Turkey's Chief Rabbi Isak Haleva, who led the country's Jewish community for more than two decades, has died at 85, according to an announcement from the Turkish Jewish community today (Tuesday).
"We are deeply saddened to have lost our esteemed leader, our Chief Rabbi Rav Isak Haleva," the community stated on X, noting his dedication to peace, love, and unity throughout his leadership.
Born in Istanbul in 1940, Haleva studied to become a rabbi in Jerusalem before returning to Istanbul in 1961. He served as the third chief rabbi since the founding of modern Turkey, taking office in 2002. His tenure was renewed three times, during which he played a significant role in interfaith dialogue.
A distinguished scholar, Haleva taught at a Jewish high school and served as a lecturer on Hebrew and Jewish religious culture at both Marmara University and Sakarya University. His linguistic abilities were impressive, including fluency in Turkish, Hebrew, Aramaic, English, French, and Spanish. He could also read and speak Ladino, the traditional Sephardic Jewish language that combines Hebrew and Spanish with Turkish elements.
In November 2003, Haleva was slightly injured during a double suicide bombing that targeted two Istanbul synagogues, killing 25 people and wounding hundreds.
