Eliyahu Bakshi-Doron

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Sephardi Chief Rabbi of Israel

Eliyahu Bakshi-Doron (

Sephardi Chief Rabbi of Bat Yam and Sephardi Chief Rabbi of Haifa
.

Bakshi-Doron was criticized by Haredi leaders for some of his halakhic (Jewish legal) decisions, and by the Reform movement for his position on assimilation. He was known for his promotion of interfaith dialogue and nonviolence.

Early life and education

Eliyahu Bakshi-Doron was born in Jerusalem to Ben-Zion Bakshi-Doron, a native of the city, and Tova, an immigrant from Aleppo, Syria.[1] He had two brothers and a sister.

As a young man, Eliyahu studied in several prominent

Yosef Shalom Eliashiv, Betzalel Zolty, and Ovadia Yosef.[2]

Rabbinic career

Rabbi Bakshi-Doron in 2007

After his marriage at age 25, Bakshi-Doron was tapped to lead the upper class in

shiurim (Torah lectures) to strengthen the Sephardic community.[2]

Sephardi Chief Rabbi of Israel

In 1993, Bakshi-Doron became the first

Ashkenazi counterpart, Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau
.

In a 1996 sermon, Bakshi-Doron compared Reform Judaism to the biblical Zimri, who was killed by Phinehas for cohabitation with a Midianite woman. Bakshi-Doron dismissed the resulting uproar as a publicity stunt, saying it was "unthinkable" that anyone would consider his speech an incitement to murder.[citation needed] In January 1999, Bakshi-Doron stated publicly that the Reform movement had harmed Jews more than had the Holocaust. According to Holocaust historian Yehuda Bauer, in other countries, his statement might be considered criminal incitement and antisemitism.[3]

In 1998, Bakshi-Doron met with

Benedict XVI
.

In 2000, while visiting the Jewish community in Singapore, Bakshi-Doron declared that he was in favor of giving away parts of East Jerusalem to the Palestinians as a way towards ending the Arab–Israeli conflict. He stipulated that any agreement would have to allow for the Temple Mount to remain in Israeli control.[citation needed]

Shmita controversy

In the

Yosef Shalom Eliashiv. Bakshi-Doron and Lau, with the support of former Rishon LeZion Ovadia Yosef, ruled that the permits were valid. When Bakshi-Doron publicly told the farmers that they could rely on the sales, the Haredi newspaper Yated Ne'eman began to leak word that Eliashiv would delegitimize him and put him and his family in herem (ex-communication) if he refused to back down. Distraught, Bakshi-Doron went to meet with President of Israel Moshe Katsav, reportedly bursting into tears. Despite the open support of Katsav and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, Bakshi-Doron ultimately succumbed to the pressure from Eliashiv. This was widely seen by the National Religious camp as surrender to the Haredim.[6]

Outreach

On January 21, 2002, Bakshi-Doron took part in an

The Elijah Interfaith Institute.[8]

Later in 2002, Bakshi-Doron accused Yasser Arafat of attempting to commit "a Holocaust against the

State of Israel".[9]

Later positions

In 2004, Bakshi-Doron spoke out in favor of introducing civil marriage in Israel, saying that the law subjecting members of the different Millets to respective religious authorities had become irrelevant, and was now a source of division and hatred.[10]

When I see all of the imams and rabbis coming together, this is a message to the Creator that we are here to do your will, that is to bring peace.

- Bakshi-Doron at the conclusion of the First World Congress of Imams and Rabbis for Peace.

Bakshi-Doron received attention in January 2005 for attending the first World Congress of Imams and Rabbis for Peace in Brussels, Belgium. The Congress was made up of some 180 notable Jewish and Muslim religious representatives, authorities, and scholars from all over the world. They released a statement calling for the promotion of peace and understanding between Jews and Muslims.[citation needed]

In August 2005, Bakshi-Doron, along with

Gaza Disengagement.[citation needed
]

Bakshi-Doron's 1993 ruling that "Women can be of the Gedolim (great leaders) of the generation and serve as halakhic decisors" attracted attention in light of the controversy over the appointments of women to clerical positions in Orthodox congregations.[11][12] But in a letter to the Rabbinical Council of America, dated June 23, 2015, Bakshi-Doron clarified his opinion that women could not take up official positions.[13]

Binyan Av institutions

Following his term as Sephardi Chief Rabbi of Israel, Bakshi-Doron continued his teaching and work as a halakhic arbiter. He also established the Binyan Av institutions, which include a central campus in the Ramat Shlomo neighborhood of Jerusalem.[2]

Conviction, posthumous acquittal

Bakshi-Doron was indicted in 2012 over his involvement in "the rabbis’ case," in which he was accused of issuing false

shekels without justification. Bakshi-Doron was convicted of fraud and breach of trust on May 15, 2017, by the Jerusalem District Court for his part in the scam.[15] He was sentenced to one year probation, and a fine of NIS 250,000.[16][17] The conviction was overturned, posthumously, by the Israeli Supreme court on 25 May 2021.[18]

Personal life

At the age of 25[2] Bakshi-Doron married Esther, daughter of the previous Chief Rabbi of Akko, Shalom Lopes, with whom he had ten children. She died in 2005.[19]

Bakshi-Doron died on April 12, 2020, in

COVID-19 virus during the COVID-19 pandemic in Israel. His condition was exacerbated by previous medical issues.[20]

Published works

  • Binyan Av, responsa

See also

References

  1. ^ "אימו של הרב בקשי דורון הלכה לעולמה" [Rabbi Bakshi Doron's Mother Has Died]. Israel National News (in Hebrew). 1 October 2016. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Greenbaum, Rabbi Avraham Dov. "Harishon Letzion Harav Eliyahu Bakshi Doron, shlita". Hamodia Inyan Magazine, March 28, 2018, pp. 12-20.
  3. ISBN 978-0300093001
    .
  4. ^ Myre, Greg (2016-07-16) "Why Is A Cleric In The Poconos Accused Of Fomenting Turkeys Coup Attempt", NPR
  5. ^ Myre, Greg (2014-05-24) "Popes In The Holy Land After 2000 Years A New Tradition", NPR
  6. ^ admin. "Biblical farming law creates modern controversy".
  7. ^ "The Alexandria Declaration". United States Institute of Peace.
  8. ^ "Jewish Leaders". Elijah Interfaith. April 30, 2015.
  9. ^ "United Jerusalem - - Israel-News Today -- 4/1/2002". Archived from the original on 2011-07-16.
  10. ^ Israel Middle East Survey Finds Support For Civil Marriage Among Observant Israeli Jews, JTA
  11. ^ Responsa Binyan Av, 65:5.
  12. ^ Hurwitz, Rabba Sara (8 November 2015). "Pioneer Rabba Sara Hurwitz: Orthodox Women Rabbis Are Here to Stay". Haaretz.com.
  13. ^ Gordimer, Avraham (2015-11-11) Woman Rabbis And The Bakshi Doron Letter: Time For A Fact Check, Israel National News
  14. ^ Nachshoni, Kobi (May 15, 2017). "Former chief rabbi of Israel convicted of corruption". Yedioth Ahronoth. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
  15. ^ Winer, Stuart (May 15, 2017). "Former chief rabbi convicted of fraud, breach of trust". The Times of Israel. Retrieved May 16, 2007.
  16. ^ Perrone, Matthew. "Former Sephardic chief rabbi Bakshi-Doron succumbs to coronavirus, aged 79". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 2020-04-13.
  17. ^ "Rabbi Eliyahu Bakshi Doron passed away at the age of 79". April 12, 2020.[permanent dead link]
  18. ^ "Supreme Court posthumously clears former chief rabbi of wrongdoing in graft case". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 2021-05-25.
  19. ^ Kahn, Betzalel (22 June 2005). "Rabbanit Esther Bakshi-Doron, o"h". chareidi.org. Dei'ah Vedibur. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  20. ^ Beeri, Tamar (13 April 2020). "Former Rishon LeZion Rabbi Eliyahu Bakshi-Doron dies of coronavirus". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 12 April 2020.

External links

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Jewish titles
Preceded by Sephardi Chief Rabbi of Israel
1993–2003 		Succeeded by
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