Edah HaChareidis

{{Short description|Large ultra-Orthodox Jewish communal organization based in Jerusalem}} {{protection padlock|small=yes}} {{Infobox organisation | formation = {{start date and age|1918}} | full_name = Charedi Community of Jerusalem | native_name = העדה החרדית | native_name_lang = he | image = Edah HQ.jpg | caption = Headquarters In Jerusalem | former_name = Ashkenazi City Council | founder = Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld, Rabbi Yitzchok Yerucham Diskin | founding_location = Jerusalem | headquarters = Jerusalem | membership = 40,000 | language = Yiddish, Hebrew | leader_title = Chief Rabbi | leader_name = vacant | leader_title2 = Head of Court | leader_name2 = Rabbi Moshe Sternbuch | publication = HaEdah, Madrich HaKashruth | secessions = Agudat Yisrael, Neturei Karta, Karlin, Khal Adas Yerushalayim | affiliations = Haredi Judaism }}

The '''Charedi Community of Jerusalem''' ({{langx|he|העדה החרדית}}, ''haEdah haCharedit'', Ashkenazi pronunciation: ''ho-Aideh HaCharaidis'' or ''ho-Eido ha-Chareidis''; "Community of God-Fearers") is a large Haredi Jewish communal organization based in Jerusalem. It has several thousand affiliated households and is chaired by the Grand Patriarch (''Ga'avad''), who also holds the title of chief rabbi (''Mara D'Ara D'Yisroel'' {{lang|he|מרא דארעא דישראל}}). The Community is led by a Beis Din, and provides facilities such as Kashrut supervision, Mikva'oth, Eruvin, and welfare services.

The Community was founded in 1918 by devout Ashkenazi residents of Jerusalem, especially of the Old Yishuv, who refused to be affiliated in any way with the new Zionist institutions. Inspired by militant anti-Zionist ideology, it refuses to receive any state funding from the Israeli authorities, relying on donations from fellow anti-Zionist Haredi Jews abroad and its own income, and it forbids voting in Israeli elections. Its members often engage in demonstrations against Sabbath desecration, autopsies, or archaeological excavations of human remains, which they regard as sins, and are noted for their poverty and extreme religious strictness.

==History== {{Yishuv haYashan}} The Edah HaChareidis was originally founded by Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld and Rabbi Yitzchok Yerucham Diskin (son of Rabbi Yehoshua Leib Diskin)<ref name="tidhar.tourolib.org">[https://www.tidhar.tourolib.org/tidhar/view/7/2929 Encyclopedia of the Builders and Founders of Israel vol. 7 pp. 2929]</ref> in 1918, as the Ashkenazic City Council (''Va'ad Ha'Ir Ha'Ashkenazi'' ועד העיר האשכנזי), to separate from the Zionist-controlled {{ill|General City Council|he|ועד העיר ליהודי ירושלים}}.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Keren-Karetz |first1=Menachem |title=העיתון קול ישראל וגיבוש הזהות החרדית בארץ ישראל בתקופת המנדט |journal=Kesher |date=Spring 2018 |issue=51 |url=https://dacenter.tau.ac.il/sites/abraham.tau.ac.il/files/media_server/daniel%20abraham/kesher/51/14%20Keren.pdf}}</ref> Rabbi Sonnenfeld had previously been the ''de facto'' chief rabbi of Jerusalem since 1909, after the death of Rabbi Shmuel Salant, but only accepted the official title in 1920, in order to counter the establishment of the Chief Rabbinate by the Zionist movement under British auspices. The Council originally had two rabbinical courts, one for the ''perushim'' and one for the ''chassidim'', over which Rabbi Sonnenfeld was named as the first Av Beis Din, a position he held until his death in 1932.<ref name="ReferenceA">[https://www.tidhar.tourolib.org/tidhar/view/1/61 Encyclopedia of the Builders and Founders of Israel vol. 1 pp. 61-62]</ref> In 1936 the two courts joined and the organization received its current name.<ref>{{cite web | title=⁨ועד העיר האשכנזי בירושלם תיו. ⁩ — ⁨⁨הארץ⁩ 4 אפריל 1918⁩ — הספרייה הלאומית של ישראל │ עיתונים | url=https://www.nli.org.il/he/newspapers/haretz/1918/04/04/01/article/16?&dliv=none&e=-------he-20--1--img-txIN%7ctxTI--------------1 }}</ref>

While the Edah was originally affiliated with the World Agudath Israel, after the Agudah grudgingly began to cooperate with the Jewish Agency and other Zionist bodies,<ref name="Mainuddin2002">{{cite book|first=Rolin G.|last=Mainuddin|title=Religion and politics in the developing world: explosive interactions|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B9AnAAAAYAAJ|access-date=9 May 2013|year=2002|publisher=Ashgate|isbn=978-0-7546-1507-1|page=70}}</ref> Amram Blau and Aharon Katzenellenbogen of Jerusalem broke away in 1938 to form Neturei Karta, refusing to have any dealings with the Zionists.<ref name="BergerAhimeir2002c">{{cite book|first1=Marshall J.|last1=Berger|first2=Ora|last2=Ahimeir|title=Jerusalem: a city and its future|url=https://archive.org/details/jerusalemcityits00berg|url-access=registration|access-date=13 May 2013|year=2002|publisher=Syracuse University Press|isbn=978-0-8156-2913-9|page=[https://archive.org/details/jerusalemcityits00berg/page/236 236]}}</ref> During the 1940s the Neturei Karta became increasingly critical of the Agudah's position and in 1945 they succeeded in expelling Agudah members from the Edah,<ref name="Stump2000">{{cite book|first=Roger W.|last=Stump|title=Boundaries of faith: geographical perspectives on religious fundamentalism|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-c8nAAAAYAAJ|access-date=9 May 2013|year=2000|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers|isbn=978-0-8476-9319-1|page=47}}</ref> who eventually formed the Agudat Yisrael political party.

Rabbi Sonnenfeld was succeeded by Rabbi Yosef Tzvi Dushinsky, who was succeeded by Rabbi Zelig Reuven Bengis, who was succeeded by the Satmar Rebbe, Grand Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum.<ref name="EJ2">{{cite EJ|url=http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CCX2587519680&v=2.1&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w|title=Teitelbaum|author=Rubinstein, Avraham|volume=19|pages=582–83|access-date=2012-02-02}}</ref> Teitelbaum had already emigrated to the United States, but was still given the position as chief rabbi of the Edah. Teitelbaum's nephew, the late Grand Rabbi Moshe Teitelbaum of Satmar, was given the title of President upon Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum's death. The lay leader of the body for many years was Gershon Stemmer, until his death in early 2007.

==Anti-Zionist ideology== The first chief rabbi of the Edah, Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld, often referred to the Zionists as "evil men and ruffians" and claimed that "Hell had entered the Land of Israel with Herzl."<ref name="Laqueur2003">{{cite book|first=Walter|last=Laqueur|title=A History of Zionism: From the French Revolution to the Establishment of the State of Israel|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TLIqAAAAYAAJ|access-date=13 May 2013|date=20 May 2003|publisher=Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-8052-1149-8|page=410|quote=Rosenheim, the political head of central European Orthodoxy, who was accustomed to using far more moderate language, nevertheless warned the religious Zionists against the 'mortal danger' they risked by collaborating with those who did not accept the divine law.}}</ref> The spokesman for the Edah at the time, Dr. Jacob Israël de Haan, endeavored to form an alliance with the Arab nationalist leadership and hoped to reach an agreement that would allow unrestricted Jewish settlement in Arab lands in return for the relinquishment of Jewish political aspirations. In June 1924, de Haan was assassinated by the Haganah after having conveyed his proposals to King Hussein and his sons, Faisal and Abdullah.<ref name="BergerAhimeir2002a">{{cite book|first1=Marshall J.|last1=Berger|first2=Ora|last2=Ahimeir|title=Jerusalem: a city and its future|url=https://archive.org/details/jerusalemcityits00berg|url-access=registration|access-date=13 May 2013|year=2002|publisher=Syracuse University Press|isbn=978-0-8156-2913-9|page=[https://archive.org/details/jerusalemcityits00berg/page/238 238]}}</ref>

The anti-Zionist ideological stance of the Edah HaChareidis is explicated in the book ''Vayoel Moshe'', written by its former President and Chief Rabbi, Joel Teitelbaum, which is regarded as the standard, and by which all issues relating to the modern State of Israel are generally determined. For example, the community forbids voting in the elections for the Knesset, and forbids accepting any funding from the Israeli government (such as subsidies for schools and unemployment benefits), and also does not accept Israeli citizenship through the Law of Return.<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=The Jerusalem Post |url=https://www.jpost.com/Jewish-World/Jewish-News/Rabbi-Yosef-Sheinberger-dies-at-87 |title=Rabbi Yosef Sheinberger dies at 87 |quote="In 1981, he issued a decree that all educational institutions that accept state funding were off limits for children of the Edah Haredit."}}</ref><ref name="Ynetnews">[http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3410991,00.html Ynetnews]</ref> According to Ynetnews, "It [the Edah] has declared an ideological war against the 'heretic Zionist government'."<ref name="Ynetnews" />

In 2002, the rabbinical leadership of the Edah wrote a complementary introduction to ''Vayoel Moshe''. The introduction mentioned: "''and it is necessary to learn about this subject [of Zionism]... the holy book Vayoel Moshe will open [its readers'] eyes to see [the reasons behind] all troubles and horrors of our time, and will prevent readers from being drawn after the Zionist heresy, may the Merciful One save us.''"<ref>Introduction, ''Sefer Yalkut Amorim Vayoel Moshe''.</ref>

The Rabbinical Court of the Edah HaChareidis has endorsed the anti-zionist organization Torah Jews<ref>{{Cite web |title=Endorsements – Badatz of the Eidah Chareidis of Jerusalem – Torah Jews |url=https://torahjews.org/endorsements-badatz-of-the-eidah-chareidis-of-jerusalem/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250808071051/https://torahjews.org/endorsements-badatz-of-the-eidah-chareidis-of-jerusalem/ |archive-date=2025-08-08 |access-date=2026-05-20 |website=torahjews.org |language=en-US}}</ref>

The Edah HaChareidis mourns the establishment of Israel on the fifth of Iyar each year, claiming that the establishment of a Jewish state before the coming of the Messiah is a sin and heresy. Some even fast on this day and recite prayers for fast days.<ref>''Mishpacha Magazine'', "Zealots and Zionism", Moishe Guttman. 14 March 2007</ref>

In 2006, during a campaign against the participation of Haredim in the Israeli parliamentary elections, the Edah accused the Zionists of having played a role in the Holocaust.<ref>[http://www.rosenblit.com/judenrat.htm] "UTJ [United Torah Judaism]: Anti-voting campaign hurt us" Jerusalem Post, March 30, 2006; see [http://revisionistreview.blogspot.com/2006/03/holocaust-comics-by-judaics.html] for some pictures</ref>{{Citation needed|reason=Find original Jerusalem Post article.|date=February 2025}}

In March 2008, an article in the Edah's newspaper ''HaEdah'' blasted the "first Hasidic police officer" and the newspapers who had praised him, and called for him to be thrown out of the Haredi world. It referred to him as presenting his children to Molech. Addressing him personally, it said: "''and even if you are great in your own eyes, you are worth nothing and an embarrassment to us''"; and: "''We will continue our continuous war, the days of which are the same as the days of the existence of the Zionist entity, against them and against everything you represent.''"<ref>HaEdah, parashas Pekudei 5768, pages 10–11</ref>

Earlier in 2008, Rabbi Binyomin Rabinowitz, a Member of the Court, was quoted as saying: ''"If religious Jews would not co-operate with the Zionists, [the state] would have long been annulled, and the Messiah would have come, and entire delay of the redemption is [attributable to] this matter."''<ref>Ha'Edah, Parashas Va'Eiro 5768, page 11: "ואמר רבינו: ברור לי הדבר כי אם לא היו שומרי תורה מתחברים עם הציונים כבר מזמן היו מתבטלים והמשיח כבר הי' בא, וכל עיכוב הגאולה הוא בדבר זה."</ref>

On 7 November 2006, the Edah said it was considering placing the Pulsa denura curse on the organizers of the Pride parade scheduled to march in Jerusalem on 10 November 2006. Army Radio interviewed Rabbi Shmuel Papenheim, who announced, "The Rabbinical Court has held a special session and discussed placing a 'pulsa denura' on those who have had a hand in organizing the march." Papenheim, editor of ''HaEdah'', added that the rabbis were also considering placing the curse "against the policemen who beat Haredi Jews".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lefkovits |first=Etgar |date=10 June 2007 |title=Rabbis curse Jerusalem gay parade |url=https://www.jpost.com/israel/rabbis-curse-jlem-gay-parade |access-date= |website=The Jerusalem Post |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Influence== Followers of the movements that constitute the Edah HaChareidis are estimated at approximately fifteen thousand households, and live mainly in the northern areas of Jerusalem (from Har Nof to Sanhedria, and in Mea Shearim) and in Beit Shemesh, as well as in Bnei Brak, Tiberius, Safed, and Meron, with additional members in Kiryat Sefer, Beitar Illit, and Har Yonah.

The Edah HaChareidis includes the following groups: Satmar, Dushinsky, Toldos Aharon, Toldos Avrohom Yitzchok, Spinka, Sanz-Tshokave, groups belonging to the Perushim (such as a more "moderate" wing of Neturei Karta), a faction of the Breslover Hasidim, led by Rabbi Yaakov Meir Shechter, other factions of Breslov, Mishkenois HaRoyim, {{ill|Khal Chasidei Yerushalayim|he|קהל חסידי ירושלים}}, and several other smaller communities.

The Edah HaChareidis publicizes a weekly magazine called ''{{ill|HaEdah|he|העדה (עיתון)}}'' ("The Edah"), written in Hebrew. This magazine is used to publicize the views of the leadership of the Edah HaChareidis on various issues, as well as articles on Jewish thought, including the weekly Torah portion and biographies of deceased leaders of the Yerushalmi community.

The state-sponsored Israeli Chief Rabbinate recognizes divorces performed by the Edah's rabbinical court, as well as marriages registered with the Edah's Marriage Registry Chamber, per a settlement hearkening back to British rule. Yet, like all those performed by non-governmental bodies in Israel, converts to Judaism who convert through the Edah's courts are neither recognized nor eligible for citizenship under the Law of Return.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Loading... |url=http://minorites.org/article.php?IDA=10567 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240512034616/http://minorites.org/article.php?IDA=10567 |archive-date=2024-05-12 |access-date=2026-05-20 |website=minorites.org}}</ref>

In a 2004 letter addressed to Ritual Circumcisers, the Israeli chief rabbinate noted that its guidance is similar to that of the Edah HaChareidis.<ref>https://www.gov.il/BlobFolder/generalpage/meida_brit2/he/%D7%93%D7%A2%D7%AA%20%D7%AA%D7%95%D7%A8%D7%94%20%20%D7%9E%D7%A9%D7%A0%D7%AA%20%D7%AA%D7%A9%D7%A1%D7%93.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=August 2025}}</ref>

In response to day-long Haredi protests in Jerusalem in 2009, Israel's then-President Shimon Peres described the Edah as "a radical minority".<ref>[http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3786035,00.html Peres lauds Rabbinate for recognizing brain death], ''Ynet'', (October 06, 2009)</ref>

==Services== thumb|170px|The kashruth certification stamp of the ''Badatz'' The Edah HaChareidis is known for its high standards in rabbinical supervision of kosher food, and is considered to be the most prominent and reliable ''hechsher'' in Israel.<ref>[https://www.themarker.com/news/macro/2017-08-16/ty-article/0000017f-f11c-d497-a1ff-f39cdc900000 "יש להכריז על בדץ העדה החרדית מונופול בתחום שירותי כשרות המהדרין" TheMarker]</ref><ref>[https://mida.org.il/2017/09/07/%D7%9E%D7%9C%D7%97%D7%9E%D7%AA-%D7%94%D7%91%D7%93%D7%A6%D7%99%D7%9D-%D7%9B%D7%9A-%D7%9B%D7%91%D7%A9%D7%94-%D7%A7%D7%91%D7%95%D7%A6%D7%AA-%D7%A9%D7%95%D7%9C%D7%99%D7%99%D7%9D-%D7%97%D7%A8%D7%93%D7%99/ מעיין דויד, מלחמת הבד"צים: כך כבשה קבוצת שוליים חרדית את שוק הכשרות, באתר מידה, 2017-09-07]</ref> It is often simply known as the ''hechsher'' of the "''Badatz''", which stands for ''Beis Din Tzedek'' (literally, "Court [of] Righteous Law"), the standard term for a rabbinical court. Products certified by the Edah are marked with the logo of the Edah.

The Kashruth Council of the Edah HaChareidis ({{lang|he|וועד הכשרות שע"י בד"ץ העדה החרדית}}) is the primary supervisory body. The council certifies all food products, besides meat and poultry, which are certified by the Council for Ritual Slaughter of the Edah HaChareidis ({{lang|he|וועד השחיטה שע"י בד"ץ העדה החרדית}}). The Kashruth Council of the Edah HaChareidis publishes a ''kashruth'' guide annually under the title ''Madrich HaKashruth''.<ref name="Madrich HaKashruth 5782 pp. 8-13">[https://www.dirshu.co.il/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/%D7%9E%D7%93%D7%A8%D7%99%D7%9A-%D7%97%D7%90-%D7%AA%D7%A9%D7%A4%D7%91.pdf?srsltid=AfmBOoqMXK_Gc5_c3JIeNDaBEFcDlaqplU1zhvg1jLE-frwG2bQU_4ke Madrich HaKashruth 5782 pp. 8-13]</ref>

The Edah maintains various smaller councils, mostly to supervise and certify various products and services, as follows: *The Shemita Council of the Edah HaChareidis ({{lang|he|וועד השמיטה שע"י העדה החרדית}}), which supervises produce and fields during the Shemita year; *The Eruv Council of the Edah HaChareidis ({{lang|he|וועד העירובין שע"י העדה החרדית}}), which supervises and maintains the Eruvin in parts of Jerusalem, Safed, Meron and Beit Shemesh; *The Chamber of Sta"m of the Edah HaChareidis ({{lang|he|לשכת סת"ם שע"י העדה החרדית}}), which supervises Soferim and other producers of Sta"m; *The Council for Halachic Supervision of Investments and Finances of the Edah HaChareidis ({{lang|he|וועד הפיקוח ההלכתי להשקעות ופיננסים שע"י העדה החרדית}}), which ensures that financial product and services comply with the laws of Ribbis;<ref name="Madrich HaKashruth 5782 pp. 8-13"/> *The Council for Halachic Supervision of the Edah HaChareidis ({{lang|he|וועד הפיקוח ההלכתי שע"י העדה החרדית}}), which certifies assorted items such as Tzitzis and the Four Species, among others; *The Council to Guard Mea Shearim ({{lang|he|וועד משמרת מאה שערים}}), charged with preserving the character of the neighborhood; *The Marriage Registry Chamber of the Edah HaChareidis ({{lang|he|לשכת רישום נישואין שע"י העדה החרדית}}).<ref>[https://www.gov.il/he/pages/marriage_statistics_2022 israel-marriage-statistics-2022-Hebrew]</ref> The Edah also employs many Posekim, and maintains ''Bais Hora'ah''s בית הוראה, which are offices for Halachic decisions, throughout Jerusalem and Beit Shemesh.<ref name="Madrich HaKashruth 5782 pp. 8-13"/>

==Rabbinical court== thumb|Members of the Court at a meeting thumb|Letterhead of the Rabbinical Court The Rabbinical Court of the Edah HaChareidis ({{lang|he|בית דין צדק לכל מקהלות האשכנזים שע"י העדה החרדית}}) is the highest authority in the Edah. The court hears both monetary and family cases, as well as community-wide halachic questions. Historically, the court is headed by both a Chief Rabbi, called the "Ga'avad" {{lang|he|גאב"ד}} (an acronym for Gaon Av Beis Din, meaning Grand Patriarch of the Rabbinical Court), and by the "Ra'avad" {{lang|he|ראב"ד}} (an acronym for Rosh Beis Din, meaning Head of the Rabbinical Court). The "Ra'avad" is the first person in the line of succession of the "Ga'avad", and would usually ascend to the role of "Ga'avad" upon his death or resignation, subject to confirmation by vote.

===Titles and honorifics=== Decrees and announcements promulgated by the court are usually published under one of the following headers: *(when signed by the ''Ga'avad'') "By the authority of our teachers, the geniuses, the righteous, (''or'' the princes of Torah) (his honorable holiness) our master the ''Ga'avad'' and the righteous court, may they live long and good days Amen". *(when signed by the ''Ra'avad'' and not by the ''Ga'avad'') "By the authority of our teachers, the geniuses, the righteous, (''or'' the princes of Torah) (his honorable holiness) our masters the ''Ra'avad'' and the righteous court, may they live long and good days Amen". *(when signed by neither the ''Ra'avad'' nor the ''Ga'avad'') "By the authority of our teachers, the geniuses, the righteous, the members of the righteous court (of this here holy city), may they live long and good days Amen".

The following lists the proper (written) titles of the various members of the Edah's rabbinical court: *(''Ga'avad'') His Honorable Holiness, our Master the ''Ga'avad'', may he live long and good days Amen, Master of the Land of Israel (''or'' the Holy Land); *(''Ra'avad'') His Honorable Holiness, the ''Ra'avad'', may he live long and good days Amen; *(Members) The great genius, Rabbi So-and-So, may he live long and good days Amen, Member of the Righteous Court.

The following lists the members of the Edah's rabbinical court: <!-- The dates below should really be the dates during which each Rabbi was Chief Rabbi... -->

===Chief Rabbis=== The Ga'avad holds three titles: Grand Patriarch of the Court of Jerusalem, Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem, and Master of the Land of Israel. #1920–1932: Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld (1849–1932)<ref name="ReferenceA"/> #1932–1948: Grand Rabbi Yosef Tzvi Dushinsky, First Dushinsky Rebbe (1867–1948)<ref>[https://www.tidhar.tourolib.org/tidhar/view/4/1930 Encyclopedia of the Builders and Founders of Israel vol. 4 pp. 1930]</ref> #1947–1953: Rabbi Zelig Reuven Bengis (1864–1953)<ref name="IntroLaflagos">{{cite book | title =Toldos Hagaon Rabbi Zelig Reuvain Bengis Laflagos Reuvain | location =Jerusalem | url =http://hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=6949&st=&pgnum=4 | access-date =Aug 22, 2010 }} in the introduction to Laflagos Reuvain</ref> #1953–1979: Grand Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum of Satmar (1887–1979)<ref name="EJ2"/> #1979–1989: Rabbi Yitzchok Yaakov Weiss (1901–1989; author of ''Minchas Yitzchak'', formerly of Manchester Beth Din, England)<ref>{{Cite web |title=HebrewBooks.org 1597 מנחת יצחק חלק א-ב -- ויס, יצחק יעקב בן יוסף יהודה, 1902-1989 |url=https://beta.hebrewbooks.org/1597 |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=beta.hebrewbooks.org}}</ref> #1989–1996: Rabbi Moshe Aryeh Freund (1904–1996; author of ''Ateres Yehoshua'' (''Chassidei Satmar'') <ref>{{cite web | title=אוצר החכמה | url=https://tablet.otzar.org/#/b/152640/p/1/t/16780.7397478327947045/fs/0/start/0/end/0/c }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=אוצר החכמה |url=https://tablet.otzar.org/#/b/193399/p/5/t/16780.7397478327947045/fs/0/start/0/end/0/c/1738840740107 |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=tablet.otzar.org}}</ref> #1996–2002: Grand Rabbi Yisroel Moshe Dushinsky, Second Dushinsky Rebbe (1921–2003; son of Rabbi Yosef Tzvi Dushinsky, listed above)<ref name=deiah>{{cite web |url=http://www.chareidi.org/archives5763/TZR63ardshnsky.htm|title=NEWS: HaRav Yisroel Moshe Dushinsky, zt'l|first=Betzalel|last=Kahn|date=2 April 2003|access-date=2 March 2015|publisher=Dei'ah VeDibur}}</ref> #2002–2022: Rabbi Yitzchok Tuvia Weiss (1926–2022; formerly ''dayan'' of the ''Machsike Hadass'' community, Antwerp, Belgium)<ref name="The Jewish Press - July 30, 2022 - Rabbi Yitzchok Tuvia Weiss, Head of Jerusalem’s Eida HaChareidis, Passes Away">{{cite news |last1=Levi Julian |first1=Hana |title=Rabbi Yitzchok Tuvia Weiss, Head of Jerusalem's Eida HaChareidis, Passes Away |url=https://www.jewishpress.com/news/obituaries/rabbi-yitzchok-tuvia-weiss-head-of-jerusalems-eida-hachareidis-passes-away/2022/07/30/ |access-date=July 31, 2022 |work=The Jewish Press |date=July 30, 2022 |language=English}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-30 |title=BDE: HaGaon HaRav Tuvia Weiss, Z'TL, Gaavad Of The Eidah HaChareidis |url=https://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/featured/2109794/bde-hagaon-harav-tuvia-weiss-ztl-gaavad-of-the-eidah-hachareidis.html |access-date=2024-09-18 |website=Yeshiva World News |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Heads of Court=== #1920–1921: Rabbi {{ill|Moshe Nochum Wallenstein|he|רבי משה נחום ולנשטיין}} (1840–1922)<ref>[https://www.nli.org.il/he/newspapers/?olive_path=%2fOlive%2fAPA%2fNLI_heb%2fSharedView%2eArticle%2easpx&olive_query=href%3dDHY%252F1922%252F03%252F24%26id%3dAr00309%26sk%3d014875E3 Doar Hayom, March 24, 1922, page 3]</ref><ref>[https://www.tidhar.tourolib.org/tidhar/view/11/3864 Encyclopedia of the Builders and Founders of Israel vol. 11 pp. 3864]</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=אוצר החכמה | url=https://tablet.otzar.org/#/book/166649/p/-1/t/1/fs/0/start/0/end/0/c }}</ref> #1924–1929: Rabbi {{ill|Mordechai Leib Rubin|he|רבי מרדכי לייב רובין}} (1871–1929) #1929–1938: Rabbi {{ill|Pinchas Epstein|he|רבי פנחס אפשטיין}} (d.1969)<ref>He ceded the position to Bengis upon his arrival in Jerusalem, and reassumed it upon the latters ascension to the position of chief rabbi.</ref> #1938–1948: Rabbi Zelig Reuven Bengis (1864–1953)<ref name="IntroLaflagos"/> #1948–1968: Rabbi {{ill|Pinchas Epstein|he|רבי פנחס אפשטיין}} (d.1969)<ref>{{Cite web |title=הילולא טבת תשפ''א הגר''פ עפשטיין.pdf |url=https://drive.google.com/file/d/169C1pCM6mx1Mk-XQ5yt47LMZ9boMxwsw/view?pli=1 |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=Google Docs}}</ref>{{Citation needed|reason=Find reliable source|date=February 2025}} #1968–1972: Rabbi {{ill|Dovid Jungreis|he|רבי דוד יונגרייז}} (1898–1972)<ref>{{Cite web |title=אוצר החכמה |url=https://tablet.otzar.org/#/book/5898/p/-1/t/1/fs/0/start/0/end/0/c |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=tablet.otzar.org}}</ref> #1972–1979: Rabbi Yitzchok Yaakov Weiss (1901–1989) #1979–1989: Rabbi Moshe Aryeh Freund (1904–1996) #1989–1996: Grand Rabbi Yisroel Moshe Dushinsky (1921–2003)<ref name=deiah/> #1996–2003: Rabbi Yisroel Yaakov Fisher (1928–2003)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://chareidi.shemayisrael.com/archives5763/PKD63arfisher.htm |title=HaRav Yisroel Yaakov Fisher, by Betzalel Kahn (Dei'ah veDibur) |access-date=2025-01-28 |archive-date=2007-11-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071118025538/http://chareidi.shemayisrael.com/archives5763/PKD63arfisher.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> #2003–present: Rabbi Moshe Sternbuch (b.1926)

===Past members=== *Rabbi {{ill|Naphtali Tzvi Shmerler|he|רבי נפתלי צבי שמרלר}} (1888–1948) *Rabbi {{ill|Yerucham Fishel Yehoshua Borenstein|he|רבי ירוחם פישל יהושע ברנשטיין}} (1880–1949) *Rabbi {{ill|Yitzchok Frankel|he|רבי יצחק פרנקל}} *Rabbi {{ill|Dov Tzvi Karlenstein|he|רבי דב צבי קרלנשטיין (הראשון)}} (1856–1930)<ref>{{cite web | title=אוצר החכמה | url=https://tablet.otzar.org/#/book/640148/p/550/t/1/fs/0/start/0/end/0/c }}</ref> *Rabbi {{ill|Simcha Bunim Werner|he|רבי שמחה בונם וורנר}} (1867–1936) *Rabbi {{ill|Gershon Yehuda Zilberman|he|רבי גרשון יהודה זילברמן}} *Rabbi {{ill|Yisroel Yitzchok Reisman|he|רבי ישראל יצחק רייזמן}} (1889–1969)<ref>https://abiryaakov.com/%D7%94%D7%90%D7%91%D7%99%D7%A8-%D7%94%D7%99%D7%95%D7%9E%D7%99/%D7%96%D7%9B%D7%A8%D7%95%D7%9F-%D7%9C%D7%A6%D7%93%D7%99%D7%A7/%D7%94%D7%92%D7%90%D7%95%D7%9F-%D7%A8%D7%91%D7%99-%D7%99%D7%A9%D7%A8%D7%90%D7%9C-%D7%99%D7%A6%D7%97%D7%A7-%D7%A8%D7%99%D7%99%D7%96%D7%9E%D7%9F-%D7%96%D7%A6-%D7%9C {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2025}}</ref> *Rabbi {{ill|Eliyohu Zlotnik|he|רבי אליהו זלוטניק}}<ref>{{cite web | title=Marriage Confirmation by Rabbi Eliyahu Zlatnik Signed by Rabbi Yakov Moshe Harlap | url=https://dynasty-auctions.com/en/items/marriage-confirmation-by-rabbi-eliyahu-zlatnik-signed-by-rabbi-yakov-moshe-harlap/ }}</ref><ref>https://www.kedem-auctions.com/he/%D7%9E%D7%9B%D7%AA%D7%91-%D7%A8%D7%91%D7%A0%D7%99-%D7%94%D7%A2%D7%93%D7%94-%D7%94%D7%97%D7%A8%D7%93%D7%99%D7%AA-%D7%90%D7%9C-%D7%94%D7%90%D7%93%D7%9E%D7%95%D7%A8-%D7%9E%D7%A1%D7%90%D7%98%D7%9E%D7%A8-%E2%80%93-%D7%AA%D7%A9%D7%9C%D7%91-%E2%80%93-%D7%92%D7%99%D7%95%D7%A1-%D7%91%D7%A0%D7%95%D7%AA-%D7%95%D7%9E%D7%A2%D7%A6%D7%A8-%D7%91%D7%A0%D7%99-%D7%AA%D7%95%D7%A8%D7%94-%D7%A9%D7%95%D7%A8%D7%A4%D7%99-%D7%97%D7%A0%D7%95%D7%AA-%D7%94%D7%AA%D7%95%D7%A2%D7%91%D7%94-%E2%80%93-%D7%97%D7%AA%D7%99%D7%9E%D7%95%D7%AA {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2025}}</ref> *Rabbi Binyomin Rabinowitz *Rabbi {{ill|Avrohom Dovid Horowitz|he|רבי אברהם דוד הורוביץ}} *Rabbi Moshe Halberstam (1932–2006)<ref>[http://www.chareidi.org/archives5766/achrei/ACH66arhlbrstm.htm Obituary]</ref> *Rabbi Meir Brandsdorfer (1934–2009) ''(Chasidei Toldos Avrohom Yitzchok)''<ref>{{cite web | title=Petira of Hagon Rav Meir Bransdorfer ZATZAL (PHOTOS) | date=13 May 2009 | url=https://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/general/34250/tehillim-alert-rav-meir-bransdorfer-in-critical-condition.html }}</ref> *Rabbi Yaakov Blau (1929–2013)<ref name="hamodia">{{cite news|date=Sep 16, 2013|title=Year in Review 5773|newspaper=Hamodia|page=31}}</ref><ref name="jdn">{{cite web|url=http://www.jdn.co.il/favorite/175021|date=January 2013|website=www.jdn.co.il|language=he|script-title=he:דרכי ציון אבלות: הגאון הגדול רבי יעקב בלוי זצוק"ל|access-date=Sep 7, 2016}}</ref> *Rabbi {{ill|Naftoli Hertzke Frankel|he|רבי נפתלי הירצקא פרנקל}} (1939–2017)<ref name="tablet.otzar.org">[https://tablet.otzar.org/#/book/618331/p/1/t/1/fs/0/start/0/end/0/c HaEdah,Parshath BeHa'aloscha, 5766, page 1]</ref> *Rabbi {{ill|Yaakov Mendel Yuravitch|he|הרב יעקב מנדל יורוביץ}} (1952-2026)<ref name="tablet.otzar.org"/><ref>https://www.kikar.co.il/dayan-haamet/tb6i6v</ref>

===Present members=== *1989: Rabbi Moshe Sternbuch, Head of Rabbinical Court {{lang|he|ראב"ד}} *Rabbi Avrohom Yitzchok Ulman ''(Chasidei Dushinsky)'' *2006: Rabbi {{ill|Yehoshua Rosenberger|he|הרב יהושע רוזנברגר}} ''(Chasidei Satmar)''<ref name="tablet.otzar.org"/> *2009: Rabbi {{ill|Chaim Uri Freund|he|הרב חיים אורי פריינד}} *2013: Rabbi {{ill|Yehuda Fisher|he|הרב יהודה פישר}}<ref>https://archive.jdn.co.il/breakingnews/223553 {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2025}}</ref> *2021: Rabbi {{ill|Shlomo Yuda Hirsh|he|הרב שלמה יהודה הירש}}<ref name="archive.jdn.co.il">https://archive.jdn.co.il/gallery/1599626/ {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2025}}</ref> *2021: Rabbi {{ill|Yisrael Yitzchak Shlesinger|he|הרב שמעון יצחק שלזינגר}}<ref name="archive.jdn.co.il"/> *2021: Rabbi {{ill|Shmuel Bransdorfer|he|הרב שמואל ברנדסדורפר}}, son of Meir Brandsdorfer<ref name="archive.jdn.co.il"/> *2023: Rabbi {{ill|Aharon Brandsdorfer|he|הרב אהרן ברנדסדורפר}}<ref name="kore.co.il">{{cite web | title=בתולדות אברהם יצחק החליפו את חברי ההנהלה בעדה החרדית - כל רגע | date=28 December 2023 | url=https://www.kore.co.il/viewArticle/148276 }}</ref>

==Lay leadership== The lay leadership of the Edah is officially called the Ashkenazic City Council of the Edah HaChareidis ({{lang|he|וועד העיר האשכנזי שע"י העדה החרדית}}).

===Presidents=== The President of the Edah Hachareidis is a purely ceremonial office and is usually granted to prominent rabbis to honor their contributions to the Edah. The following is a list of the presidents of the Edah: #1918-1925: Rabbi Yitzchok Yerucham Diskin (1839-1925)<ref name="tidhar.tourolib.org"/> #1951–1979: Grand Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum of Satmar (1887–1979)<ref name="EJ2"/> #1979–2006: Grand Rabbi Moshe Teitelbaum of Satmar (1914–2006) #2006–2021: Rabbi Dovid Soloveitchik, rosh yeshiva of Brisk (1921–2021)

===Administration=== The lay leadership of the Edah originally consisted of three bodies, a Council of Seventy elected by the general membership, which in turn selected from within itself a Council of Twenty-Three, which in turn selected from within itself the members of the Acting Committee ({{lang|he|וועד הפועל שע"י העדה החרדית}}). The Acting Committee ran the day-to-day affairs of the Edah, while graver or more important decisions were left to the Council of Twenty-Three, and very important decisions left to the full Council of Seventy.

Currently the Edah is controlled by a forty-one-member administrative board based on a system of communal representation. The board is called The Administration of the Edah HaChareidis ({{lang|he|הנהלת העדה החרדית}}). The following is a list of the various communities represented, followed by the number of representatives: *Dushinsky - (5) *Toldos Aharon - (5) *Toldos Avrohom Yitzchok - (5) *Satmar(Zalman Leib) - (5) *Breslov - (5) *Satmar(Aaron) - (5) *Perushim - (4) *Mishkenois HaRoyim - (2) *Khal Tiferes Yerushalayim - (2) *Khal Chasidei Yerushalayim - (1) *Khal Anshei Yerushalayim - (1) *Anshei Yishuv Hayoshon - (1) Additionally, each community has one representative on the Acting Committee.<ref name="kore.co.il"/>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[https://torahjews.org/endorsements-badatz-of-the-eidah-chareidis-of-jerusalem/ Endorsement of Torah Jews by the Edah Chareidis] {{OrthodoxJudaism}} {{Kashrut}} {{Authority control}}

Category:Ashkenazi Jewish culture in Jerusalem Category:Haredi anti-Zionism Category:Haredi Judaism in Jerusalem Category:Jewish anti-Zionism in Israel Category:Jewish community organizations Category:Kosher food certification organizations Category:Rabbinical organizations