Rabbi Tzfania Drori

About Wearer

Rabbi Tzefania Drori, born on the 1st of Nissan, 1937 (March 13, 1937), in the moshav of Sde Yaakov, is a prominent figure in Israeli religious leadership. He served as the Chief Rabbi of Kiryat Shmona for 55 years, from 1968 until 2023, and was the founder and president of the city’s Yeshivat Hesder. Additionally, Rabbi Drori was a founding member and, for over fifty years, the chairman of the Agudah Lehitnadvut (Association for Volunteering), and he currently serves as the head of the conversion courts in the northern region.

Raised in Sde Yaakov, Rabbi Drori studied at Yeshivat Kfar HaRo’eh during its early years under Rabbi Moshe Tzvi Neria. He was a member of the “Shevet Eitanim” group in the Bnei Akiva youth movement, known for establishing Torah-educational-national projects that influenced the next generation of religious Zionists. Later, he co-founded Yeshivat Kerem B’Yavneh with his peers. In 1955, he moved to Yeshivat Merkaz HaRav, becoming a distinguished student of Rabbi Tzvi Yehuda HaKohen Kook. He was ordained as a rabbi by Rabbi Yitzchak Arieli and Rabbi Yitzchak Nissim, the former Chief Rabbi of Israel.

In 1964, Rabbi Drori, alongside Rabbi Yaakov Filber and others, established Yeshivat Jerusalem LeTze’irim, aiming to provide a framework for high school students seeking to study Torah in a Zionist yeshiva setting, following the teachings of Rabbi Kook. He served as a Rosh Yeshiva there for several years.

In 1968, at the request of Rabbi Tzvi Yehuda HaKohen Kook, Rabbi Drori moved to Kiryat Shmona to strengthen Jewish values in the northern region. He was appointed as the city’s Chief Rabbi and began broadcasting a daily halacha program on Kol Yisrael radio. Alongside him, Sephardic rabbis Rabbi Yitzchak Ohana, Rabbi Yechiel Bukhbut, and Rabbi Shalom Levi served as community rabbis.

In 1974, Rabbi Drori established a kollel (Torah study institution) for married men in Kiryat Shmona and served as its head. In 1977, he founded Yeshivat Kiryat Shmona, initially serving alongside Rabbi Ephraim Shachor. After Rabbi Shachor’s passing in 1982, Rabbi Drori continued as Rosh Yeshiva, working alongside Rabbis Israel Kirshtein and Ariel Barkai. In addition to his role as Chief Rabbi, he has been involved in providing kashrut certifications to numerous food producers.

Rabbi Drori initiated a series of Torah classes in northern kibbutzim, including Nahal Oz and Misgav Am. He also established the social center “Moadon Tikvatenu” in Kiryat Shmona and the Jewish Education Center in the city, offering various classes to residents.

Throughout his tenure in Kiryat Shmona, Rabbi Drori supported the city during challenging security and economic periods, including times when Katyusha rockets were fired at the city and businesses left. He remained in the city with his students, contributing to the community. During this period, the city experienced events such as the First Lebanon War, Operation Accountability, Operation Grapes of Wrath, and the Second Lebanon War.

During the Disengagement Plan, Rabbi Drori advocated for a moderate approach, opposing explicit refusal to obey orders but instructing his students to avoid participating in the evacuation of settlements.

Rabbi Drori was a member of the public council of the Jewish Home party, formed to unite the National Religious Party and the National Union parties.

In 2014, he published his first and only book, “Hegyon Libi Lefanecha,” a commentary on “Orot HaTorah” by Rabbi Kook. For this work, he received the Rabbi Tzvi Yehuda HaKohen Kook Prize.

On Israel’s 70th Independence Day, in recognition of 50 years of service in the city, Rabbi Drori and his wife, Rebbetzin Shari, received the “Lifetime Achievement Award” from Kiryat Shmona.

In 2022, he was awarded the Jerusalem Prize by the B’Sheva Group for his lifetime achievements. The award was presented by President Isaac Herzog, who noted Rabbi Drori’s significant contributions to strengthening Jewish values in the northern region and his establishment of educational and national Torah projects that have greatly influenced the education and formation of the next generation.

Rabbi Drori is married to Rebbetzin Shari Drori, and they have nine children. They reside in Kiryat Shmona.