Rabbi Reuben Eliyahu (Elie Réuben) Israel

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The last Chief Rabbi of Rhodes was Reuben Eliahu Israel. He served the Jewish community from 1922 to 1932. He was also the 12th descendant of the same religiously prominent family to serve as Rabbis, a succession which lasted over 200 years. Rabbi Israel devoted a great part of his life to the translation in Ladino (Judeo-Spanish) of psalms, proverbs, poems and religious works, such as the “Kryiat de Izhak” (The Sacrifice of Isaac) and the “Pirke Avot” (The Sayings of Our Fathers).

He served as Shaliah Tsibbur and ritual slaughterer in Rhodes for 18 years; traveled to Shuman Bulgaria and from there to Craioba Romania where he served as cantor and rabbi for 24 1/2 years; spent the last 10 years of his life as Rabbi in Rhodes. On his last vist to Rhodes in the 1920's King Vittorio Emanuele of Italy bestowed on him the title of Knight of the Crown of Italy.

Blessed be the righteous judge. Here lies buried Reuven Eliahu Israel in the city of Craiova Romania who served for twenty four and a half years as a rabbi and cantor for the Sephardic community and here in Rhodes from 14 Iyar 5681 [22 May 1921] until 20 Tishrei 5693 [20 October 1932] was born on the 27th of Sivan 5616 [30 June 1856] gone to his everlasting rest on 20 Tishrei 5693 [20 October 1932]. May his soul be bound in the bond of life.

• Tombs of the Rabbis