Rabbi Eliyahu Yosef Shaar Yashuv HaKohen, the Chief Rabbi of Haifa, passed away Friday night at the age of 89.
A noted scholar and veteran of Israel's War of Independence, Rabbi HaKohen was a leading rabbinic figure in the National Religious community, with more than 40 years of public service, including more than 30 years as Chief Rabbi of Haifa and 36 years as chief of the Haifa rabbinical court.
Rabbi HaKohen leaves behind his wife, Naomi, daughter Eliraz, grandchildren six children, and seven great-grandchildren.
"The deceased influenced many with his Torah," said Sephardic Chief Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef, "Rabbi HaKohen studied Torah for decades. He knew how to build bridges between my father [former Chief Rabbi Ovadia Yosef] and other Rabbis. He influenced all the Rabbis of Israel. There are dozens of rabbinical judges who solve complex issues thanks to him."
Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi David Lau eulogized: "Rabbi Shaar Yashuv lived Jerusalem and made its significance manifest. He understood its essence: it's a city that fosters Torah and peace. That was Rabbi Shaar Yashuv, a man of Torah and peace."
Rabbi Yaakov Shapira, Dean of the Mercaz Harav yeshiva at which Rabbi HaKohen studied under Israel's first Chief Rabbi: "He was a remnant of the wise generation. He was one of the last who had sat at the feet of Rabbi Kook. He saw the destruction of the Old City of Jerusalem [in 1948], and then lived to see its rebuilding.
"How many are indebted to you for the Torah that was developed and taught to so many because of you? How many are in your debt for the glorious world of Rabbinical judges that you established," Rabbi Shapira added.
Rabbi Eliyahu Bakshi Doron, formerly Chief Rabbi of Israel and Haifa: "I will miss you, Rabbi Shaar Yashuv. We were together for 18 years. Though we had many disagreements and were far from each other on many issues, we lived in harmony together like brothers."
Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem, Rabbi Shlomo Amar: "We will feel this loss. We already felt his absence over the last two years in the 'Ariel' Rabbinical committee that he founded. The love that all the Rabbis of Israel felt for him is a rare thing."
"We were in all sorts of gatherings of religious leaders together and he was more respected and honored than anyone. His patience and moderation should serve as a model for all Rabbis and religious leaders. He would always look for the best way to accommodate everyone and did it gently and modestly," Rabbi Amar told the funeral attendees.
Rabbi Haim Drukman, head of the Bnei Akiva Yeshiva Network, said: "Rabbi Shaar Yashuv was the last one alive who had seen Rabbi Kook himself. He was the last one who not only grew up on Rabbi Kook's teachings but literally sat at his feet."
"He was the consummate Religious-Zionist Rabbi. He completely identified with the State of Israel, its army, and with the times in which we live. This is how he lived. In this way he shone forth and was able to bring people closer to Judaism."
Education Minister Naftali Bennett told of his view of the rabbi. "It was through Rabbi Shaar Yashuv that we learned what religious Zionism is. He always received people with warmth. It's impossible to separate him from his wife Naomi - they both saw every Jew as special. My parents arrived in the neighborhood devoid of a connection to Judaism, and the Rabbi and his wife were the first to make sure there were study and prayer groups in the area that suited them.
