Quick Facts
Biography
Mordechai Shmuel Ashkenazi (1943 – January 14, 2015) was an Orthodox rabbi and a member of the Chabad Hasidic movement. Rabbi Ashkenazi was the chief rabbi of the Chabad community of Kfar Chabad, Israel from 1983 until his death, and was an authority on Halacha (Jewish law).
Rabbi of Kfar Chabad
Rabbi Askenazi served as the Kfar Chabad community's chief rabbi (מרא דאתרא (Marah D'Asra)), meaning "Master of the place" in ancient Judeo-Aramaic. Rabbi Ashkenazi was the spiritual and religious leader for the Kfar Chabad community.
Halachik stances
Rabbi Ashkenazy was widely cited in the Orthodox Jewish press for declaring that long wigs are inappropriate for use as a hair covering under the halachik definition of tzniut.
Family
Rabbi Ashkenazy's son, Schneur Ashkenazy, serves as the chief rabbi of Rishon L'tzion, Israel.