Haim Moussa Douek

Rabbi Haim Moussa Douek (1905–August 21, 1974) (Hebrew: חיים דוויך / Arabic: حايم دويك) was the last Chief Rabbi of Egypt.

Early life and early career Born into a Kohanim family of "priests" in Anteb, Turkey, on the border of Syria, he was the eldest child of Rabbi Moussa Haim Douek and Zarifa Harari.

At age 5, Haim Moussa Douek's family moved to Cairo in 1910. He attended the Alliance Israélite Universelle School during the day, and a Jewish studies program (Keter Torah) after school.

In November 1952, Rabbi Douek was appointed by the Chief Rabbi of Egypt, Rabbi Haim Nahoum, to join the rabbinical body of Cairo's chief rabbinate. In 1954, he was appointed Chairman of the Beit Din (Jewish Rabbinical Court). He was also appointed by the Egyptian Ministry of Justice as a Judge in the Jewish Primary and Appellate courts, which were a division of the Jewish domestic relations court.

King Farouk was removed from power in 1952 during a revolution that placed Gamal Abdel Nasser in power. In January 1956, he abolished the domestic relations court and required all decisions be made in civil court, instead of the religious court. The Egyptian Ministry of Justice appointed Rabbi Douek as a Notary Delegate in charge of all matters affecting the personal relations of Jews. This included authority on issues involving marriage, divorce, wills, children and disposition of assets. He was also the rabbinic authority designated to issue all official documents from the chief rabbinate. Rabbi Douek met with Egyptian politicians and dignitaries from around the world to obtain relief for the Egyptian Jews so they could leave the country. After three and a half years, all the detainees were released and permitted to leave Egypt with their families. By 1971, there were only 300 members of the community remaining. Many of these were families with young children. Rabbi Douek advised them to leave Egypt, since he saw no future there for the families. Rabbi Douek led Egypt's Jewish population during a period of political turmoil and instability.

Departure Rabbi Douek left Egypt for France in March 1972. Prior to leaving, he made sure that the remaining Jews had their religious needs met. There was a hazzan (cantor) in the synagogue, a shokhet, as well as someone to assist with Kadish (funeral services). He saw to it that all the active synagogues remained open and maintained and that the cemetery was maintained. In addition, he made sure that kosher wine and matzo were available for Passover.

In October 1972, he emigrated to New York with his children.

In New York, Rabbi Douek became active in the Egyptian community under one Ahaba ve Ahva Congregation. In addition, he became active in the plight of Syrian and Iraqi Jews, who were persecuted in those countries. His devoted his time to raise awareness of their situation and to help them leave those countries.

He died in Brooklyn, New York, on August 21, 1974, and is buried on the Mount of Olives Har Hazeitim in Jerusalem, Israel. His memorial collection of books was donated by his family to Yeshiva University New York in 1984.