Mordechai Shmuel Ashkenazi (Hebrew: מרדכי שמואל אשכנזי‎; 1943–14 January 2015) was an Israeli Orthodox rabbi and writer associated with the Chabad branch of Hasidism. He is best known for serving as the chief rabbi of the Chabad community in Kfar Chabad and for his work as a teacher and decisor in matters of Jewish law.

Early life and education

Ashkenazi was raised and educated in Israel and abroad. His formative studies took place in Tel Aviv and later in the United States, where he continued learning in Brooklyn, New York. His time in North America and Israel shaped both his halakhic method and his grounding in Chabad philosophy while maintaining ties to communities across the United States and Israel.

Rabbinic career and teachings

From 1983 until his death in 2015 he served as the chief rabbi of the Chabad community of Kfar Chabad, a role that combined pastoral duties, teaching and legal responsa. He was widely respected as an authority on Halakha and on the interpretive traditions of Hasidic thought, frequently offering guidance on communal practice, ritual questions and the application of classical sources in contemporary situations.

Writings and influence

Ashkenazi wrote on religious law and on Chabad philosophy, producing essays and rulings read by students and local rabbis. His writing and lectures emphasized clarity, fidelity to tradition and concern for practical communal needs. Typical areas of contribution included:

  • Responsa and practical halakhic decisions addressing synagogue, family and ritual matters.
  • Expositions of Hasidic teachings aimed at making complex ideas accessible to lay audiences.
  • Educational guidance for yeshivot and communal programs in Kfar Chabad and beyond.

Through his rulings and teaching he influenced several generations of students and local leaders, some of whom became rabbis themselves and continued serving Chabad communities.

Personal life and legacy

Ashkenazi was a family man with nine sons, several of whom followed him into rabbinic roles. He died from a heart attack on 14 January 2015 at the age of 71. His decades of leadership left a lasting imprint on Kfar Chabad’s institutions and on the study of Chabad Hasidut in Israel, where he is remembered for combining learned scholarship with active communal care.

For further context about his community and the movement he served, see materials linked to the Chabad movement and Hasidic tradition in educational and communal archives (Chabad, Hasidism).