A new Chief Rabbi has been appointed over Israel’s Ethiopian community. Rabbi Reuven Wabeset was selected for the post and he will be replacing Rabbi Yosef Hadana, with the latter serving close to 40 years. He will step down due to his age. There were efforts to extend his tenure to 80, as was done for other rabbonim.

Rabbi Wabeset (הרב ראובן וובשת) is 47, and is replacing Rabbi Hadana who is compelled to step down due to his age. Rabi Wabseset was born in Ethiopia and arrived in Israel with his family at the age of two, settling in Ramle. The rav is a graduate of Yeshivat Ohr Etzion, Yamit Hesder Yeshiva, and served in the Golani Brigade in the IDF, in the late 1980s. He became certified as military rav, and then too the officer’s course, which he completed with honors.

After the army, he began working in chinuch. He is married to Ofra and he is very active in the Ethiopian kehilla.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)