Emmanuel Elects New Municipal Rabbi After Years Without One

Israel's elections committee announced on Tuesday that Rabbi Moshe Hilleli was unanimously chosen as the municipal rabbi of Emmanuel, ending many years in which the Haredi local council functioned without an official rabbi. Hilleli, who serves as the Sephardi synagogue rabbi in Emmanuel, won 21 votes in favor and faced no opposition.

The appointment is seen as a significant milestone for the town, which had long been waiting for a formal rabbinic leader to guide the community in religious and halachic matters. The election was held under new regulations approved by former Religious Services Minister Michael Malkieli.

MK Michael Malkieli welcomed the result, saying, "After many years without a rabbi, Emmanuel has won a rabbi who has the strength to lead the town. This appointment joins the real revolution led by Shas chairman Aryeh Deri during the current term, מתוך real concern for the Jewish character of the state." The quote referred to the broader policy changes behind the appointments.

Hilleli's election is part of a wider wave of rabbinic appointments made possible by the new rules signed by the Religious Services minister, which allow dozens of new city rabbis to be elected nationwide. Emmanuel has about 4,000 residents and is a Haredi local council in Samaria. Over the past year, its Hasidic community expanded, with Vizhnitz followers establishing a young community of about 30 yeshiva students with the blessing and encouragement of the Vizhnitz Rebbe. Recent appointments in other councils included Rabbi Shlomo Lavi in Megilot Dead Sea, Rabbi Meir Elmalah in Tamar, and Rabbi Gad Atiyas in Mateh Yehuda.