Rabbi Dr. Isaac     Cohen

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Rabbi Dr. Isaac Cohen was born on 26/7/1914 in the small town of Llanelly, Wales.

His first appointment was as Minister to the Jewish Community of Leeds, where he also married Fanny Weisfogel in 1939. A devoted couple, they were married for 67 years until Rebbetzin Fanny Cohen passed away a year ago.

During the war Rabbi Cohen served as Chaplain to the British Forces.

In 1948 he received "Smicha " from Jews College, London, and was appointed Rabbi of Edinburgh, Scotland where he stayed 20 years.

Rabbi Cohen took over the position of Chief Rabbi of the Republic of Ireland from the late Chief Rabbi Jakobovitz, and remained in Dublin for 25 years.

On his retirement in the early 80's, he and his wife made their home in Jerusalem.

During the last 20 years of his life he devoted much of his time to writing a book:
Acts of the Mind in Jewish Ritual Law - an Insight into Rabbinic Psychology,
for which he received an Hon. Doctorate of Literature from Edinburgh University.
He lived to see the first copy of his book, which will be published by the end of this month.

A kind and gentle man, charismatic, always portraying elegance and charm, Rabbi Cohen was loved by all who knew him. An erudite scholar, baal midot tovot, he was highly respected amongst his colleagues and congregants.

He is mourned and deeply missed by all his nieces and nephews and sisters- in- law.