Joseph Sitruk
Encyclopedia
Rabbi Joseph Haïm Sitruk is a former Chief Rabbi of France
, a position he held from June 1987 to June 22, 2008. Born Joseph Sitruk in Tunis
, after suffering a stroke in 2001 and recovering he added the name "Haim" to his name in line with Jewish tradition.
He graduated as a rabbi in 1970 following his studies in a rabbinical school, and was named Rabbi of Strasbourg
before becoming the assistant of the Chief Rabbi Max Warchawski.
In 1975, Joseph Sitruk became Chief Rabbi of Marseille
. In 1987 he was elected to occupy the post of Chief Rabbi of France. He was then re-elected for two other 7 years mandates. He is married and father of 9 children. He is also the president of the Conference of European Rabbis
.
On March 16, 2007, he was selected as a Commander of the Legion of Honor.
He lost his bid for re-election as Chief Rabbi of France on June 22, 2008, against Rabbi Gilles Bernheim
, who had previously run against him on the 1994 Chief Rabbinate elections and failed.
He is Orthodox
. Though he may not hold religious and moral authority over all Jews in France, his charisma earned him a certain reverence, especially among Sephardi Jews
.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, a position he held from June 1987 to June 22, 2008. Born Joseph Sitruk in Tunis
Tunis
Tunis is the capital of both the Tunisian Republic and the Tunis Governorate. It is Tunisia's largest city, with a population of 728,453 as of 2004; the greater metropolitan area holds some 2,412,500 inhabitants....
, after suffering a stroke in 2001 and recovering he added the name "Haim" to his name in line with Jewish tradition.
He graduated as a rabbi in 1970 following his studies in a rabbinical school, and was named Rabbi of Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
before becoming the assistant of the Chief Rabbi Max Warchawski.
In 1975, Joseph Sitruk became Chief Rabbi of Marseille
Marseille
Marseille , known in antiquity as Massalia , is the second largest city in France, after Paris, with a population of 852,395 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Marseille extends beyond the city limits with a population of over 1,420,000 on an area of...
. In 1987 he was elected to occupy the post of Chief Rabbi of France. He was then re-elected for two other 7 years mandates. He is married and father of 9 children. He is also the president of the Conference of European Rabbis
Conference of European Rabbis
The Conference of European Rabbis is the primary Orthodox rabbinical alliance in Europe. It was founded in 1956 on the initiative of British Chief Rabbi Sir Israel Brodie, and its current executive director is Aba Dunner...
.
On March 16, 2007, he was selected as a Commander of the Legion of Honor.
He lost his bid for re-election as Chief Rabbi of France on June 22, 2008, against Rabbi Gilles Bernheim
Gilles Bernheim
Gilles Bernheim is a French philosopher and rabbi, currently Chief Rabbi of France. On June 22, 2008, he was elected chief rabbi of France but his seven year mandate began on January 1, 2009. Until then, he had been rabbi of synagogue de la Victoire, the main synagogue in Paris, since May 1,...
, who had previously run against him on the 1994 Chief Rabbinate elections and failed.
He is Orthodox
Orthodox Judaism
Orthodox Judaism , is the approach to Judaism which adheres to the traditional interpretation and application of the laws and ethics of the Torah as legislated in the Talmudic texts by the Sanhedrin and subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and...
. Though he may not hold religious and moral authority over all Jews in France, his charisma earned him a certain reverence, especially among Sephardi Jews
Sephardi Jews
Sephardi Jews is a general term referring to the descendants of the Jews who lived in the Iberian Peninsula before their expulsion in the Spanish Inquisition. It can also refer to those who use a Sephardic style of liturgy or would otherwise define themselves in terms of the Jewish customs and...
.