Chacham Shaul Kassin zt”l

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of Chacham Shaul Kassin zt”l, rov of Congregation Shaarei Tzion and chief rabbi of the Sephardic Syrian community in Brooklyn, NY. He was 97.

Rav Kassin was a son of Rav Yaakov Kassin, who served as chief rabbi of the Syrian community beginning in 1932.

Rav Shaul’s brother-in-law, Chacham Baruch Ben Chaim also served in that role until his petirah in 2005.

Congregation Shaare Zion is a kehillah of over 1,000 mispallelim and one of the largest shul’s of its type in Brooklyn.

Rav Kassin was noted as a tremendous talmid chochom, with a wide breadth of knowledge in Shas and halacha. He served as the spiritual guide for thousands of Sefardic families in New York and beyond.

Rav Kassin’s shul began in 1941 as a local small minyan, hold davening for the Yomim Noraim in the Aperion Manor hall on King Highway. The shul moved in 1960 to its current location on Ocean Parkway and between Avenues T and U. The building has been renovated and expanded several times of the years.

Chacham Shaul’s father, Rav Yaakov Kassin was brought in to lead the kehillah as chief rabbi in 1932. Chacham Shaul originally served as a consulting rabbi at the kehillah along with Rav Avrohom Hecht. Chacham Shaul later took over the kehillah, serving it with great devotion until his petirah over Shabbos.

The levayah will be held tomorrow morning, at 10:30, at Magen David Yeshiva in Brooklyn, NY.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}