David Lau facts for kids
Quick facts for kids David Baruch Lau |
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| Religion | Judaism |
| Denomination | Orthodox |
| Personal | |
| Nationality | Israeli |
| Born | David Baruch Lau 13 January 1966 Tel Aviv, Israel |
| Parents | Yisrael (Israel) Meir Lau |
| Senior posting | |
| Title | Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel |
| Predecessor | Yona Metzger |
| Successor | Kalman Ber |
| Began | 2013 |
| Ended | June 30, 2024 |
| 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 an Israeli rabbi who served as the Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel from 2013 to 2024. 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 Yisrael Meir Lau.
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Biography
David Baruch Lau was born in Tel Aviv. He is the son of Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau, who served as the Chief Rabbi of Israel. and of Chaya Ita, the daughter of Rabbi Yitzchak Yedidya Frankel, the rabbi of Tel Aviv.
He was a member of the Ezra youth movement in Tel Aviv.
His service in the IDF, which he completed with the rank of Rav séren, was in the Military Rabbinate.
He studied at Yeshivat HaYishuv HeHadash, and later at Beit Matityau Yeshiva and Ponevezh Yeshiva.
He served as the Chief Rabbi of Modi'in-Maccabim-Re'ut, Israel, and as the Chief Rabbi of Shoham.
On 24 July 2013, he was elected as the Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel. He became the youngest rabbi ever to be elected to this position, being 47 years old at the time of his election.
Lau is married to Tziporah 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 Israel Defense Forces (IDF), where he served in the chaplaincy of the Intelligence Corps.
Lau was one of the first rabbis in Israel to teach responsa over the internet. He has hosted programs over various media platforms on subjects such as the weekly Torah portion and halakhic questions and answers.
On 24 July 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.
In 2024, he stepped down as Chief Rabbi despite no successor having been appointed. On October 31, 2024, Rabbi Kalman Ber was appointed to suceed Rabbi Lau as Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel.
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
