HaGaon HaRav Azariya Basis ZT”L, the Chief Rabbi of Rosh Ha’ayin, was niftar on Monday at the age of 74. He was also a former member of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel Council.

The rav’s condition took a sharp turn for the worse in recent days and two weeks ago, the rav called to the head of the Shas party in Elad, Tzuriel Krisfel, asking him to turn to the relevant authorities to appoint his son to replace him after his petira. Krisfel reported, “The rav turned to Aryeh Deri and Rishon L’Tzion HaGaon HaRav Yitzchak Yosef Shlita through me, asking that as his son be appointed to replace him”, Krisfel is quoted telling Kikar Shabbos News.

Krisfel adds that the next day, he traveled to Jerusalem, to the Shas faction meeting taking place in Knesset. He told Shas chairman Minister Aryeh Deri of his meeting with the rav, and the request he received, as well as briefing Deri on the rav’s difficult illness and medical condition.

Krisfel added that in this case, the son is a noted talmid chacham and they will do whatever possible to fulfil the rav’s request.

The niftar was born in Yemen to Rav Yechi Basis. At the age of five, in 1950, his parents immigrated to Eretz Yisrael as part of Operation on the Wings of an Eagle, settling in Rosh Ha’ayin. He followed the path of limud established by the Yemenite rabbonim and also studied in Talmid Torah Nachlat Reuven in Petach Tikvah. In his later years, he learned in Ponevezh and became close to Maran HaGaon HaRav Elazar Menachem Mann Shach ZT”L ZY”A.

In the 1980s, he served as the rav of a neighborhood of Rosh Ha’ayin and rav of Yishuv Beit Dagan. After the petira of Rav David Hajiji ZT”L, he was selected to serve as Chief Rabbi of Rosh Ha’ayin, a position which he held for 24 years. He also served for five years as a member of the Chief Rabbinate Council, from 5763 to 5768.

The rav left thousands of chassidim around Eretz Yisrael, and he was known for his zealous positions. His halachic responses were compiled in the sefer Beit HaEzri.

Upon hearing of his petira, the Rishon L’Tzion said, “I received with great sorrow the painful knowledge of the passing of the Gaon Rabbi Azariya Basis of Rosh Ha’ayin, a veteran of Rabbanei Yisrael and one of the prominent leaders of the community of Yemenite Jews.

“The Israeli public today lost one of the best rabbis who enlightened everyone and was well versed in all the Torah chambers and is known for its humility and righteousness. Who will provide condolence to his family and all his disciples.”

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)