Meir Kessler (; born February 17, 1961) is the Chief Rabbi and head of Rabbinical Court of Modi'in Illit.
Biography He was born in Bnei Brak to Rabbi Simcha and Tova Gitel Kessler.Moshe Weisberg, The Rabbi of Modiin Illit had a heart attach, be-chadrei chareidim, 6 November 2011. He studied at the Ponevezh yeshiva and afterward at Kol Torah under Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach.
In 1981, he married Rachel, the daughter of Rabbi Yisrael Kleiner, head of Yeshivat Beit HaKerem.Israel Cohen, Rabbi Israel Kleiner passes away, Kikar Hashabbat, 3 January 2016. After his marriage, he moved to Jerusalem and continued his studies at the Brisk yeshiva under Rabbi Avrohom Yehoshua Soloveitchik. He later resided in the city of Hadera.
When his father died in June 1996, he succeeded him as the second rabbi of Modi'in Illit. Rabbi Kessler is also a member and activist in the Rabbinical Committee on Education, affiliated with the Council of Torah Sages, as well as the Rabbinical Committee on Communications.Shaul Kahana, The fight against Tzintokim, Kikar Hashabbat, 12 January 2020.
His wife is an educator and writer. Under the pen name "Rachel Ben Menachem,"Semania. she has published several books and stories in Zarkor magazine.
Rulings He prohibited yeshiva students from traveling on city buses during peak hours for reasons of modesty.Hezki Stern, In Modiin Illit, boys are prohibited from taking public transportation, Kikar Hashabbat, 17 October 2023. He prohibited men studying in Kollel from volunteering for city security patrolsMoishi Herman, Rabbi Kessler against the Shomrim: The community should not take part, Ha-mechadesh, 7 December 2023. and from possessing firearms.Rabbi of Modiin Illit: An Avrech shouldn't have a weapon, Arutz 7, 21 February 2023. He also banned the use of content from the Haredi district in kindergartensIsrael Cohen, Rabbi Kessler: It is prohibited to accept materian from the Haredi district, Kikar Hashabbat, 7 April 2017. and prohibited riding a bimba (ride-on toy) on Shabbat,Chaim Lev, Bimbas are prohibited on Shabbat, Arutz 7, 28 April 2013. among other rulings.
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