Jerusalem – Former Chief Sephardi Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu passed away on Monday afternoon at Jerusalem’s Sha’arei Tzedek hospital, after a prolonged hospitalization. He was 81 years old.
Subscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
Eliyahu was born and raised in Jerusalem, and served as chief rabbi between the years 1983-1993.
He was considered one of the spiritual leaders of religious Zionism, and remained an influential voice among the national religious after stepping down.
Police expect tens of thousands to attend his funeral, which will take place in Jerusalem Monday night.
Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu was born in 1929 in the Old City of Jerusalem; his mother was a granddaughter of the famed Ben Ish Chai. He served as Israel’s Chief Sephardic Rabbi – the Rishon LeTzion – from 1983 until 1993, together with the late Rabbi Avraham Shapira, and the two continued for years afterwards to lead the national-religious public in matters of Jewish Law and thought. He is the author of several works on both.
He was a gaon, a tzadik and a real mekubal. Baruch Dayan hoemes
Oy Gevald !
BDE He was a great man.
R’ Eliyahu truly c hanged the face of Sephardic Jewry for all of us. He gave us reason to hold our heads up high. Thank you
BDE! we are losing our real leaders, Moshiach now
My son in law, not a Sephardi, got semicha from him. He was a great man. This is a terrible loss for Klal Yisrael.
A gadol to all, sefard, ashkenaz, charedi, dati leumi, it doesn’t matter. Tenachamu min hashamayim… tenachameinu min hashamayim.
lets pray that the passing of this giant in israel provides the atonement we all need from the Almighty.
BDE
RIP
Boruch Dayan Emet
Amein to all the above. # 1-7. He was also a great grandson of the Ben Ish Hai.
may he be a Meleetz yosher for entire Klal Ysrael
BD”E! He was truly a great Talmid Chacham and Ohev Yisrael!
B.D.E. One of the true Tzadikim of our time. Its a sad day for Klal Yisrael.
This is sad news and we must mourn the loss of a great tzaddik in our time. May his death bring us together, bring atonement, whatever it must take to survive and be zocheh for olam habah.
Baruch Dayan Emet! We lost a great Gadol and Spiritual leader of our people today!
Whats the point of 100 people posting BDE? WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT THIS? How will we change our lives to make up for the Spiritual void left in the world by this Gadols passing?
from TzemachDovid:
When the plane bearing the Chida’s coffin landed in Eretz Yisroel, the rabbanim who had escorted it from Laverne learned that during the flight, the coffin had fallen twice and, each time it was picked up, it was turned upside down.
One of the escorts was Rav Mordechai Eliyahu. After the necessary arrangements for bringing the coffin from the airport to Yerushalayim were made, Rav Eliyahu told the other escorts, “We must open the coffin and rearrange the Chida’s remains.” The other rabbanim disagreed with him. However, Rav Mordechai insisted that it wasn’t respectable to bury the Chida in such a state. Then, fearfully yet courageously, he lifted the coffin’s lid slightly and said, “Rabbeinu HaChida, please forgive me if in any way I am not fulfilling this mitzva properly.” As his hand reached deeper into the coffin, he continued, “Rabbeinu, please do this task by yourself, lest I err.” Suddenly, the coffin began to shake, and a rattling sound – made by the Chida’s remains striking the coffin’s walls – was heard. The rav standing next to Rav Mordechai was so startled that he fainted. When the rattling subsided, Rav Eexamined the entire coffin with his hand.
Everyone should commit to learning Ben Ish Chai in his memory!
Baruch Dayan Haemes
He was an important leader for many Jews. Why are there so few replies to a passing of a Tzadik? I guess Lipa concerts bans and Grossman petitions are valued more by VIN readers.
BD”E. Klal Yisroel lost a true gadol Byisroel someone that really knew the true meaning of ahavas yisroel. Someone that we were able to look and seek for guidance. i can go on and on. MAy the tzaddik Ztzl” be a meilitz yoisher to his mishpucuh and gantz klal yisroel..
If I remember correctly when the Tzaddik Ztz”l got sick there was an article stating something like he inherited a coat from the Baba Sali Ztz”l and was told that as long as he has that coat he will be zoche to greet moshiach in his days. Can someone please confirm or correct me on this??? Its greatly appreciated… May we all be zoche to greet moshiach bimheirah byumeini….
חבל על”דאבדין ולא משתכחין” תימשיך להיות מליץ יותר על כל עם ישראל מהשמיים