Joseph Sitruk

Who is Joseph Sitruk?

Rabbi Joseph Haïm Sitruk is a former Chief Rabbi of France, a position he held from June 1987 to June 22, 2008. Born Joseph Sitruk in Tunis, after suffering a stroke in 2001 and recovering he added the name "Haim" to his name in line with Jewish tradition.

He graduated as a rabbi in 1970 following his studies in a rabbinical school, and was named Rabbi of Strasbourg before becoming the assistant of the Chief Rabbi Max Warchawski.

In 1975, Joseph Sitruk became Chief Rabbi of Marseille. In 1987 he was elected to occupy the post of Chief Rabbi of France. He was then re-elected for two other 7 years mandates. He is married and father of 9 children. He is also the president of the Conference of European Rabbis.

On March 16, 2007, he was selected as a Commander of the Legion of Honor.

He lost his bid for re-election as Chief Rabbi of France on June 22, 2008, against Rabbi Gilles Bernheim, who had previously run against him on the 1994 Chief Rabbinate elections and failed.

He is Orthodox. Though he may not hold religious and moral authority over all Jews in France, his charisma earned him a certain reverence, especially among Sephardi Jews.