Rabbi Shimon Abdani, president of the Council of Sages of the Shas movement and its current spiritual leader, passed away this morning (Wednesday) at the age of 94.
Yesterday, his condition deteriorated at the Medical Center of the Eyes of Yeshua in Bnei Brak, while he was sedated and ventilated.
Shas chairman Aryeh Deri left his niece's wedding to be with the rabbi in his last moments.
Rabbi Abdani was born in Hadera in 1928 and was the youngest son of David and Habiva Abdani, who immigrated from Yemen to Israel after the First World War.
At the beginning of his educational career, the rabbi studied at the Novhardok yeshiva in the city and later transferred to the Beit Yosef-Nobhardok yeshiva in Jerusalem, and was one of Rabbi Shach's students.
After Rabbi Shech's move to the Ponivez Yeshiva, he moved to the Port Yosef Yeshiva and became a student of Rabbi Ezra Atiya.
In May 1951, the rabbi was arrested on suspicion of being a member of the Brit Kanaim.
However, it turned out that although he was at the founding meeting of the organization, he distanced himself from it after consulting on the issue with the leader of ultra-orthodox Judaism in Israel, the Chazon Ish.
After his marriage at the age of 31, he was appointed one of the heads of Yeshiva Purat Yosef in Jerusalem alongside Rabbi Zion Cohen and Rabbi Shalom Cohen.
Later, he moved to the city of Bnei Brak and founded Kolal Torah and Chaim there together with Rabbi Moshe Pardo.
Upon moving to Bnei Brak, Rabbi Adani strengthened his relationship with Rabbi Shech, and studied with him in fellowship.
He was also in contact with Rabbi Haim Greiniman.
With the establishment of the Shas Party, in 1984, he was elected as a member of the Council of Torah Sages, in which he was identified as a confidant of Rabbi Shech, in contrast to other members who completely disobeyed Rabbi Ovadia. Accordingly, Rabbi Abdani was one of the supporters of going with the Likud. Rabbi Abdani was also one of the supporters Barye Deri in the contest for Shas leadership between him and Rabbi Yitzhak Peretz.
, in August of this year, Rabbi Shalom Cohen is considered the spiritual leader of the movement.
Adani replaced Hacham Shalom, the previous president, who died only last November.
At the end of the process, the one who will step into Rabbi Ovadia's shoes will be his son, Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, who ends his term as chief rabbi in the summer months.
Participated in the preparation of the news: Yehuda Schlesinger
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