History in Harish: Rabbi Asher Zigdon elected as the city's first chief rabbi

Shtetl
May 20, 2026   
Photo: 
Spokeswomen

The Harish City Rabbinate Election Committee, headed by retired dayan Rabbi Avraham Shemen, announced today (Wednesday) after the vote count, the historic election of Rabbi Asher Zigdon to the position of the first Chief Rabbi of the city of Harish.

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The election of a city rabbi for Harish is a defining moment for the new and growing city, which for the first time since its founding has permanent and stable spiritual and Torah leadership.

The complex and professional election process was managed by the Elections Committee with an expanded composition: Chairman of the Committee, retired Dayan Rabbi Avraham Shemen - and members of the Committee Rabbi Zion Cohen, Rabbi of the city of Or Yehuda, Attorney Oron Moshe, Maayan Meir and Michal Shemesh. The work of the Committee was coordinated by Zuriel Porat, and it was legally supported by the Legal Bureau of the Ministry of Religious Services.

The committee members praised the fruitful collaboration with the local authority and noted the proper, professional, and transparent management of the selection process.

Rabbi Asher Zigdon, 54, is a resident of the city of Harish and serves as the rabbi of the 'Ebadech Amatham' community.

He is a graduate of the 'Or Chaim' Yeshiva in Jerusalem and is considered a student of the rabbi Reuven Elbaz, the head of the yeshiva and a member of the Council of Sages.

He learned his way in halachic rabbinical knowledge at the Torah and Life kollel in Bnei Brak from a member of the Council of Torah Sages, the late Rabbi Shimon Edni.

He was ordained to the rabbinate by the Chief Rabbinate of Israel and holds the qualifications for a city rabbi. Rabbi Zigdon was a soldier and commander in the Rotem Battalion in the Givati ​​Brigade.