- Source: David Sharbani
David Sharbani (Hebrew: דוד שרבני; 16 August 1920 - 6 August 1985) was the former Sephardic Chief Rabbi (Gran Rabino) of Colombia. He served as the Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Colombia from the early 1950s to 1978. Following his tenure, Rabbi Sharbani moved to Miami, Florida. David Sharbani died in Miami on August 6, 1985. He was 64 years old.
Early life
David Sharbani was born in Jerusalem, Israel, to Kabbalist, Hakham Yehoshua Sharbani and Masuda Sharbani. The Sharbani family originated from Iraq and has a long line of prominent rabbinic figures. David's parents immigrated to Israel from Baghdad, Iraq in 1903. Rabbi Sharbani studied in famous Porat Yosef Yeshiva. Rabbi Sharbani received Semikhah from the Chazon Ish.
Colombia
David Sharbani was the first Sephardic rabbi to head the first Sephardic synagogue in Bogota, Colombia in 1952.<
In 1952, the philanthropist Ovadia Shayo visited the Porat Yosef Yeshiva and asked Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi Ben-Zion Meir Hai Uziel to send a rabbi to his congregation in Colombia, Rabbi Ben-Zion Meir Hai Uziel recommended him Rabbi David Sharbani and indeed Rabbi David was appointed the chief rabbi of Colombia, his seat was the city of Bogota.
In Colombia, he established Talmud Torah, a branch of Bnei Akiva, served as president of the World Hebrew Alliance there, was active in the Zionist Organization, and served as a lecturer at the National University of Colombia in the Hebrew department. After a period he was offered the rabbinate in the city of Tel Aviv, Rabbi David refused the offer. Rabbi Sharbani was connected with great Rabbinic leaders of the world including rabbi Moshe Feinstein.
Rabbi Sharbani served as a support to the hostages held during the 1980 Dominican Republic Embassy siege in Bogota, 1980, by M-19 guerrillas.
Publications
Rabbi Sharbani published a Haggadah for Passover, containing Hebrew, Spanish and English. The Haggadah was published in 1960 and commissioned artwork from Holocaust survivor and Colombian cartoonist Peter Aldor.
Burial
Gran Rabino Sharbani is buried on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem
Block החסידים (ספרדים) , Plot ב.ל.גוש ו ,סונסינו מול ט.ע, Row 08, Spot 310