Gershon Edelstein, one of the religious leaders of ultra-Orthodox Jews, died today in Israel at the age of 100. His body was spread to a cemetery in Bnei Brak, where thousands participated in his funeral.
Rabbi Gershon Edelstein, one of the spiritual leaders of ultra-Orthodox Jews, died on Tuesday at the age of 100, according to official sources in Israel.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog mourned Edelstein, describing him as “a pioneering spiritual leader whose knowledge of the Torah affected our generation and will influence generations to come.”
In March of last year, Edelstein succeeded Rabbi Haim Kanievsky in the presidency of the “Council of Torah Elders”, which is the council that leads the “United Torah Judaism” party participating in the current government coalition in the Hebrew state.
Edelstein was born in Russia in 1923 and immigrated to Palestine in 1934 during the British Mandate.
Edelstein taught at the prestigious Bonfis yeshiva, and later took over its administration in the ultra-Orthodox city of Bnei Brak, east of Tel Aviv.
Edelstein’s body was buried in a cemetery in Bnei Brak, east of Tel Aviv, and large crowds of ultra-Orthodox men attended the funeral.
