Purim readings at the traditional Tomb of Mordechai and Esther in Hamadan.<ref name="ToIPurim">[https://www.timesofisrael.com/iranian-chief-rabbi-reads-the-book-of-esther-at-the-tomb-of-mordechai-and-esther/ Iranian chief rabbi reads the Book of Esther at the Tomb of Mordechai and Esther] ''The Times of Israel'', 14 March 2025.</ref><ref name="YWNTisha">[https://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/general/2578145/tisha-bav-in-tehran-irans-chief-rabbi-leads-eicha-at-central-shul-video.html Tisha B’Av in Tehran: Iran’s Chief Rabbi Leads Eicha at Central Shul] ''The Yeshiva World'', 23 July 2026.</ref> |
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
| Line 48: | Line 48: | ||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
| − | * [https:// | + | * [https://www.timesofisrael.com/topic/yehuda-gerami/ Yehuda Gerami coverage] on The Times of Israel |
==Notes== | ==Notes== | ||
Latest revision as of 15:40, 29 July 2026
Chief Rabbi of Iran
| Yehuda Gerami | |
|---|---|
| Image | |
| Born | 1983 or 1984 Tehran, Iran |
| Died | |
| Nationality | Iranian |
| Residence | |
| Occupation | Chief Rabbi of Iran |
| Known for | Spiritual leader of the Iranian Jewish community |
| Parents | Shlomo Gerami (father) |
| Spouse(s) | Tzipora Gerami |
| Children | |
| Sibling(s) | |
| Education | |
| Predecessor | Mashallah Golestani-Nejad |
| Website | |
Yehuda Gerami (Hebrew: יהודה גרמי; born 1983 or 1984) is the Chief Rabbi of Iran and the spiritual leader of the country’s Jewish community since 2011. He oversees synagogues, mikvehs, kosher slaughter and religious education for Iran’s Jewish community, concentrated mainly in Tehran, Shiraz and Isfahan.[1]
Early life and education
Gerami was born in Tehran to a religious Persian Jewish family. His father, Dr Shlomo Gerami, was a surgeon who worked at several Tehran hospitals, including the Dr Sapir Jewish Hospital.[1]
He attended local schools and received supplementary Talmud Torah education. At the age of 15 he travelled via Turkey to Jerusalem, where he studied for a year at Yeshivas Ateres Yisrael under Rabbi Boruch Mordechai Ezrachi. After returning briefly to Iran he continued his studies at Yeshivas Ner Israel in Baltimore, Maryland. He received rabbinical ordination from Rabbi Moshe Heinemann at the age of 25.[1][2]
Career
Upon returning to Iran and marrying his Iranian-born wife Tzipora, Gerami began delivering Torah classes and gradually assumed responsibility for communal roles in kashrut, the bet din and mikveh supervision. He was subsequently recognised as Chief Rabbi of Iran.[1]
Under his leadership the community has maintained kosher restaurants in Tehran, Shiraz and Isfahan, renovated and new mikvehs, a yeshiva and kollels, and training programmes for religious functionaries. He has also overseen arrangements allowing Jewish students to take examinations on the Sabbath with assistance.[1][3]
Gerami is a member of the Alliance of Rabbis in Islamic States and participated in its first summit in Istanbul in 2021. He has maintained contacts with rabbinic leaders including Rabbi Berel Lazar of Russia and Rabbi Mendy Chitrik of Turkey, both of whom are from Chabad-Lubavitch.[2]
In November 2021 he visited Jewish communities in the United States, meeting organisations including Chabad-Lubavitch and the Agudas Harabonim. During the visit he faced criticism for earlier public statements critical of Israel and for a condolence visit to the family of Qasem Soleimani after the latter’s killing in 2020. Gerami stated that such positions were adopted out of concern for the physical safety of Iran’s Jewish community, saying “we are guests and we have to be diplomatic.”[1]
He continues to lead public religious observances, including Tisha B’Av services at Tehran’s Yusef Abad Synagogue and Purim readings at the traditional Tomb of Mordechai and Esther in Hamadan.[4][5]
See also
- Alliance of Rabbis in Islamic States
- Jews in Iran
- Yusef Abad Synagogue
External links
- Yehuda Gerami coverage on The Times of Israel
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Lazar Berman, In US, Iran’s head rabbi says he condemned Soleimani killing to protect Jews The Times of Israel, 15 November 2021.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Iranian Chief Rabbi Meets Agudas Harabonim Anash.org, 3 November 2021.
- ↑ Weddings and Jewish rituals resume in Iran after weeks of wartime silence Ynetnews, 1 July 2026.
- ↑ Iranian chief rabbi reads the Book of Esther at the Tomb of Mordechai and Esther The Times of Israel, 14 March 2025.
- ↑ Tisha B’Av in Tehran: Iran’s Chief Rabbi Leads Eicha at Central Shul The Yeshiva World, 23 July 2026.