By TAMAR BEERI5-6 minutes
The rabbi had previous complex medical conditions, placing him
in serious risk when he tested positive for coronavirus a few days prior
to his passing.
ELIYAHU BAKSHI-DORON
(photo credit: AMOS BEN-GERSHOM/GPO)
Former Chief Sephardic Rabbi Eliyahu Bakshi-Doron died at the
age of 79 of coronavirus on Sunday night, while being treated at Shaare
Sedek Hospital.
"Rabbi Bakshi-Doron was an important link in the
chain of Torah scholarship of the Sages of Spain," said Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu in light of the rabbi's passing. He "served as a
guide to all Israeli communities, in Israel and in the world."
He
was hospitalized a few days ago after testing positive for the
coronavirus. The rabbi suffered from previous illnesses and so his
condition deteriorated gradually throughout the day.
His last
hours involved numerous attempts to resuscitate him, but doctors were
forced to pronounce him dead, according to the Shaare Sedek
spokesperson.
The funeral procession will be held on Monday
afternoon at 10:30 a.m. in the Spanish Funeral Home in Givat Shaul.
Gdolei Yisrael are expected to participate along with the children of
the rabbi.
The public was asked not to attend the funeral in light
of the coronavirus pandemic. Instead, they may pay their respects by
viewing the livestream of the funeral.
The rabbi, who was born in
Jerusalem and began his career in Bat Yam, was known for promoting
dialogue between faiths and rejecting violence.
He was inducted to
be the Chief Sephardic Rabbi in 1993, the first non-Iraqi since
Ben-Zion Meir Hai Uziel in 1954. Bakshi-Doron served as Chief Sephardic
Rabbi from 1993 to 2003, later replaced by Rabbi Shlomo Amar.
Chief
Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef said that "the rabbinic world, the Torah world and
the halacha world lost one of its first pillars" in the wake of the
rabbi's death.
Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi David Lau said that "along
with the entire House of Israel, I am mourning this difficult evening
the departure of the deceased Genzi of the Rishon LeZion, the chief
rabbi of Israel and the Chief Justice of the Grand Court Rabbi Eliyahu
Bakshi-Doron.
His death "leaves a great void in the Jewish world," he concluded.
Rabbi Ben Zion Bakshi-Doron, son of the passed rabbi, said that his father will be remembered for his "great humility.
"He
was available for every Jew," he continued. "He had a devotion to the
public. He did not belong to any particular sector; his big heart
contained the entire State of Israel. He was a man of the people of
Israel."
"It hurts us that we could not say goodbye properly,"
said the rabbi's son-in-law, Rabbi Alon Navon. "The funeral campaign has
yet to be decided."
"The rabbi was a man of kindness and giving
who worked to bring the hearts of the people of Israel closer together,"
said Defense Minister Naftali Bennett in light of the rabbi's passing.
"In my name and in the name of the security systems, I would like to
send condolences to the family at this difficult time."
Blue and
White leader Benny Gantz sent his condolences to the family of the rabbi
and said that "his legacy and wisdom will continue to live on through
his students and through those following in his path."
"I had the
privilege to be closely acquainted with him, enjoy his advice and be
blessed by his holy mouth many times," said Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Leon.
"The city of Jerusalem where he worked, studied and raised his family
will commemmorate his create memory in the near future."
"The
heart is saddened" by the rabbi's passing, Education Minister Rafi
Peretz said on Sunday night. "Rabbi Bakshi was one of the greatest Torah
leaders in the last generations, a teacher for rabbis, dedicated to the
Torah and to the nation of Israel in an outstanding way."
Transport
Minister Bezalel Smotrich said that the rabbi had "connected to all
parts of the nation and led in his duties a firm standing on the dignity
of the Torah."
Interior Minister Aryeh Deri wrote on his Twitter page that he is "bitterly mourning" the passing of Rabbi Bakshi-Doron.
"Rabbi
Bakshi-Doron was a great wise disciple, a guide to many among the
people of Israel and his passing is a great blow," he continued. "A very
greay pain, a very great loss for the people of Israel."
Yamina MK and former justice minister Ayelet Shaked said that the rabbi was "a man of great giving to the people of Israel."
"I
send my condolences to the Bakshi-Doron family, and am hurting with the
entire nation of Israel over the death of the former chief rabbi
Eliyahu Bakshi-Doron from the coronavirus," said Likud MK Nir Barkat.
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