PM expresses shock at murder of Rabbi Abuchatzeira

Netanyahu praises work of "spiritual leader who helped so many Israelis"; tens of thousands mourn death of Baba Sali's grandson.

By YAAKOV LAPPIN, JOANNA PARASZCZUK, JPOST.COM
Abuchatzeira Funeral 311 (photo credit: Marc Israel Sellem)
Abuchatzeira Funeral 311
(photo credit: Marc Israel Sellem)
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Friday expressed his shock at the murder of Rabbi Elazar Abuchatzeirahe, who was stabbed to death in the early hours of the morning.
"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.
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Tens of thousands mourned the death of Abuchatzeira at his Jerusalem funeral on Friday afternoon.
The funeral procession set out from the Porat Yosef yeshiva in Jerusalem's Mea Shearim neighborhood, where Abuchatzeria was eulogized by Shas spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef among others.
The procession proceeded to the Mount of Olives Cemetery, where, Abuchatzeira, the grandson of Rabbi Yisrael Abuhatzeira, known as the Baba Sali, was buried. The Baba Sali was was believed by his followers to work miracles and was one of the leaders of the aliya of Moroccan Jews to Israel.
The funeral was attended by Israel's chief Rabbis Yona Metzger and Shlomo Amar as well as by haredi MKs and ministers.
MDA paramedics treated some 30 people who suffered from fainting spells  and dehydration during the funeral procession . Three of the injured were evacuated to Bikur Cholim Hospital and Sha'are Tzedek Hospital to receive further treatment.
Rabbi Abuchatzeira was stabbed in a Beersheba yeshiva just after midnight on Friday.
Stunned followers told police Abuchatzeira was stabbed in the upper body by a man he had received as a visitor.
Rabbi Abuchatzeira was rushed to the Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba in critical condition. Paramedics attempted to resuscitate him, but he died en route to the hospital.
Police arrested a suspect, Asher Dahan, 42 from Elad, who they said was delivered to officers by a crowd. The suspect was taken for questioning.
Judges in the Beersheba Magistrates' Court ruled Friday morning to extend the arrest of Dahan.