(Times of Israel) Rabbi Shalom Cohen, the influential spiritual leader of the Shas political party, died in Jerusalem on Monday at the age of 91.

Rabbi Cohen served as the head of the Council of Torah Sages for Shas, an ultra-Orthodox party that represents Sephardi and Mizrahi Jews.

Rabbi Cohen was also the head of Jerusalem’s Porat Yosef Yeshiva religious school. He leaves behind five sons and three daughters.

Shas party Chairman Aryeh Deri announced Rabbi Cohen’s death in a statement, calling the rabbi “our father, our teacher and our leader.”