One of France’s leading Chabad figures died from coronavirus over Shabbat, the movement announced on Saturday.

André Touboul was the headmaster of Beit Hanna, one of France’s largest Jewish secondary schools, and had been admitted to hospital with suspected coronavirus.

Mr Touboul, who is also known as Massoud Touboul, was described by French media as being in his sixties.

Because of restrictions imposed by the French Health Ministry, Mr Touboul will be buried without purification rites, shiva, or a minyan to recite kaddish.

He was born in Marseille and studied mathematics at university, and oversaw the synagogue attached to Beit Hanna.

He is survived by his wife Bracha, and nine children, including popular Chasidic music producer Levi Touboul.  

Hassidout, the French language organ for the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, described Mr Touboul as a “pillar of the movement”.

Anne Hidalgo, the Mayor of Paris, said: “It is with great sadness that I learn of the death of André Touboul. I think of his kindness and his professionalism. All my support and my affection to his family, to his friends and to the school community.”

Jack Yves Bohbot, the Vice President of the Consistoire, the representative body of French Jews said that his death was a “very great loss for the French Jewish community. My most sincere condolences to his family and to the Lubavitch movement that he served so much.”

As of Sunday morning, there are just under 14,500 confirmed cases of coronavirus in France and there have been 562 deaths.  

In Strasbourg, the President of the Jewish community in Alsace, Maurice Dahan is in a serious condition with coronavirus. Mr Dahan has been in a critical condition for over a week.  

Mr Touboul's death on Saturday follows the passing of Milanese Jewish leader Michele Sciama died of coronavirus on Monday.