Two new chief rabbis have been chosen for Hatzor Haglilit.
Rabbi Tzvi Yitzchok Abramowitz, rav of the local Chassidic
community, has been chosen as the Ashkenazic Chief Rabbi. Rav
Mordechai Dei'i, son of the town's former rav, Chief Rabbi
Rav Azizi Dei'i zt"l, has been chosen the Sephardi
Chief Rabbi. Residents of this northern town are very pleased
by the results of the elections.
The electing body included 18 members, 17 of whom were
present at the voting. Rav Abramowitz received 16 votes, and
Rav Dei'i 15. The sweeping majority which elected these two
rabbonim bears witness to the high esteem in which they are
held.
Rav Tzvi Yitzchok Abramowitz, author of Taam Tzvi, has
been serving in the rabbinate for scores of years. He first
served as a rav in Tel Aviv. For the last 22 years, he has
been officiating as rav of the Chassidic community of Hatzor
Haglilit, composed largely of Ger chassidim. He helped to
strengthen the foundation of the Chassidic community, which
is a beacon for the entire northern region and for all nearby
settlements on the confrontation line. His droshos and
shiurim have drawn many from the Chassidic community
as well as from the entire town. Activists of the local
chareidi community consult him on every issue.
Rav Mordechai Dei'i, who served for ten years as a local
neighborhood rav, was elected Sephardi Chief Rabbi. Beloved
by local residents, his father, Rav Azizi Dei'i, zt"l,
presided as Sephardi rabbi of the town until his
petirah. In his former position, the rav also handled
marriage issues in the local Religious Council.
Residents of Hatzor Haglilit, the majority of whom are
traditional, are very pleased by the election results.
Activists of the religious and chareidi communities hope that
the new chief rabbis will be of much help in their efforts to
spread and strengthen the light of Torah in this Galilean
town.
It should also be noted that Rav Yonah Torchin, who was
endorsed by virtually all the gedolim, was elected rav
of Yehud by a large margin on 17 Elul. He has been active in
the community there for many years, and he follows in the
footsteps of his father, Rav Nisan zt"l, who was sent
out by the Chazon Ish to Yehud some fifty years ago.
