London’s S & P Sephardi Community is mourning much-loved minister Rabbi Israel Elia, who died on Tuesday morning aged 68.

Rabbi Elia, whose funeral will take place at 7 this evening at Hoop Lane Cemetery in Golders Green, was taken ill a few weeks ago.

Daniel Sacerdoti, the community’s parnas presidente, said, “Rabbi Elia dedicated over four decades of his life to serving the Lauderdale Road congregation, his love and warmth were infectious and felt by all who met him. We will miss him tremendously.”

Originally from the island community of Djerba in Tunisia, he came to the UK when he was 14 to study at the Montefiore Kollel, which was set up to train future teachers, ministers and rabbis.

He was a natural pastor with a ready smile, who won many friends outside the community.

Rabbi Israel Elia of Lauderdale Road Synagogue (Photo: Blake Ezra Photography)

Although he nominally retired three years ago, he continued to serve the Lauderdale Road congregation, saying “my soul is bound to the community”.

In recent years, he often returned to Djerba, leading delegations to the unique Ghriba pilgrimage which takes place around the festival of Lag Ba’Omer.

He leaves behind his mother Nurit, his wife Gina and children Yakir, Daniel, Nicole and Naomi.