Gilles Bernheim

Gilles Bernheim
Bernheim in 2009
Born
Gilles Uriel Bernheim

(1952-05-30) 30 May 1952 (age 72)
Aix-les-Bains, France
OccupationChief Rabbi of France
PredecessorJoseph Sitruk
SuccessorHaïm Korsia
Bernheim receives the Légion d'honneur in 2009

Gilles Uriel Bernheim (French pronunciation: [ʒil y.ʁjɛl bɛʁ.nɛm]; born 30 May 1952) is a French-Israeli rabbi who was formerly the Chief Rabbi of France. Born in Aix-les-Bains, Savoie, in 1952, he was elected by the general assembly of the Central Consistory chief rabbi of France on 22 June 2008, for a seven-year mandate starting from 1 January 2009.[1] Until then, he had been rabbi of synagogue de la Victoire, the main synagogue in Paris, since 1 May 1997. The Chief Rabbi of France was respected as a scholar not only in the Jewish community but in the wider academic world.[2] However, he resigned as chief rabbi in April 2013 before his term had ended, amid revelations of plagiarism and deception about his academic credentials.

He succeeded chief rabbi Joseph Sitruk.[3] He was very critical of the lifting of the excommunication of bishop Richard Williamson.[4]

The French Government appointed him Knight [Chevalier] in the Légion d'honneur, on 10 April 2009.

  1. ^ France gets new chief rabbi, Yeshiva World News, June 23, 2008.
  2. ^ Sage, Adam (April 10, 2013). "Chief Rabbi Gilles Bernheim 'set to quit' over plagiarism". The Times. London: News Intl. ISSN 0140-0460. Archived from the original on February 3, 2014. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  3. ^ Anshel Pfeffer (June 24, 2008). Haaretz (ed.). "Gilles Bernheim, 56, elected France's new grand rabbi". Archived from the original on July 24, 2009. Retrieved November 16, 2008.
  4. ^ Le Monde article