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Photo: AP
Rabbi Kaduri
Photo: AP

Rabbi Kaduri laid to rest

(VIDEO) Some 200,000 mourners gather outside home of leading Kabbalist rabbi Yitzhak Kaduri, who died Saturday aged over 104 years old. President Moshe Katsav: Kaduri was distinguished for his Zionism, his modesty, his way of life

(VIDEO) Some 200,000 mourners, many of them former Gush Katif settlers, gathered outside the home of leading Kabbalist rabbi Yitzhak Kaduri, who died Saturday aged over 104 years old.

 

The popular rabbi, respected by many as a sage, was buried in Jerusalem’s main cemetery. He passed away at a Jerusalem hospital where he had been hospitalized after contracting pneumonia. Magen David Adom paramedics treated several people who fainted during the funeral, which drew many Gaza Strip evacuees.

 

'An example of Jewish spirituality and morality.' (Footage: Eitan Ortal) 

 

President Moshe Katsav eulogized Kaduri saying Israel lost “one of its biggest figures ever.”

 

“Rabbi Kaduri was distinguished for his Zionism, his modesty, his way of life, and he gave an example to all of us to denounce materiality. He was an example of Jewish spirituality and morality that accompanied the Jewish people for generations,” said Katsav.

 

 The funeral procession left the rabbi’s yeshiva on David Street. Police blocked some Jerusalem roads to allow a smooth march to the cemetery.

 

'Smoke good for angels’

 

Shas leader Eli Yishai ordered party activists to observe a moratorium on political activity for seven days, an initial period of mourning according to Jewish custom.

 

"I call on the whole of the house of Israel, as I've called on all Shas activists, to prepare and arrive at the funeral of Rabbi Kaduri," said Yishai.

 

Dr. Yosef Kleiman, the rabbi’s personal doctor for the last 15 years, said Kaduri’s wife, children and grandchildren were by his beside when he passed away.

 

“We are talking about a man who lived three centuries. He was born in 1894 and died at the age of 112,” Kleiman said.

 

He explained that the rabbi’s immune system was very weak before he contracted pneumonia and therefore any disease or infection would have paralyzed his organs. The doctor added that Kaduri suffered bleeding in his lungs and it was impossible to keep him breathing.

 

“He smoked throughout his life and he was healthy. When I asked him why he smokes he replied, ‘smoke is good for angels’.”

 

Chief Ashkenaz Rabbi Yona Metzger said Kaduri sacrificed his life to pray for the Jewish people, adding that he sends his condolences to the rabbi’s family.

 

Efrat Weiss contributed to the report

 


פרסום ראשון: 01.29.06, 17:10
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