Baruch Dayan HaEmet

Isak Haleva, Chief Rabbi of Turkey, dies at 85

Isak Haleva, who served as Turkey's Chief Rabbi for over two decades and was known for his mastery of six languages including the rare Sephardic Ladino, died Tuesday at age 85, prompting condolences from Turkish leaders including President Erdogan and leaving behind a legacy of fostering peace and unity in a Jewish community that has dwindled from 200,000 to less than 15,000 members over the past century.

Gila Isaacson | JFeed | 11:54 | 1 min read |

Turkish Chief Rabbi Isak Haleva (Photo: Screenshot from Roi Kais's X account)

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.

Turkey's Jewish community, which Haleva led, has significantly decreased from 200,000 members at the start of the 20th century to less than 15,000 today. Most current members are descendants of Jews who sought refuge in the Ottoman Empire during the 15th century, fleeing the Spanish Inquisition.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reached out to the community to offer condolences, while Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu praised Haleva on X for his commitment to "peace, dialogue, and friendship."

Haleva is survived by his wife and four sons. He had been ordained as a rabbi in Israel by former Chief Rabbi Ovadia Yosef after studying at Yeshiva Porat Yosef in Jerusalem.

May his memory be blessed.

Barron's and Times of Israel contributed to this article.