Israel’s chief rabbis carry a lot of weight. But perhaps the nation’s most authoritative rabbi for the past few decades has been Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, a man to whom followers of nearly all streams of Orthodox Judaism would at least give ear, if not outright obey.

Rabbi Kanievsky died on Friday at the age of 94.

His funeral was Sunday morning, and was believed to be the largest public funeral in the history of the State of Israel, surpassing those even of great political figures like Yitzhak Rabin, Ariel Sharon and Shimon Peres. An estimated 500,000 to 750,000 ultra-Orthodox Jews from across the country flooded into the town of Bnei Brak near Tel Aviv to lay the rabbi to rest. Bnei Brak was completely shut down, and roads into parts of Tel Aviv were also closed, as were many public schools in the area.

For more background information on Rabbi Kanievsky and why he was so widely respected, read: Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, Israel’s Leading Torah Scholar

The streets of Bnei Brak near Tel Aviv were packed as ultra-Orthodox Jews from across the country came to lay Rabbi Chaim Kanievskly to rest. Photo: Yonatan Sindel/Flash90

We have written on Rabbi Kanievsky a number of times in the past in connection to his predictions and statements regarding the coming of Messiah.

See:

• Israeli Rabbi Says He’s Already Holding Meetings With Messiah
• Top Rabbis: Look at the Signs, Messiah is Coming!
• Israel’s Top Rabbi Says We Need Messiah to Come