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Boruch Dayan Hoemes: Rabbi Yosef Sitruk, 71, OBM

Rabbi Yosef Sitruk, a former chief rabbi of France for more than two decades who oversaw a growth in synagogues and Jewish schools, has passed away after a long illness. He was 71 years old.

Born in French-controlled Tunisia in 1944, Sitruk was chief rabbi of France from 1987-2008. He was active internationally, and led efforts encouraging French Jews to attend synagogue and embrace Judaism.

Former French President Nicholas Sarkozy attended a memorial ceremony for Rabbi Sitruk, which was held Sunday night in Paris’ main synagogue (see photo and video gallery below).

Rabbi Sitruk’s remains were flown to Israel early Monday morning, where he will be buried.

He is survived by his wife and nine children.

In 1995, Rabbi Yosef Sitruk, then Chief Rabbi of France, inaugurated the opening of the new Beth Chabad Lubavitch of Neuilly sur Seine by affixing the Mezouzoth there, in the presence of Rabbi David ZAOUI, Chaliah of the Rabbi in Neuilly, Rabbi Sholom B. Gorodetsky, Director General of the European Bureau of Lubavitch and his son, Rabbi Yosef Y. Gorodetsky, Maitre Yves Djian, President of the consistorial Synagogue of Neuilly and his current successor, Mr. Philippe M Besnainou.
In 1995, Rabbi Yosef Sitruk, then Chief Rabbi of France, inaugurated the opening of the new Beth Chabad Lubavitch of Neuilly sur Seine by affixing the Mezouzoth there, in the presence of Rabbi David ZAOUI, Chaliah of the Rabbi in Neuilly, Rabbi Sholom B. Gorodetsky, Director General of the European Bureau of Lubavitch, and his son, Rabbi Yosef Y. Gorodetsky, Maitre Yves Djian, President of the consistorial Synagogue of Neuilly and his current successor, Mr. Philippe M Besnainou.

Photos and videos by Mordechai Lubecki

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