BDE: Rabbi Shimon Ba’adani, Leader Of Sephardic Council Of Torah Sages, Passes Away At Age 94

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Rabbi Shimon Ba’adani, the leader of the Sephardic Council of Torah sages and spiritual mentor of the Shas party, passed away Wednesday morning in Tel Hashomer-Sheba hospital at the age of 94. Rabbi Ba’adani had been sick over the last year with lung cancer and spent a number of periods in hospital. A few weeks ago his condition deteriorated and he was rushed to hospital where he was sedated and intubated and was diagnosed as suffering from coronavirus. He recovered briefly but then contracted pneumonia and was in critical condition until his passing.

The levaya will be at 1 PM from the Torah V’Chaim Beis Midrash in Rabbi Akiva street, Bnei Brak. Rabbi Gershon Edelstein directed all the yeshiva and kollel students in Bnei Brak to attend the levaya.

Rabbi Ba’adani was born to Rav David and Chaviva Ba’adani who immigrated to Palestine from Yemen after the first world war and lived in the town of Chadera. In his youth Rabbi Baadani studied at Novarhadok-Chadera and then in Novarhadok-Jerusalem, which was then headed by Rav Shach. Later he moved to the Porat Yosef yeshiva and studied under Rabbi Ezra Atttiya.

Rabbi Baadani married Shulamit (nee Abadi) and at the age of 30 became a teacher at Porat Yosef together with Rabbi Tzion Cohen (who later became his Mechutan and passed a way in 2021) and Rabbi Shalom Cohen, who passed away a few months ago.

Rabbi Baadani Zts’l

Later, Rabbi Baadani moved to Bnei Brak where he established kollelim and taught while maintaining his ties with Porat Yosef yeshiva.Rabbi Ba’adani reestablished his relationship with his former rebbe Rav Shach, who asked to learn with him on a daily basis. Rabbi Ba’adani also established the Maor Yitzchak yeshiva in the town of Chashmonaim and would give weekly shiurim there.

Rabbi Ba’adani studied almost constantly daily at his Bnei Brak Beis Midrash but would go once a week to the Kotel to say Tikkun Chatzos.

When the Shas party was founded, Rav Ba’adani was asked by Rabbi Ovadia Yosef to join the council of Torah sages. Rabbi Ovadia also asked him to serve on the supervising committee of the Bet Yosef kashrus, a role he assumed for the rest of his life.

In 2015, Rav Baadani’s grandson Aharon Shalom was murdered in a ramming attack in Jerusalem. Rabbi Baadani eulogized him and was brokenhearted by the tragic incident.

In the wake of Rav Shalom Cohen’s passing, Rav Baadani became the head of the Council of Torah Sages and participated in a number of meetings during and after the election period.

Rabbi Baadani is survived by children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren following in his illustrious path. May his memory be blessed.