Iran’s former chief rabbi, Yousef Hamadani Cohen, dies at 98
TEHRAN — Yousef Hamadani Cohen, Iran’s former chief rabbi and one of the cornerstones of its tiny Jewish community, has died. He was 98.
Representing the Iranian Jews in Parliament, Siamak Moreh Sedgh said Rabbi Cohen died Friday and was buried Sunday.
Rabbi Cohen was the spiritual leader of Iran’s Jews from 1993 until 2007. He remained a senior rabbi after he retired and Rabbi Mashallah Golestani took over.
Iran’s Jews number about 25,000 people, a tiny minority in a population of about 76 million, but are still the Middle East’s largest Jewish community outside Israel.
Before the Islamic Revolution, the community had closer to 100,000 Jews.
Advertisement:
It is also one of the oldest Jewish communities, with roots reaching back 2,700 years.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com