In the elections held this evening (Thursday) in Kiryat Bialik, Rabbi Yosef Toledano was elected to the position of Chief Rabbi of the city.
Rabbi Toledano's election was made possible after he won a majority of the votes of the members of the electoral assembly, in a process that took place in coordination and mutual agreement between the Ministry of Religious Services and the Kiryat Bialik Municipality.
This is a significant step for Kiryat Bialik, which has not had a permanent city rabbi in the last 17 years.
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The Director General of the Ministry of Religious Services, Yehuda Avidan, thanked the chairman of the selection committee, retired Dayan Gaon Rabbi Shlomo Tam, and Mayor Eli Dokorsky for their professional guidance.
In his congratulations to the elected rabbi, Avidan said: "Thanks to the orderly process that outgoing Minister Michael Malchieli began, we congratulate him today on the completion. I am confident that Rabbi Toledano will continue the tradition of the city's rabbis, connect the residents to the world of Torah and bring explanatory Judaism to the city in a light-hearted manner. This appointment provides the city with spiritual and communal stability.".
Five candidates ran for the position. Rabbi Yosef Toledano was elected with a majority of votes.
Rabbi Yosef Toledano, 44, a resident of Kiryat Bialik, is a graduate of the Ponivez Yeshiva in Bnei Brak. He continued his studies at the Kollel run by the Knesset Hezkiyahu Yeshiva and at the Keter Shem Tov Kollel for Rabbinate and Dayanism in the city.
The rabbi holds "kosher" certificates for city rabbi and deacon from the Chief Rabbinate of Israel, serves as a deacon in the 'Mishpat and Tzedek' court and rabbi of the 'Etz Chaim' community in Kiryat Bialik.
The selection committee was headed by retired dayan Rabbi Shlomo Tam. The other committee members were Lior Targan, Yossi Azriel and Yonit Gispan. The committee secretary was Yaakov Cohen.
Rabbi Shimon Azriel, chairman of the Kiryat Bialik Religious Council, welcomed the selection: "The selection was made with full cooperation and broad agreement. This is an important day for the residents of Kiryat Bialik, and I am certain that Rabbi Toledano will lead the city to spiritual growth and to strengthening the values of the community and tradition.".
