Bitter Grief. The head of the Agudas Yisroel – The Viznitzer Rebbe zt"l

נצחו אראלים את המצוקים ונשבה ארון הקודש

The Viznitzer Rebbe zt"l, head of Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah of Agudas Yisroel, was niftar in Bnei Brak, at the age of 95.

The Rebbe zt"l, one of the elder Rebbes in our generation, was born in Romania on 13th Sivan 5676, to his father the Rebbe R' Chaim Meir Hager, the Imrei Chaim zi"a, and his mother the Rebbetzin Margalis a"h, neé Twersky.

When he became of age, he married his wife, Rebbetzin Leah Esther a"h, the daughter of the Rebbe R' Menachem Mendel Panet from De'esh zt"l.

Until the passing away of his father, the Rebbe served as the Rosh Yeshiva of Viznitz, and his Shiurim were well-known for their depth as well as their clarity.

Over the years, he also helped his father greatly, and was his right hand at founding the institutions and Kiryat Viznitz in Bnei Brak. In 1948 a Chanukas Habais was held for Kiryat Viznitz, under the instruction of the Rebbe zt"l, an event in which all of Gedolei Yisroel took part.

After the passing of his father, the Imrei Chaim, on the 9th of Nissan 1962, he was appointed to fill his father's place as Rebbe. His brother, R' Mordechai Hager, was appointed to serve as the Viznitzer Rebbe in Monsey, where he leads his Kehilla until today.

Watch the entrance of the deathbed into the Beis Midrash of the Chassidus:

The dynasty: from Kassov to Viznitz

The Rebbe zt"l continued the dynasty of his forefathers – Rabbi Menachem Mendel from Kassov the "Ahavas Sholom", Rabbi Chaim from Kasov – the "Toras Chaim", Rabbi Menachem Mendel from Viznitz the "Tzemach Tzadik", Rabbi Boruch from Viznitz – the "Imrei Boruch", Rabbi Yisroel from Viznitz- the "Ahavas Yisroel", and his father Rabbi Chaim Meir from Viznitz – the "Imrei Chaim".

In the last ten years of his life, he became very weak and stopped holding the special Tisches on Shabbos night – tables which drew thousands who yearned to see the Rebbe during the Tisch. The Rebbe hardly went out of his home during these years, and only seldom, mainly during Simchas and special Tisches on Yomtov, did he appear to his audience of Chassidim.

About 12 years ago, the Rebbe remarried, with the Rebbetzin Sheindel, who took care of him devotedly at the end of his life. At the wedding, which was held with a limited crowd, Harav Hagaon R' S. Vazner was Mesader Kiddushin.

The Rebbetzin also held a Hachnasas Sefer Torah last Shvuos for the sake of her husband's recovery, to the Beis Midrash of the Chassidus in Bnei Brak.

On Rosh Chodesh Nissan two years ago, an event called "Kesher Eitan" was held in Binanei Ha'umah hall in Jerusalem – to signify 70 years of chinuch of the Viznitzer Rebbe – from the founding of the Yeshiva in the city of Gwarsodein in Romania, to the educational institutions in Eretz Yisroel

Bitul Melocho and special organization for the Levaya

Over the last few months, the Rebbe's medical condition deteriorated. During the last week, his temperature went up, and an infection in his leg which spread to the rest of the body – caused renal failure. In the Torah and Chassidus centers, Tefillos were held to open the gates of heaven for the recovery of the Rebbe.

Tonight, a short while after midnight, he returned his soul to his Creator in his home on Ahavas Sholom st. in Kiryat Viznitz, Bnei Brak, to cries of "Shema Yisroel".
He left behind his wife from second marriage the Rebbetzin tlit"a, his two succeeding sons – his older son – Harav Hagaon Y. Hager from Viznitz, and his second son – Harav Hagaon R' M. M. Hager, Av Beis Din of Kiryat Viznitz. As it seems, they will both be appointed as Rebbes to fill in their great father's place.

In addition he left behind his sons-in-law: the Squirer Rebbe, the Satmer Rebbe, the Belzer Rebbe and Harav Hagaon M. Ernster – Rosh Yeshivas Viznitz, and hundreds of grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great- grandchildren stepping in the way of his heritage and according to the pure education to which he was dedicated with all his might.

Immediately upon receiving the news of the Rebbe's decease, thousands of his Chassidim made a "Kri'a" as the halacha rules of a Talmid after his Rav, and in the large Beis Midrash of the Chassidus, the Paroches was removed.

His funeral left today (Wednesday) at 13:00 pm from the hall of the large Beis Midras "Ahavas Yisroel" in Kiryat Viznitz, Bnei Brak, towards the cemetery Zichron Meir, where he was buried in the mausoleum of the Viznitzer Rebbes, next to the graves of his father and grandfather zt"l.

Bitul Melocho was announced during the hours of the levaya.

The Israeli police in cooperation with the Bnei Brak municipality and M.D.A. made reinforced preparations to close large parts of the city during the levaya.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!