Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis. Photo: Kinloss.

Ephraim Mirvis

Chief Rabbi of the UK

Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis of the United Kingdom in early 2016 notably refused to meet with British politician George Galloway, a candidate for the London mayoralty known for his anti-Israel views.

Galloway was ousted from the Labour Party in 2003 for “bringing the party into disrepute,” as a result of his stance on the war in Iraq and admiration for dictator Saddam Hussein. He has been vocal in his anti-Zionist views, going as far as to decline a debate at Oxford University in 2013, when he learned that the other speaker had joint British-Israeli citizenship.

Mirvis has already met with Tory and Labour mayoral candidates Zac Goldsmith and Sadiq Khan.

Born in South Africa, Mirvis previously served as chief rabbi of Ireland.