Israel’s former Chief Rabbi, Eliahou Bakshi-Doron, died on Sunday at the age of 79 from the Coronavirus, COVID-19.

The former rabbi was known for promoting religious dialogue. He served as the Chief Rabbi of Israel between 1993 and 2003.

He was first Chief Rabbi of the northern port city of Haifa for 18 years before being elected Chief Rabbi of Israel.

His reputation was however tainted when he was handed a one-year suspended prison sentence for corruption and breach of trust in 2017.

The rabbi was hospitalised some days ago but suffered from pre-existing conditions that led to his health  deteriorating significantly, the Shaare Tzedek Hospital in Jerusalem where he died said in a statement.