Overview
David Baruch Lau (born 13 January 1966) is an Israeli religious leader who has served as Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel since his appointment in August 2013. His office forms one half of the state's Chief Rabbinate, which pairs an Ashkenazi and a Sephardic chief rabbi. He succeeded Yona Metzger and continues a family connection to the office: his father, Yisrael Meir Lau, previously held the same Ashkenazi post. Biographical records note his birth and early life in Tel Aviv and related public details are available in official notices and summaries (official record).
Background and family
Lau was raised in a household with strong communal and rabbinic ties and received traditional religious training. He is generally identified with Orthodox Judaism and is commonly referred to as a rabbi in both public and institutional contexts. His family background and education have informed his public role and approach to halakhic questions.
Rabbinic career and appointment
Prior to his national appointment Lau served in rabbinic and communal roles at municipal and regional levels. The selection to the Chief Rabbinate is made by a designated body that includes rabbis, public officials and representatives of religious institutions; his election in 2013 placed him in the Ashkenazi seat that represents Ashkenazi Jews in the state's religious framework. His counterpart in the Sephardic office is Yitzhak Yosef, reflecting the dual structure that acknowledges different traditions within Israeli Jewry, often termed Sephardic for the other stream.
Role, duties and public function
The Chief Rabbinate combines religious, legal and administrative responsibilities. As Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi, Lau issues halakhic guidance, offers public religious rulings, and takes part in supervising areas traditionally overseen by the rabbinate, including marriage, divorce, conversion matters and kosher certification where jurisdiction applies. He represents the religious establishment in state and communal forums, participates in official ceremonies, and communicates with other religious and civic leaders.
Approach and public presence
Lau's public statements and rulings are reported in Israeli media and official releases; like many chief rabbis, he balances communal pastoral duties with juridical responsibilities. He has addressed questions of personal status and public religious practice, and his pronouncements are often consulted by local rabbinates and community leaders. Observers note that the office is as much a public-facing institution as a halakhic one, requiring navigation of diverse societal expectations.
Significance and context
The dual-chief structure, pairing an Ashkenazi and a Sephardic rabbi, reflects historical and cultural distinctions within Israeli society and within global Jewry. Lau's tenure is considered in the context of institutional continuity, the relationship between religion and state, and ongoing public debates about the role of the Chief Rabbinate in areas such as conversion policy, marriage law and kashrut regulation. The position confers both authority and scrutiny, and incumbents typically engage with religious leaders across a broad spectrum.
Further reading and references
For official biographical summaries and statements, consult materials published by the Chief Rabbinate and major Israeli institutions. Background on the office, its selection process and its functions can be found in institutional overviews and scholarly treatments of religion and state in Israel. Useful starting points include official notices about his appointment (appointment record), information about his place of birth (Tel Aviv), and general descriptions of Orthodox Judaism and the role of a rabbi. For context on communal distinctions, see material addressing Ashkenazi Jews and the Sephardic tradition, and notices concerning his contemporary counterpart Yitzhak Yosef.