Chief Rabbi of Ukraine

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Rabbi Yaakov Dov Bleich in 2012 Blajh Jakov Dov.jpg
Rabbi Yaakov Dov Bleich in 2012
Rabbi Moshe Reuven Azman in 2014 Asman.jpg
Rabbi Moshe Reuven Azman in 2014

The Chief Rabbi of Ukraine is the leader of the Jewish community in Ukraine. As of 2025, this position is claimed by Rabbi Moshe Reuven Azman and Rabbi Yaakov Bleich. [1]

History

The Forward and The Jerusalem Post report that although Rabbi Yaakov Bleich had "never [been] properly elected", he had been broadly acknowledged as Kyiv’s and Ukraine’s chief rabbi since 1992. [1] [2] However, in 2003, Chabad-Lubavitch rabbis [1] [2] [3] elected Rabbi Azriel Chaikin to the position of chief rabbi, leading to confusion. [4] Chaikin moved to New York in 2008 [5] and has not lived in Ukraine since then. [1]

In 2005, a third chief rabbi emerged when Rabbi Moshe Reuven Azman — also a Chabad rabbi but not a member of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine [2] — was elected by the All-Ukrainian Jewish Congress and the United Jewish Community of Ukraine, [2] [6] in a move rejected by other Chabad leaders. [3] [2] [7]

Bleich did not relinquish his title, and as of 2022, media quoted and referred to both Azman and Bleich as chief rabbi of Ukraine. [1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Kornbluh, Jacob (3 March 2022). "A tale of two rabbis: Meet the men with dueling claims to be the leader of Ukraine's Jews". The Forward. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Matveyev, Vladimir (27 October 2005). "Election of third chief rabbi in Ukraine splits Jewish community | The Jerusalem Post". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Archived from the original on 21 February 2025. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  3. 1 2 Popper, Nathaniel (25 November 2006). "Chabad vs. Chabad: Rabbis Duel in Ukraine". The Forward. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  4. ↑ "Rabbinical Election Stirs Confusion in Ukraine". The Forward. 19 September 2003. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  5. ↑ Cashman, Greer Fay (1 March 2022). "Grapevine March 2, 2022: Tel Aviv lights up in blue and yellow | The Jerusalem Post". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Archived from the original on 26 January 2025. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  6. ↑ Keating, Joshua (5 March 2014). "How Many "Chief Rabbis" Does Ukraine Have?". Slate. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  7. ↑ Berman, Lazar (16 January 2023). "Ukrainians love this audacious rabbi for his wartime aid and viral 'chizuk' videos". Times of Israel. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
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