By COLlive reporter
Rabbi Yehuda Deri, the Chief Rabbi of Beer Sheva who was a candidate for Chief Rabbi of Israel, passed away on the 3rd of Tammuz 5784.
He was 66.
Rabbi Deri was known in Morrocco, where his parents led a traditional yet non-observant home. When he was 10 years old, his family made aliya to the holy land of Israel.
He was initially sent to a religious school in Rishon Letzion but stopped attending after a month because he had trouble acclimating. His parents kept him home for half a year, not allowing him to hang out outside in the street, fearing he would be drawn to criminal life.
Frum activists who met the family convinced his parents to send him to a Haredi Mesivta in Hadera which had a dormitory. They agreed and he eventually went to learn in the Yeshivos Porat Yosef and Ateret Yisrael in Jerusalem.
He soon distinguished himself with his sharp mind, vast knowledge of the Torah, and care for others. He first served as rabbi of the Ramot neighborhood in Jerusalem.
In 1997, he was appointed Chief Rabbi of the southern Israeli city of Beer Sheva and as a result, a member of the Chief Rabbinate Council of Israel. He chaired its committees on circumcision, Stam, and against Christian missionary activities.
He traveled around the country, delivering Torah classes and lectures that influenced many to strengthen their observance of Mitzvos. He also authored over 10 seforim about halacha and Gemara.
He was a candidate to serve as the Sefardic Chief Rabbi of Israel to succeed the outgoing Rabbi Yitzhak Yossef.
Last month, he was admitted to the hospital in serious condition following complications from an infection that began in his leg. He passed on Tuesday at Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center in Jerusalem.
“You are the oldest in the family. You were our guide and compass,” said his brother Aryeh Deri, Chairman of the Shas political party in his tear-filled eulogy.
He indicated that it was only a month ago that he learned that his brother was battling an illness. “I haven’t been sleeping. How didn’t I know about it? How did you hide it from us? We would have treated you! You suffered silently for a long period but kept teaching Torah.”
He added, “You passed on a date that was so important to you – Gimmel Tammuz. How much you loved and admired the Rebbe, and how much you did for his Shluchim, how much did they love you.”
VIDEO: His levaya
Many rabbis and dignitaries have been to the shiva house. One of them was Rabbi Sholom Duchman, Executive Director of Colel Chabad, the oldest and longest-running charity in Israel. He mentioned how much Rabbi Yehuda Deri was a friend to Chabad in general and his organization’s activities in particular.
As an example, he told of the annual Bar and Bas Mitzvah Celebration that Colel Chabad holds in Jerusalem for orphans which Rabbi Deri has consistently participated for 25 years.
A year ago, Rabbi Duchman said, Israel was at a standstill due to the large protests against the government’s judicial reform. Because of the traffic, not a single rabbi or dignitary made it to the event. The only one who did was Rabbi Deri, who traveled from Beer Sheva.
At that event, Rabbi Deri mentioned that thanks to two great people, “the Torah has not been forgotten by our people” – Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai and the Rebbe.
VIDEO: Rabbi Deri speaks at a farbrengen in Zichron Yaakov
Baruch Dayan Haemes.
