David Lau facts for kids
Quick facts for kids David Baruch Lauדוד ברוך לאו |
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| Religion | Judaism |
| Denomination | Orthodox |
| Personal | |
| Nationality | Israeli |
| Born | David Baruch Lau 13 January 1966 Tel Aviv, Israel |
| Parents | Rabbi Yisrael (Israel) Meir Lau |
| Senior posting | |
| Title | Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel |
| Predecessor | Yona Metzger |
| Began | 2013 |
| Other | Chief Rabbi of Shoham Chief Rabbi of Modi'in-Maccabim-Re'ut |
| Residence | Modi'in-Maccabim-Re'ut |
David Baruch Lau (Hebrew: דוד לאו; born 13 January 1966) is the Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel. He was appointed after achieving a majority of the vote on 24 July 2013. He previously served as the Chief Rabbi of Modi'in-Maccabim-Re'ut, Israel, and as the Chief Rabbi of Shoham. Lau is the son of former Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau.
Contents
Biography
David Baruch Lau was born in Tel Aviv. He studied at Yeshivat Yishuv HaHadash, and later at Yeshivat Beit Matityahu and Ponevezh Yeshiva.
Lau is married to Tzipporah Ralbag.
Rabbinic career
Lau was the first rabbi of the town of Shoham. When the city of Modi'in was established, he was chosen as its Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi, alongside the Sephardi Chief Rabbi Eliyahu Alharar. Along with Alharar, he established Torah classes in the city, including on the subjects of kashrut, eruvim, and Jewish weddings. Lau is a reserve major in the Intelligence Corps.
Lau was one of the first rabbis in Israel to teach responsa over the internet. Since the summer of 2006, he has appeared every Friday on the show "Ask the Rabbi" on HaArutz HaRishon, a show about halakhic questions and answers. Since 1999, he broadcast the daily program "Jewish Point" on the radio station Kol Chai.
On 24 June 2013, Lau was elected as Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel. At the time, he was the youngest person (at 47) to be elected to that position. The inauguration took place on 14 August 2013 at the official residence of the President of Israel. In 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic, Lau declared that no one should touch or kiss mezuzot, in order to prevent further spread of the virus.
Published works
Lau has published articles in journals such as Tehumin, and edited a book of his father's responsa titled Yichil Yisrael. He also edited and published a book in memory of his grandfather, Yitzchak Yedidya Frankel. In 2008, he published his book Maskil LeDavid on issues of genealogy, conversion, military law, and other matters.
See also
In Spanish: David Lau para niños
