Hundreds Attend Funeral of Revered Rebbetzin Dada Dvda in Jerusalem

Rebbetzin Dada Dvda, a respected matriarch of the Dvda rabbinic family, passed away at age 84 on Saturday night. Born in 1942 in the Moroccan town of Aka, known for its Kabbalists, she married at 14 and devoted her life to raising her sons in Torah study and observance. Her funeral took place on Sunday at the Sephardic funeral home and continued to Har HaMenuchot cemetery in Jerusalem, where she was buried alongside her late husband, Rabbi Eliyahu Dvda, with hundreds of mourners including rabbis, scholars, and members of the Moroccan Jewish community.

Dada Dvda was born into a distinguished family; her father Rabbi Avraham Asraf and uncles served as community leaders. Her mother, Rebbetzin Esther, was a midwife and descendant of the notable Rabbi Yaish Bouganim. The family immigrated to Israel in 1963, settling in Yeruham, where despite societal challenges, they maintained a strict Torah lifestyle. She sent her sons to prestigious yeshivas in Israel and France, emphasizing dedication to Torah study.

Her eldest son, Rabbi Yaish Dvda, a leading halachic authority in Beit Shemesh, eulogized her as a woman of modesty and steadfast faith who remained pure despite changing times. She was known for her generosity, personally purchasing over 100 pairs of tefillin for her grandchildren. An anecdote shared by family highlighted her spiritual awareness: upon finding spoiled meat in a refrigerator, she reflected on the importance of preparing for the afterlife.

Rebbetzin Dvda left behind a large family of sons, sons-in-law, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, all Torah scholars and teachers. The family is sitting shiva in Netivot, with visitation hours from 10:00 to 13:00 and 16:00 to 22:00, including prayer services. Her legacy is honored as a pillar of faith and devotion within the Moroccan-Israeli religious community.