Meir Auerbach

Meir Aurbach (1815 - 1877) was the Ashkenazi chief rabbi of Jerusalem.

Born in Kowel, Poland, into the Auerbach family of rabbis, he became rabbi of his hometown at the age of 25.

In 1846, Aurbach was appointed president of the Jewish beit din in Kolo, where he served for nine years. Later, he moved to Kalisz, where he served as a rabbi and engaged in commerce. In his sermons, he encouraged members of his congregation to immigrate to Eretz Yisrael, to "start the process of redemption." In 1858, Aurbach traveled to the Holy Land and settled in Jerusalem. His position in Poland was filled by Chaim Elozor Wax.

In Jerusalem, Aurbach found many kollelim, each working for the benefit of their own communities. There was no organization to handle general Jewish affairs, such as paying the salaries of rabbis, paying Turkish military taxes, and dealing with Turkish officials. In 1866, Aurbach organized a central committee to represent the interests of all the Ashkenazim, while the Sephardim managed their affairs under the leadership of the Hakam Bashi of Jerusalem.

Meir Aurbach, and Shmuel Salant, who succeeded him as chief rabbi, considered the Balady citron, cultivated in the Arab village of Umm el-Fahm, as the most kosher etrog.