JERUSALEM — Rabbi Shalom Cohen, the Rosh Yeshiva of Porat Yosef and leader of the Sephardic Torah community in Israel, has passed away at the age of 90.

Rabbi Cohen was in critical condition after a leg infection which spread to the rest of his body. He was sedated and respirated at the Hadassah Ein Kerem hospital in Jerusalem.

On Sunday a name was added to Rabbi Cohen as a segulah for his speedy recovery. The name was added by his brother-in-law Rabbi Shlomo Ben Shimon, head of the Neve Tziyon Beis Din, together with a minyan [quorum] of Torah scholars. His full name with the added name became Chaim Shalom Ben Tofaha Malka.

During the last few hours of his life, one of Rabbi Cohen’s close disciples said that “these are critical and fateful hours. How can one see a Sefer Torah in this state? We need to storm the heavens with tefillos for his recovery.”

Special public prayer sessions took place all over Israel, including one led by the kabbalist  Rabbi David Batzri in Jerusalem and another at Rachel’s tomb led by Rabbi Yaakov Ades, another famous Jerusalem kabbalist.

The Levaya is expected to leave on Monday  from the Porat Yosef Yeshiva in Geula. It will head to the Sanhedria Cemetery where he will be laid to rest next to his late wife.

As reported by VINnews