The man who stabbed Rabbi Elazar Abuhatzeira to death at his Beersheba
yeshiva late Thursday night ,sending the haredi world into deep shock,
has been sent by a court for a psychiatric examination to determine his
mental state.
Asher Dahan, from Elad, between Rosh Ha’ayin and Shoham, told police he did “not mean to kill the rabbi.”
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was reportedly upset that a blessing he had received from the
63-year-old religious figure did not materialize, although no clear
motive has yet been established by police.
The Beersheba Magistrate’s Court on Friday morning extended Dahan’s custody by 12 days.
Tens
of thousands of people attended Abuhatzeira’s funeral in Jerusalem on
Friday afternoon, which was secured by hundreds of police officers.
The
procession set out from the Porath Yosef yeshiva in the Geula
neighborhood, where Abuhatzeira was eulogized by Chief Rabbi Shlomo
Amar, Shas spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef and others.
Mourners
walked to the Mount of Olives, where Abuhatzeira was laid to rest next
to the grave of his father, Rabbi Meir Abuhatzeira.
The slain rabbi
was the grandson of Rabbi Yisrael Abuhatzeira (1890- 1984), known as the
Baba Sali, who was believed by his followers to work miracles and was
one of the leaders of the aliya of Moroccan Jews to Israel. Like others
in his family, the Baba Elazar, as he was called, was an expert in
Kabbala, and people sought his advice and blessing on various matters.
He
was known for wearing a cloak whose long hood covered most of his face
so he would not see any immodest images of women. He had a tunnel dug
between his home and the Beersheba yeshiva he headed.
Abuhatzeira’s funeral was attended by Chief Rabbis Amar and Yona Metzger, as well as by haredi MKs and ministers.
Shas
issued a message saying the movement “was in pain and mourning with all
Jews over the great loss of the holy tzadik [righteous man].”
Magen David Adom paramedics treated around 30 people who suffered fainting spells and dehydration during the funeral procession.
Three of the mourners were evacuated to Bikur Cholim and Sha’are Zedek hospitals to receive further treatment.
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Friday expressed his shock at the murder.
“The
rabbi was a spiritual leader to so many Israelis. He helped them with
advice and charity, and very often he did this in secret,” the prime
minister said.
Abuhatzeira was attacked by Dahan in Beersheba after the latter entered
his study as a visitor. The rabbi was rushed to the city’s Soroka
University Medical Center. Paramedics tried to resuscitate him, but he
died en route.
The rabbi’s followers took Dahan into their custody and delivered him to police.
Southern police district head Cmdr. Yossi Preinti arrived at the yeshiva
to personally oversee the investigation. Police have tasked the Negev
subdistrict’s central unit with leading the investigation.
Jonah Mandel and Jerusalem Post staff contributed to this report.