The Hakham Bashi (Turkish: Hakham Bašsi) was the Chief Rabbis of the Ottoman Empire, and as such were the closest thing to an overall Exilarchal authority among Jewry everywhere in the Middle East in early modern times. They held broad powers to legislate, judge and enforce the laws among the Jews of Ottoman Turkey and often sat on the Sultan's divan. They also maintained considerable influence outside the Ottoman Empire, especially after the forced migration of numerous Jewish communities and individuals out of Spain and Italy.
The institution of the Hakham Basi was established by Mehmet II, as part of his policy of governing his exceedingly diverse subjects according to their own laws and authorities wherever possible. Because of the size and nature of the Ottoman state, the position of Hakham Bashi has been compared to that of the Exilarch.
The Chief Rabbi of the Republic of Turkey is still known as "Hakham Bashi".
List of individuals holding the title "Hakham Bashi"
- Eli Kapsali...................................1452-1454
- Moiz Kapsali..................................1454-1497
- Eli Mizrahi...................................1497-1526
- Mordechai Komitano............................1526-1542
- Tam ben Yahya.................................1542-1543
- Eli Rozanes ha-Levi................................1543
- Eli ben Hayim.................................1543-1602
- Yehiel Bashan.................................1602-1625
- Joseph Mitrani................................1625-1639
- Yomtov Benyaes................................1639-1642
- Yomtov Hananiah Benyakar......................1642-1677
- Chaim Kamhi...................................1677-1715
- Judah Benrey..................................1715-1717
- Samuel Levi...................................1717-1720
- Abraham Rozanes...............................1720-1745
- Solomon Hayim Alfandari.......................1745-1762
- Meir Ishaki...................................1762-1780
- Eli Palombo...................................1780-1800
- Chaim Jacob Benyakar..........................1800-1835
- Abraham Levi Pasha............................1835-1839
- Samuel Hayim..................................1839-1841
- Moiz Fresko...................................1841-1854
- Jacob Avigdor.................................1854-1870
- Yakir Geron...................................1870-1872
- Moses Levi....................................1872-1909
- Chaim Nahum Effendi (Chief rabbi of Egypt 1920-60) 1909-1920
- Shabbetai Levi................................1920-1922
- Isaac Ariel...................................1922-1926
- Chaim Bejerano................................1926-1931
- Chaim Isaac Saki..............................1931-1940
- Raphael David Saban...........................1940-1960
- David Asseo...................................1961-2002
- Isak Haleva...................................2003-