Rabbi Shalom Cohen, who served as the spiritual leader of the Shas political party since the death of its creator, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, died tonight in the hospital after suffering from an infection recently. The ultra-orthodox Sephardic community has been mourning his loss. He was 91 years old.

Although religion and tradition do not define political parties in Israel, it is certainly a strong consideration for many voters. The Shas party has been the political anchor for Sephardic traditional Jews in Israel for decades. While they have served their community week, Shas has also been a clear example of the pitfalls of allowing religion to mingle with politics.

Rabbi Shalom Cohen Z”L passed away late last night after suffering from serious health conditions. He was the first Sefaradi Rabbi to support the Shas party in the Jerusalem mayoral race back in the eighties. He then succeeded Rabbi Ovadiah Yoseph has leader of Chachmei HaTorah. pic.twitter.com/ISw13L915w

— Chaim •‎ ‏حاييم • חיים (@ChaimSmierc) August 22, 2022

The party does not define itself based on standard right-left political leanings, nor do they have an ideological platform that goes beyond observance of Torah laws. Instead,  Shas 'sells' themselves to whichever coalition group promises their communities the most monetary benefits and has often controlled the Jewish state's social welfare system. Their platform has essentially been something that was up for sale during each negotiation to form a coalition government. They have sat with the relatively liberal Labor party when they held power and the staunchly conservative Likud party of Benjamin Netanyahu.

Tens of thousands of mourners were expected to flock to Jerusalem for the Monday afternoon funeral of Rabbi Shalom Cohen.

Jerusalem braces for mass crowds, traffic snarls at Shas spiritual leader's funeralhttps://t.co/3i0QKAbSMz

— Avraham Israeli Zionist 🇮🇱🇨🇦 (@IsraeliAvraham) August 22, 2022

Since his condition had worsened, many gathered to pray for Rabbi Cohen’s health, but earlier this month, his family members were called to say their farewells; after he passed away, an official announcement was made to the community about his death. Rabbi Shalom Cohen was referred to as a "Peaceful Scholar."

Rabbi Cohen was the head of the "Porat Yosef" Yeshiva for decades. It was a strong supporter of and friend of Shas’s party chairman Aryeh Deri who was convicted in 2000 of taking bribes as Interior Minister. After he was released, Deri, a founding member of Shas, returned to politics and the Interior Ministry but was again charged with crimes to which he accepted a plea bargain earlier this year.

💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔HEARTBROKEN by the death of Maran Hacham Shalom Cohen, Cheif of the Sephardic Council of Torah Sages.

Born in Jerusalem's old city in 1930, he studied and taught and lived in Yeshiva Porat Yosef his entire life. A true sage of Torah. pic.twitter.com/L7hRQoMumP

— Rabbi E. Poupko- Stands With Israel 🇮🇱 (@RabbiPoupko) August 22, 2022

Cohen's death means the party will be looking for a new leader. However, this most recent "succession" battle is expected to be conducted quietly, and the leadership of the Sephardic sector is expected to be helmed by Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, son of Rabbi Ovadia, who will complete his state duties in the next two years.

Rabbi Cohen's death comes at the height of the election campaign for the 25th Knesset, and it may also affect how Shas will conduct the campaign. Rabbi Cohen’s death comes just a year after the passing of Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, who was the spiritual leader of the Ultra-orthodox non-hasidic Ashkenazi community in Israel.

Shas spiritual leader Rabbi Shalom Cohen backs Deri after leaked tape https://t.co/1z4HBGB6nj pic.twitter.com/atPMi143om

— The Jerusalem Post (@Jerusalem_Post) November 10, 2017

Despite his plea agreement, Aryeh Deri, currently Shas' chairman, eulogized Cohen with the words: "Aralim conquered the cliffs, and God's ark was restored. With our hearts stricken by shock and grief, our father, our teacher, and our leader, the President of the Council of Sages of the Torah, the elder of the generation, Maran Hacham Shalom Cohen, ben Tufaha Malka Zatzuk'l, left us in the heavenly storm. Woe to the world that has lost its leader and woe to the ship that has lost its captain. Baruch Dayan Emet.”