Yehuda Benasouli
Orthodox Jewish rabbi. Benasouli served as the Chief Rabbi of Madrid
from 1978 until 1997.
Early life and education
Benasouli was born in 1933 into a
Benasouli's father died when he was young, and Benasouli's uncle Rabbi Yaakov Sebag took responsibility for him. He enrolled in a yeshiva in Meknes to study under Rabbi Raphael Baruch Toledano, a scion of the prominent Sephardic Toledano family. At the age of 18, Benasouli was ordained by Toledano.[1][2]
In the 3 years after the
establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, more than 28,000 Jews immigrated from Morocco to Israel, including Rabbi Sebag. Benasouli, still in his 20s, became the rabbi of his hometown of Alcazarquivir. In the early 1960s, Benasouli's bailiwick grew to include Larache and Souk El Arbaa.[1][2]
Benasouli's first language was
Life in Spain
Benasouli arrived in
shochet (ritual slaughterer), and mashgiach (kosher supervisor) in the community. In 1978, he became the community's chief rabbi,[1][2] succeeding Benito Gershon, who was also from Spanish Morocco.[3]
In 1992, Benasouli hosted
King of Spain Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia at the Beth Yaacov Synagogue to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Alhambra Decree. The occasion marked the first time that the king had visited a synagogue in Spain.[4]
In 1997, Moroccan-born Moshe Bendahan succeeded Benasouli as Chief Rabbi of Madrid.[5]
Death
Benasouli died on 31 May 2010. He is buried in the Ponevezh cemetery in Bnei Brak, Israel, near his mentor Toledano.[1][6]
See also
References
- ^ Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
- ^ a b c d Oster, Marcy (30 June 2010). "Yehuda Benasouli, former Madrid chief rabbi, dies". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
- ^ a b "Spanish Government Formally Rescinds 1492 Decree Ordering Expulsion of Jews". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 17 December 1968. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
- New York Times.
- ^ Rose, Binyamin (21 December 2016). "Spain on the Mend". Mishpacha Magazine. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
- ^ "Murió el rabino jefe de España". Agencia AJN. 2 July 2010. Retrieved 25 June 2023.