Baruch Dayan Ha’emes: Hagaon R’ Yackov Eidelstein ZTVK”L

Great sorrow and mourning accompanies the the news of the passing of Hagaon R’ Yackov Eidelstein, one of the senior Rabbonim in Erets Yisroel. Although he held many prestigious positions throughout his life, Rav Eidelstein was primarily known as the Rav of Ramat Hasharon where he served as Rav for many decades, he passed away at age 93.
The Rav was hospitalized last week in the ‘leonado’ hospital after suddenly loosing conciseness. His condition Initially improved, but unfortunately it drastically deteriorated today; he was nifter surrounded by his family and talmidim who recited “Shema Yisrael”.
His Life:
Hagaon R’ Eidelstein Zts”L was born in 1924 to his father Hagaon R’ Tzvi Yehuda Eidelstein Zts”L, Rav of Shomyats, and to his mother Rebbetzin Miriam A”H daughter of R’ Morederchai shlome Movshits Zts’’l, Rav of Malstovka.
As a child, he started off learning in the local cheder in Shimiets, and later moved to the cheder in the nearby town of Klimovits. After the local authorities forced him to attend a none Jewish school, the family migrated to Erets Yisroel. They settled in Ramat Hasharon and R’ Tzvi Yehuda was appointed Rav of the local kehilla.
Upon their arrival in Erets Yisroel, R’ Yackov and his brother R’ Gershon, who is the current Rosh yeshiva of Ponevits, learned together with their father, but after their mother passed away their father sent them to learn in ‘Yeshivas Lomzhe’ in Petach Tikvah.
With the establishment of Ponevits in the winter of 1944, R’ Shmuel Rozovsky the Rosh Yeshiva at the time, asked R’ Tzvi to send his two sons to learn in the new Yeshiva. R’ Tzvi agreed, and the two brothers joined the nascent yeshiva in Bnei Brak. In fact, they were from the first six talmidim in the yeshiva.
During his time in Ponevits, R’ Yackov he became a frequent visitor at the home of the Chazon Ish. After his father passed way he inherited his place as Rav of Ramat Hasharon, and opened ‘Yeshivas Hasharon’ which he headed for many years.
Throughout the years he also served as Rosh Yeshiva of “Keter-Yisroel” Rezin, and ‘Chug Chatam Sofer’ both of which are in Bnei Brak, he also gave shiurim in the Aleksender Yeshiva there.
Aside from being the Rav in Ramat Hasharon he was also appointed as Rav of the ‘Neot Yosef’ neighborhood in Bnei Brak.
A number of years ago he was also appointed to head yeshivas ‘Tiferes Moishe’ also located in Bnei Brak, where he gave shiurim a couple of times a week.
Aside from being a Rav and Rosh Yeshiva he also served as a Dayan on the world renown Beis Din of R’ Nisin Karelits in Bnei Brak.
He was known to be the address for people going through hardships who were in need of advice or a Bracha. He himself would daven for older singles and childless couples, and would suggest that tefillos be held for them at the Chazon Ish’s kever after midnight.
Translated by Eli B.

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