Hamburg Elects Chief Rabbi

Lubavitch.com

After being without a chief rabbi for three years, the city state of Hamburg formally elected Chabad’s Rabbi Shlomo Bistritsky to the position Monday evening.

“This is a historic moment for Hamburg. For more than three years we’ve been without a chief rabbi,” said Roy Naor, a member of the Board of Directors of the city’s Jewish community in a conversation with lubavitch.com shortly after the election results were announced. “Today constitutes a new beginning for the Jews of this city.”

In his role as Chabad representative, Rabbi Bistritsky has been serving Hamburg’s Jewish population of about 8000 for the last eight years. But the new position will help him enrich Jewish life there immeasurably, he said.

Speaking by phone with lubavitch.com from his home as well-wishers poured in to congratulate him, Rabbi Bistritsky said the election “confirms that the Jewish community recognizes and appreciates the work and dedication of Chabad.”

Hamburg, the second largest city in Germany with densely population urban areas, is one of only three city states in Germany. Hamburg, Altona and Wandsbek formed a great Jewish religious and cultural center from the 17th century until the Holocaust.

Among the great rabbis who served there were the famed18th century talmudist, Rabbi Yacov Emden, and his rival, the kabbalist, Rabbi Yonasan Eybschutz.

In 1933, Hamburg had a Jewish population of about 20,000. About half perished during the Holocaust, the rest were dispersed and by 1947 the city counted only 1,268 Jews.