Rabbi Ishak Haleva, the chief rabbi of Turkey for more than 22 years, died on Tuesday at the age of 84. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan extended his condolences to the country’s Jewish community, recognizing Rabbi Haleva’s significant contributions to interfaith dialogue and communal leadership.
Born in Istanbul, Haleva served in the Turkish military before immigrating to Israel, where he studied at the prestigious Porat Yosef Yeshiva under the tutelage of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef. After being ordained, he returned to Turkey and took on roles as an educator, rabbinical judge and lecturer on Hebrew and Jewish history.
In December 2002, Haleva was appointed "Hakham Bashi," the chief rabbi of Turkey, following the death of Rabbi David Asseo. Less than a year later, in November 2003, Haleva narrowly escaped a terror attack at the Neve Shalom Synagogue in Istanbul, during which his son was injured.
Erdogan held Haleva in high regard, even inviting him to a 2008 meeting with then-Syrian President Bashar Assad. After the encounter, Haleva described Assad as "pleasant."
In 2022, during President Isaac Herzog’s historic visit to Turkey, Haleva emphasized the enduring bonds between the two nations. "Turkey and Israel have both contributed immensely to humanity for peace and justice," he said. "This visit will strengthen ties between the nations and is deeply significant."
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Herzog paid tribute to Haleva on Tuesday, saying: "I will never forget the moving moments of prayer we shared with the community at the Istanbul synagogue. Rabbi Haleva will be remembered as a distinguished leader and educator, a beacon of dialogue and friendship between nations and faiths, particularly between Jews and Muslims. His voice will be greatly missed, but his legacy will continue to guide future generations."
The Jewish community of Turkey issued a statement mourning their spiritual leader: "We grieve the loss of our chief rabbi, Rabbi Ishak Haleva, who led our community for many years with a deep belief in unity, peace and love."
The Union of Rabbis in Islamic Countries also expressed sorrow, saying: "We join the Jewish community of Turkey in mourning the untimely passing of our revered mentor, leader and the Hakham Bashi of Turkish Jewry, Rabbi Ishak Haleva. We extend our condolences to his family and to Jewish communities worldwide."
Haleva’s profound commitment to unity and his efforts to build bridges between communities leave an enduring mark on the Jewish community in Turkey and beyond.