Holocaust survivor Rabbi Ephraim Mol, 85, died Thursday night after suffering a stroke prior to the Holocaust Memorial Day ceremony at Yad Vashem.
Rabbi Mol, a Chabad-Lubavitch hasid, had been scheduled to recite the, "Kel Malei Rachamim," prayer at the memorial event, but collapsed a day before it took place, shortly before the general rehearsal but after meeting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He was replaced at the event by singer Shuli Rand, who appeared at the event instead of him.
Rabbi Mol later died in Jerusalem's Shaare Zedek Medical Center, after suffering a brain hemorrhage.
He is survived by his wife Rachel and their four children.
The funeral took place on Friday, and Rabbi Mol was buried on the Mount of Olives.
Yad Vashem Chairman Dani Dayan said, "Blessed be the True Judge. The institution of Yad Vashem mourns the passing of Holocaust survivor Ephraim Mol, who was supposed to recite the 'Kel Malei Rachamim,' prayer at the national Holocaust Memorial Day ceremony this week. A day before the ceremony, Ephraim did not feel well and was hospitalized. May his soul be bound up in the bonds of life."
PM Benjamin Netanyahu said, "My wife Sara and I heard, with great sorrow, of the passing of Holocaust survivor Ephraim Mol, of blessed memory. Just a few days ago I met Ephraim, who had been chosen to recite the 'Kel Malei Rachamim' prayer on the eve of Holocaust Memorial Day. We would like to send condolences from the depths of our heart to his wife Rachel and his children. May his memory be for a blessing."