Mourning in religious Zionism: Rabbi Avraham Zuckerman zt"l

Baruch Dayan Ha'emes: Tonight (Saturday) Rabbi Avraham Zuckerman zt"l, eldest rabbi and educator of the religious Zionism and head of the Bnei Akiva yeshivas, aged 98, passed away.

Rabbi Zuckerman was hospitalized last Tuesday at the Hillel Yaffe hospital in Hadera. On Friday he was released to his home in Kfar Haro'e, where he returned his soul to its Creator.

The deceased zt"l was born in the town Levdov, Lithuania in1915, the son of the late Nehemiah z"k and his mother Mrs. Gittel a"h. In his youth studied at Novardok with the Kehillos Yaakov zt"l, and immigrated to Israel on Lag B'Omer 1935. In 1940 he founded the Bnei Akiva yeshiva in Kfar Haroeh along with Rabbi Moshe Tzvi Neria zt"l, which he headed for over fifty years.

He established the Bnei Akiva Yeshiva Center and served as chairman of the Center for many years. After the death of Rabbi Neriah, Rabbi Haim Druckman was appointed chairman of Yeshivot Bnei Akiva and Rabbi Zuckerman was crowned "head of the Bnei Akiva yeshivas".
He was a great talmid chochom who raised generations of talmidei chachamim and followers of religious Zionism.

At the end of last year, he participated in the religious Zionist Siyum Hashas which was attended by three generations - he, his son and grandson. Two months ago he arrived at the housewarming of Kfar Haro'e yeshiva which was closed and reopened.

Rabbi Zuckerman is survived by his wife, Rivka, three daughters and two sons, 36 grandchildren and more than one hundred great-grandchildren.

The funeral will take place tomorrow at Kfar Haro'e.

May his soul be bound in the bond of life.

Politicians mourn:

Deputy Minister of Religious Services, Rabbi Eli Ben-Dahan said tonight: "Rabbi Zuckerman was the eldest of nationalist religious Zionist yeshiva heads. A great scholar who raised generations of talmidei chachamim and followers of religious Zionism. Just last year we all saw him at the Siyum Hashas ceremony which was finished by three generations after him - his son, grandson and great-grandson. This is a merit which not
any Jew has the privilege of."

Housing Minister Uri Ariel expressed his regret at the passing of the eldest of religious Zionist rabbis, Rabbi Avraham Zuckerman: "Rabbi Zuckerman was a great educator who educated generations of students for more than 60 years. The Rabbi believed that silent waters run deep, did not look for roles and his great influence received precisely because he had great humility."

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!