Yosef Hamadani Cohen | |
---|---|
Personal | |
Born | 1916 |
Died | March 29, 2014 |
Religion | Judaism |
Jewish leader | |
Predecessor | Uriel Davidi |
Successor | Younes Hamami Lalehzar |
Position | Chief Rabbi of Iran |
Synagogue | Yusef Abad Synagogue |
Began | 1994 |
Ended | 2006 |
Yusef Hamadani Cohen ( Persian: یوسف همدانی کهن ;1916 – 29 March 2014) was the Chief Rabbi of Iran and spiritual leader for the Jewish community of Iran ( Iranian Jews) between January 1994 and 2007. [1]
In August 2000, Chief Rabbi Hamadani Cohen met with Iranian President Mohammad Khatami for the first time. [2] In 2003, Cohen and Member of Parliament Morris Motamed met with Khatami at Yusef Abad Synagogue which was the first time a President of Iran had visited a synagogue since the Islamic Revolution. [3] For the event, Cohen led the opening of the Torah scroll ark and the recitation of prayers. [4]
Cohen died after a long illness on 29 March 2014 in Tehran over Shabbat. [5] [6]