Chief Rabbi Joseph Haïm Sitruk was born in Tunis on 29 Tishrei 5705 (16 October 1944), the son of Yitzchak and Emma Sitruk. At thirteen he moved with his family to Nice. After years in the Jewish scouting movement he entered the Séminaire israélite de France in Paris and, after his semicha, studied for a year in Israel at the Sheerit Yosef yeshiva in Be'er Yaakov, headed by Rabbi Nissim Toledano.

Back in France he was appointed in Strasbourg as assistant to Chief Rabbi Max Warchawski. In 1975 he became chief rabbi of Marseille, a post he held for twelve years and in which his popularity grew throughout French Jewry.

Elected Chief Rabbi of France in 1987, he served three consecutive terms until 2008. He gave fresh impetus to Jewish education, encouraged the opening of schools and study centres, and brought many French Jews closer to their tradition, with a warmth and charisma recognised by all, especially by the North African communities. He was made a Commander of the Legion of Honour in 2007.

After a severe stroke in 2001, he added the name "Haïm" (life) to his own, in keeping with Jewish tradition. He passed away on 22 Elul 5776 (25 September 2016) and rests on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem.