The Chief Rabbi of Paris, David Messas, died Sunday, France’s Jewish Consistory announced. He was 77.
He had been ill for more than four years.
"The Chief Rabbi of France Gilles Bernheim, the President of the Consistory Joel Mergui and the directors of the Paris Consistory share the terrible news with his wife, his children and his family," a statement said.
"We are extremely sad for the death of Paris Chief Rabbi David
Messas. He came from a very large family of rabbis in Meknes, Morocco. His father was the Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem, " said Richard Prasquier, President of CRIF, the umbrella representative group of French Jewish organizations.
“He was for many years the spiritual guide, the soul and the backbone of the Paris Jewish community”, the Consistory said.
French Prime Minister Francois Fillon expressed his "great sadness". "He was a man of faith and culture who worked for the preservation of tradition and the construction of the future of judaism".
The chief rabbi’s body was to be flown to Israel Sunday night. He will be buried on Monday at the Givat Shaul cemetery in Jerusalem.