Avichai Rontzki

Avichai Rontzki (; October 10, 1951 – April 1, 2018) was an Israeli Chief Military Rabbi of the Israel Defense Forces. He served in the position from 2006 to 2010, with a rank of Brigadier General. His predecessor in that position was Rabbi Israel Weiss. Rontzki was also the rosh yeshiva of the Hesder Yeshiva in Itamar.

Biography Rontzki was born to a secular Jewish family, and studied at the Hebrew Reali School in Haifa. During this time, he began a process of repentance with his wife Ronit, who he had met in his unit. Rontzki studied at Machon Meir and Mercaz HaRav, and also was involved with instructing street kids in Jerusalem. In 1980, he established the Hesder Yeshiva in Elon Moreh. In 1984, he was part of the group that established the settlement Itamar near Nablus, and he also founded the Hesder yeshiva there.

Rontzki wrote a four-volume army halakhic guide, K'Hitzim B'Yad Gibor. In addition to his rosh yeshiva position, he continued to serve in the reserves, and rose in rank to the position of chief of staff of the Samaria Territorial Brigade .

After being offered the position of Chief Military Rabbi, many advised him to decline, due to the Military Rabbinate collaboration with Israel's unilateral disengagement plan, of which the military played a primary part.

After assuming command of the Chief Rabbinate in 2006, Rontzki initiated a mini-revolution in the command. In addition to the traditional rabbinate activities of kitchen kosher certification and religious services for religious soldiers, Rontzki expanded the mandate to include a more active role in the army, including increasing the number of battalion rabbis.

On 1 April 2018, he died, after a struggle with colorectal cancer. He left behind his wife, six children, and grandchildren.

Controversies Rontzki expanded the "Jewish Awareness Department", which conducts educational activities in IDF combat units.

Segal, Arnon, "Sitter of Tents", Olam Katan, Issue 198, April 8, 2009