A somber crowd accompanied 71-year-old Rabbi Mordechai Shmuel Ashkenazi—rabbi of Kfar Chabad, Israel, for 40 years—on his final journey.

It was as if the heavens themselves were mourning, as rain fell on the mass of humanity who had come to pay their last respects to a man who served as rabbinic leader of the Chabad village since he was 31. Ashkenazi passed away rather suddenly on Jan. 14.

Among the thousands of attendees and rabbinic leaders were Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, chief Sephardi rabbi of Israel; Rabbi Shlomo Amar, Sephardic chief rabbi of Jerusalem; Rabbi Aryeh Stern, Ashkenazi chief rabbi of Jerusalem; Rabbi Moshe Yehuda Leib Landa, chief rabbi of Bnei Brak, Israel; and Rabbi Abraham Shemtov,regional director of Chabad-Lubavitch in Philadelphia and chairman of Agudas Chassidei Chabad, the umbrella organization of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement.

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In a voice laden with emotion, Rabbi Yochanan Gurary, chief rabbi of Holon and representing the Beth Din of Chabad rabbis, declared the late rabbi’s eldest son, Rabbi Meir Ashkenazi, the new rabbi of Kfar Chabad.

The procession began in the late rabbi’s home, and continued on to the village’s central synagogue and architectural replica of 770 Eastern Parkway, Lubavitch World Headquarters in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, N.Y.

The rabbi was then transported north to Tiberias for internment near his parents and siblings.

The rain fell in Israel during the proceedings, adding another layer of solemnity. (Photo: JDN)
The rain fell in Israel during the proceedings, adding another layer of solemnity. (Photo: JDN)
Prayers reverberated for Rabbi Ashkenazi, 71, who led Kfar Chabad for 40 years. (Photo: JDN)
Prayers reverberated for Rabbi Ashkenazi, 71, who led Kfar Chabad for 40 years. (Photo: JDN)
Israelis from all over were there to pay their respects, including authorities and emergency personnel. (Photo: JDN)
Israelis from all over were there to pay their respects, including authorities and emergency personnel. (Photo: JDN)
The rabbi was was widely admired for both his devotion to Torah study and his phenomenal memory, both of which were noted by the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory. (Photo: JDN)
The rabbi was was widely admired for both his devotion to Torah study and his phenomenal memory, both of which were noted by the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory. (Photo: JDN)
All eyes were focused on the man who was appointed rabbinical leader of the village at age 31. (Photo: JDN)
All eyes were focused on the man who was appointed rabbinical leader of the village at age 31. (Photo: JDN)
Rabbi Yochanan Gurary, chief rabbi of Holon and representing the Beth Din of Chabad Rabbis, declared the late rabbi’s eldest son, Rabbi Meir Ashkenazi, the new rabbi of Kfar Chabad. (Photo: JDN)
Rabbi Yochanan Gurary, chief rabbi of Holon and representing the Beth Din of Chabad Rabbis, declared the late rabbi’s eldest son, Rabbi Meir Ashkenazi, the new rabbi of Kfar Chabad. (Photo: JDN)
The procession began in the rabbi’s home, and continued on to the village’s central synagogue and architectural replica of 770 Eastern Parkway in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, N.Y. (Photo: JDN)
The procession began in the rabbi’s home, and continued on to the village’s central synagogue and architectural replica of 770 Eastern Parkway in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, N.Y. (Photo: JDN)
In the center are Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, chief Sephardi rabbi of Israel, and holding the microphone, Rabbi Shlomo Amar, Sephardic chief rabbi of Jerusalem. (Photo: JDN)
In the center are Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, chief Sephardi rabbi of Israel, and holding the microphone, Rabbi Shlomo Amar, Sephardic chief rabbi of Jerusalem. (Photo: JDN)
Rabbi Abraham Shemtov, regional director of Chabad-Lubavitch in Philadelphia and chairman of Agudas Chassidei Chabad, the umbrella organization of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, also spoke at the funeral, after which the rabbi was transported to Tiberias for internment near his parents and siblings. (Photo: JDN)
Rabbi Abraham Shemtov, regional director of Chabad-Lubavitch in Philadelphia and chairman of Agudas Chassidei Chabad, the umbrella organization of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, also spoke at the funeral, after which the rabbi was transported to Tiberias for internment near his parents and siblings. (Photo: JDN)