Rabbi Mordechai Nagari Reflects on His 42 Years as Maale Adumim Chief Rabbi and Torah Study Controversies

Rabbi Mordechai Nagari, who has served as the chief rabbi of Maale Adumim for 42 years, shared insights about his long tenure and personal experiences in a Channel 7 podcast. His appointment was influenced by Rabbi Chaim Sabato during his military service in the Golan Heights amid the First Lebanon War, when Sabato suggested he consider the rabbinical position in the young settlement of Maale Adumim, then home to about 4,000 residents. Rabbi Nagari was elected alongside Rabbi Yehoshua Katz without political interference, helping establish the city's rabbinical infrastructure from scratch.

Rabbi Nagari described his daily rabbinical duties, which extend beyond kashrut and marriage to include personal counseling on family, livelihood, and neighbor disputes. He noted the largely traditional population of Maale Adumim, including many "secular yet God-fearing" residents who observe customs such as mikveh immersion and synagogue attendance on holidays. He emphasized leading with patience and dialogue rather than confrontation.

A major focus for Rabbi Nagari was strengthening religious education, leading to the founding of the first state-religious Talmud Torah in Maale Adumim, "Maaleh HaTorah." He also recounted the tragic death of his grandson Neriya Aharon Nagari in Gaza, highlighting the ongoing memorial activities and educational initiatives his family continues in his memory.

Reflecting on his military service, Rabbi Nagari shared halachic discussions with Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach about including non-observant soldiers in prayer quorums and recalled the respect his religious peers commanded during exercises. He criticized the current divisive discourse around Haredi conscription, calling arrests of Torah students "baseless hatred" that alienates potential recruits.

Rabbi Nagari also recounted his close relationships with prominent rabbis, including Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu, who advised him to establish the Talmud Torah within the state-religious framework and cautioned against public protests on Shabbat. He shared personal anecdotes of Rabbi Eliyahu’s humility and halachic guidance, including a rare instance of ruling based on "ruach hakodesh" (divine inspiration).

He fondly remembered Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, who officiated his wedding and supported his rabbinical candidacy. Rabbi Nagari also recalled his formative years in yeshivot such as Netiv Meir during the Six-Day War, experiencing shelling and the historic march to the Western Wall. His studies at Karem B'Yavneh under Rabbi Chaim Goldwicht shaped his Torah outlook, blending Jerusalem traditions with Lithuanian and Kookian influences.

Rabbi Nagari’s reflections provide a comprehensive view of his spiritual leadership, educational initiatives, personal losses, and the complex challenges facing religious communities in Israel today.