developing· Culture· Updated 17:30

Former Director-General of Israel's Chief Rabbinate, Rabbi Yehuda Cohen, Dies

Yehuda Cohen, the former Director-General of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel, died on Friday, October 23, 2026, at the age of 70. His death followed severe injuries he sustained earlier in the week during a construction accident at his family's home in Kfar Ha'Raa.

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Former Director-General of Israel's Chief Rabbinate, Rabbi Yehuda Cohen, Dies — Illustration by baba

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What happened

01Former Chief Rabbinate Director-General Yehuda Cohen died on Friday, October 23, 2026, at the age of 70.
02Cohen was hospitalized at Hillel Yaffe Medical Center after sustaining critical injuries in a construction accident at his home in Kfar Ha'Raa.
03According to Behadrei Haredim, Cohen was injured by a collapsing concrete beam, while Kikar HaShabbat reported a wall collapsed on him.
04He served as the head of the Elkana local council from 2003 to 2008 and was later appointed head of the Buqata local council.
05Cohen held leadership roles in religious councils in Kfar Saba, Hadera, Netanya, and Kiryat Ata before being appointed Director-General of the Chief Rabbinate in 2023.
06The Chief Rabbinate of Israel and the Ministry of Religious Services expressed deep sorrow and offered condolences to his family.

Cohen was hospitalized at the Hillel Yaffe Medical Center, where he fought for his life. According to Behadrei Haredim, he was critically injured by a collapsing concrete beam, while Kikar HaShabbat reported that a wall collapsed on him.

Throughout his career, Cohen held numerous public and religious service roles. He served as a combat soldier in the Golani Brigade, director-general of the local councils of Ma'ale Eron and Bi'ina al-Maksur, and was elected head of the Elkana local council, serving from 2003 to 2008. He was also appointed by the Interior Minister to head the local council in Buqata.

In religious services, Cohen served as chairman and authorized signatory for religious councils in Kfar Saba, Hadera, Netanya, and Kiryat Ata. He was appointed Director-General of the Chief Rabbinate in 2023. The Chief Rabbinate and the Ministry of Religious Services expressed deep sorrow over his passing, eulogizing him as a devoted public servant.

Summarized by baba from the reports of 6 newsrooms. Updated 17:12