Shlomo Goren
Shlomo Goren was a prominent Israeli Orthodox rabbi, a religious Zionist, and the founder and first head of the Military Rabbinate of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Born in 1917 in Zambrów, Poland, he immigrated to Mandatory Palestine in 1925. Goren was a prodigious learner from a young age and was ordained as a rabbi at the age of 17. He was deeply involved in the establishment of the State of Israel and played a significant role in shaping the religious character of the IDF. Throughout his career, Rabbi Goren was known for his innovative and sometimes controversial halakhic rulings. He served as the Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv before becoming the Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel in 1973, a position he held until 1983. During his tenure, he was involved in various landmark decisions, including rulings on the status of missing soldiers and the controversial question of 'Who is a Jew?' in the context of Israeli law. Rabbi Goren passed away in 1994, leaving behind a legacy marked by his commitment to the state of Israel and Jewish law. His writings and decisions continue to influence religious and national discourse in Israel.