Ponivezh: Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Shlomo Leibowitz zt"l

Baruch Dayan Ha'emes: from the Sheba Hospital comes the news of the death of Rabbi Chaim Shlomo Leibowitz zt"l, head of the Kamenitz and Ponivezh Yeshivas and one of the greatest Roshei Yeshiva in our generation, who died at 9 am in the presence of his students and family.

When Shabbos ended the paroches was removed at the Ponivezh and Kamenitz Yeshivas. His counterpart the Rosh Yeshiva Hgrb"d Povarsky, who was updated about the death, burst into tears.

The Rav was the grandson of Rabbi Baruch Behr Leibowitz zt"l, the Birkas Shmuel, a disciple of Rabbi Chaim of Brisk founder of the Yeshivish learning method. He was 83 years old at his demise.

A few months ago the Rosh Yeshiva zt"l fell during the night at his home in Bnei Brak and suffered a hemorrhage in his brain. Since then his health has fluctuated, and he was hospitalized and released from the hospital alternately.

At one time there was improvement in his condition he was hospitalized again in intensive care in the hospital - where the fought for his life during the recent period.

Throughout the period of his illness, prayers were held at the Ponivezh Yeshiva and the halls of Torah, Gedolei Yisroel came out in a letter to pray for him, but it was decreed and he returned his soul to its Creator.

The funeral will leave from Ponivezh Yeshiva in Bnei Brak tomorrow – we will continue and we will update.


History of the Rosh Yeshiva zt"l

In a meeting with the Roshei Yeshiva Hagri"g Edelstein and Hgrb"d Povarsky shlita

Hgrh"s Leibowitz of blessed memory was born in Tevet in 5693 (1933) in the town of Baranowitz in Belarus, to his father Rabbi Yaakov Moshe Leibowitz of blessed memory, son of Rabbi Baruch Behr zt"l –and his mother Mrs. Tzeina Lea a"h.

As a child he already showed his blessed talents. At the outbreak of World War II, he fled with his family to Vilna, Lithuania, and from there the family travelled to Israel and settled in Jerusalem.

As a young man he studied at Hevron Yeshiva in Jerusalem. When he came of age, he was taken as son-in-law by Rabbi Avraham Yitzhak Rothstein zt"l, head of the Diskin Orphanage in Jerusalem.

Immediately after his marriage, he was appointed to head the yeshiva of Kamenitz in Jerusalem, where he taught Torah alongside the other Roshei Yeshiva.

He received his way of limud from his grandfather the Birkas Shmuel zt"l which he gave over to his many students.

In 5767 he was appointed Rosh Yeshiva of Ponivezh, alongside Hgri"g Edelstein and Hgrb"d Povarsky shlita.

At the yeshiva gave shiurim and mussar talks and his lessons became renowned. With his appointment moved to the city of Bnei Brak and lived near the yeshiva.

During his life he lost his son the avrech Rabbi Hizkiah Yosef Leibowitz zt"l and his daughter the prominent teacher Mrs. Kayla Rivka Schwartzman z"h – daughter in law of Lakewood Rosh Yeshiva in Israel, Hagaon Rabbi Yaakov Eliezer Schwartzman.

Despite his harsh suffering, the Rosh Yeshiva continued his regular studies and delivering lessons.
May his soul be bound in the bond of life.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!