2:00pm IL: The Jewish kehila in Paris announced that the city’s chief rabbi, HaGaon HaRav David Mashash ZT”L was niftar within the last hour after battling a difficult illness. He was 70-years-old. The rav served as the chief rabbi of Paris for twenty years and was a son of HaRav HaGaon Shalom Mashash ZT”L, a former chief rabbi of Yerushalayim.

The levaya for the chief rabbi will begin from his kehila, Ahavat Shalom on Sunday afternoon, 23 Cheshvan. Chief Rabbi HaGaon HaRav Moshe Shlomo Amar Shlita is in Paris at this time, and he is expected to give the main hesped for the late chief rabbi.

The aaron is scheduled to be on a flight for Israel on Sunday night and kvura will take place in Har Menuchot on Monday morning, 24 Cheshvan.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)