Jerusalem – Rabbi Yeshoshua Maman, Revered Sefardic Rabbi And Descendant Of Rambam, Laid To Rest In Jerusalem

Jerusalem – Thousands of mourners filled the streets of Jerusalem, paying a final tribute to Rabbi Yehoshua Maman, a prominent Sephardic rabbi who was believed to be Israel’s most senior Moroccan rabbi.

Rabbi Maman, who was 100 years old, served as the chief rabbi of Nahariya and as the head of the Be’er Sheva Beis Din in Beer Sheva.

According to Israel’s Channel 10 News (http://bit.ly/2DblTIv), Rabbi was hospitalized briefly last week at Shaarei Zedek Medical Center after experiencing respiratory issues, but had returned to his Jerusalem home where he passed away on Friday night.

The son of Rabbi Refael Amram Maman, Rabbi Maman descended from a long line of rabbonim who were able to trace their lineage all the way back to the Rambam.

He learned in his youth in the yeshiva of Rabbi Dovid Atar and he served on several batei din in Morroco and as the rov of Marrakesh until he emigrated to Israel in 1967. The author of several seforim, Rabbi Maman was also the grandfather of Miriam Monsonego, one of those murdered in the brutal Toulouse massacre of 2012.

The funeral for Rabbi Maman took place at 1 PM today in Jerusalem at Yeshiva Porat Yosef. Rabbi Maman’s eldest son, Rabbi Refael Maman, said that in his father’s final moments, the family gathered around and sang Shalom Aleicheim as Shabbos drew near, as reported by Kikar HaShabat (http://bit.ly/2Den2yN).

“It is like the malachim came to accompany him to the proper place,” said Rabbi Refael Maman in his eulogy.

The next speaker, Israel’s chief Sefardic rabbi, Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef, said that Rabbi Maman attributed his longevity to respecting his parents, saying each word slowly when he prayed and guarding his eyes from inappropriate images.

“Everyone who saw him was strengthened in their own yiras shomayim,” said Rabbi Yosef.

Others who spoke at the levaya included Rabbi Shlomo Moshe Amar, Sefardic chief rabbi of Jerusalem, Rabbi Moshe Tzedaka, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Porat Yosef, Rabbi Yitzchak Ezrachi of the Mirrer Yeshiva and Rabbi Bentzion Mutzafi, a well known Sefardic posek.

Rabbi Maman was laid to rest on Har Hamenuchos.
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