One of the Charedi world’s most influential rabbis, Chaim Kanievsky, has died in Israel at the age of 94.

The leader of the Lithuanian community was widely consulted for his authoritative knowledge of Jewish law, living simply in a flat in Bnei Brak and immersed in the study of the Torah.

He survived a bout of Covid at the age of 92 and his endorsement of the vaccination programme was seen as an important counter to anti-vaxxers within parts of the Strictly Orthodox community.

He had backed social distancing measures and told rabbis in Bnei Brak to close minyans in October 2020.

According to the Jerusalem Post, he had felt weak for a number of days and unusually did not receive an audience of Purim on Thursday.

He also supported the reporting of child abusers to the police - against those opposed to involving external authorities.

He was predeceased by his wife Batsheva, the daughter of one of the most eminent Charedi authorities in Israel, Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv.