Two Newly Elected Israeli Chief Rabbis Appear Together for the First Time at the Zion Orphanage

October 23, 2013 - Jerusalem, Israel - On August 26, 2013, the two newly elected Chief Rabbis, Ashkanazi Chief Rabbi David Lau and Sephardi Chief Rabbi Yitzchok Yosef, appeared together for the first time at a public celebration since being elected. The event took place at the Zion Jewish Orphanage, Israel's oldest and longest running orphanage founded in 1900, to participate in the festive activities marking the Bar Mitzvah of three Zion Orphanage boys.

The new rabbis recently began their 10 year tenure by pledging their duty in front of President Shimon Peres. They were selected to be the new rabbis in July 2013 through a complex and opaque process by a committee made up of 150 rabbis, mayors, religious functionaries, and government appointees. For the first time since their pledge, the two rabbis have appeared together to celebrate. They chose the famous Jewish children's home located in the heart of Jerusalem. During the ceremony, they promised to be faithful to the people and "be the mouth and ears for each and every person living in the country."

The Zion Jewish Orphanage where the ceremony was held is over a hundred years old and is a refuge for orphaned Jewish boys. The orphanage operates like a giant family and provides a home and quality education for all of the boys who live there. Zion also serves children that require rehabilitative care, and welcomes boys from secular, traditional and religious backgrounds with diverse traditions as well.

About Zion Orphanage
The Zion Orphanage is the oldest and longest running Orphanage in Israel. They take boys of all backgrounds and give them the confidence and skills to re-enter the world from a position of strength. The orphanage is located in the heart of the compact Mea Shearim and Geula area of Jerusalem in a self-contained compound. For more detail please visit, www.zionorphanage.com.