Rabbi Eliyahu Bakshi Doron, Rishon Lezion and former Chief Rabbi passed away tonight (Sunday) at the age of 79 after his condition deteriorated following the infection of the Corona virus.
The Shaare Zedek hospital in Jerusalem reported that the former Chief Rabbi, who suffered from complex background diseases and was admitted to the Corona ward of the hospital last week, has been aggravated by the condition. “Despite many resuscitation efforts in the last hour, doctors have had to determine his death. We are deeply saddened by his family and students in Israel and around the world,” said hospital spokesman Yossi Gottesman.
The rabbi arrived five days ago for routine hospital treatment, complained of Corona symptoms and was sent for examination. A few hours later, a positive result came and his family subsequently went into solitary confinement.
Rabbi Bakshi Doron was the first Zionist and former Chief Rabbi of Israel from 1993–2003, head of the Benin Aviation Institutions in Ramat Shlomo and Debbie Eliyahu in Jerusalem. The rabbi, who was born in Jerusalem, studied at the Southern Yeshiva, then at the Hebron Yeshiva and including Kol Yaakov, and married Esther, daughter of Rabbi Shalom Lopes, rabbi of the city of Acre.
Rabbi Eliyahu Bakshi Doron Zel (Photo: Flash 90)
In 1970, Dikshi Doron was appointed to most of the neighborhoods of Ramat Hanasi and Ramat Yosef in Bat Yam. Two years later, he was appointed Spanish chief of the city. He was then appointed Chief Rabbi of Haifa, where he served as rabbinate for 18 years. During his time in the city, he established the Moreshet institution, where he taught Torah lessons.
In 1993 he was elected to the position of “Rishon LeZion” – the Spanish Chief Rabbi of Israel, with the support of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef. He served until 2003, alongside Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi Israel Meir Lau.
The rabbi served as President of Chesed Organizations, a member of the Friends of Rambam Hospital, a director of the Leumi Foundation and a member of the Jerusalem Institute presidency. After retiring, he established in Jerusalem the “parent building” institutions in which he served as president.
In December 2012, he was indicted in the “Rabbinate” case for fraudulently obtaining fraud under aggravating circumstances, attempting to fraudulently fraudulent breach of trust, and giving false certificate, claiming that during his tenure as Chief Rabbi he authorized to grant certification to the rabbinate to hundreds of security personnel, . The certificates credited their owners with financial benefits.
In May 2017, the rabbi was convicted by the Jerusalem District Court of offenses of fraudulently accepting aggravated circumstances, attempting to obtain fraudulently under aggravating circumstances, providing false and fraudulent certificate, and breach of trust. After three months, he was sentenced to 12 months probation and a fine of NIS 250,000.
