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05 Iyar 5759 - April 21, 1999 | Mordecai Plaut, director Published Weekly
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Rav Refoel Rubinstein, zt"l

by Betzalel Kahn

Monday night, the 26th of Nisan, a shocked, pained crowd of residents of the Bayit Vegan neighborhood accompanied Reb Refoel Rubinstein, zt"l on his last earthly journey. One of the most prominent avreichim of his neighborhood, he was killed in a tragic car accident at the age of 44. His son, Matisyahu ben Devora, who was with him in the car, is suffering from second degree injuries.

R' Refoel, son of Reb Eliezer and Soroh , was born in 5714. As a child, he studied in a talmud Torah in Bnei Brak and later in the Yeshivas Or Yisroel in Petach Tikvah. His sharp mind as well as his unique hasmodoh, were well known in the yeshiva. While still a young student, he published the first and expanded edition of Darkei Mussar. His mentors, HaRav Yaakov Neiman and HaRav Yosef Rozovski, the roshei yeshiva of Or Yisroel, were very fond of him, and enjoyed speaking with him in Torah for lengthy periods.

After a number of years in Or Yisroel, he transferred to the Ponevezh yeshiva, where he continued to absorb the teachings of his mentors. At that time, he was especially close to the rosh hayeshiva, HaRav Shmuel Rozovski.

He married Devora, daughter of Reb Yitzchok Yaakov Leuchter, and moved to Jerusalem. He studied for a number of years in the Beis Zevul kollel of Sha'arei Chessed, where he was one of the most outstanding avreichim. He never missed a day of Torah study, and was one of the first to appear at the kollel's sedorim day in and day out.

He devoted the bulk of his time to Torah study, and spent his spare hours publishing sifrei kodesh. He was eager to perform kol dovor shebekedusha, loyal to maranan verabonon and genuine da'as Torah. He helped everyone in need, during both happy times and times of distress. He greeted everyone warmly and with a smile, and was beloved by all.

R' Refoel davened in the Bnei Hayeshivos Ohel Yaakov veSoroh synagogue, whose rav is HaRav Boruch Shmuel HaKohen Deutsch. During the synagogue's difficult times, Reb Refoel made great efforts to help it continue to function, and was the life spirit behind the series of shiurim held there and one of the founders of its first shiur.

He would spend many hours in the beis medrash engrossed in deep Torah study, and would not close his gemora until he had clarified every detail of the topic he was studying. He was an amazing shakdan who immersed himself in Torah every available moment of the day. In-depth study was his entire essence, and he derived his entire vitality from exuberant, high-spirited Torah study, out of rischa de'Oraisa and the joy of Torah.

On Monday afternoon, he and his son set out on a shiva call. A car heading toward him on the road between the Nachshon and Re'em junctions, veered from its course, for unknown reasons, and crashed into Reb Refoel's car. He was killed from the impact of the collision, while his son, Matisyahu ben Devora, was seriously injured.

The bitter news of his tragic petirah shocked his entire family as well as all of his acquaintances and friends.

At his levaya, which left his home late Monday night, Tehillim were recited for the recovery of his son. Words of .chizuk were conveyed by his father-in-law, Reb Yitzchok Leuchter, as well as by HaRav Leib Heiman, HaRav Azriel Auerbach, HaRav Shmuel Yaakov Borenstein, HaRav Zevulun Zaks, HaRav Shlomo Breuer, and a brother-in-law of the niftar,HaRav Avrohom Pollack. All dwelled on his unique character traits and vast Torah knowledge.

He is survived by his wife, Devora, and nine children, the youngest only a year old, as well as by his parents and brothers and sisters, who are deeply pained by the tragic petirah of their loved one in the prime of his life.

Emergency Fund

An emergency fund has been established to help his family.

On the presidium of the fund are the rabbonim HaRav Azriel Auerbach and HaRav Yehuda Silman. It was established with the recommendations of HaRav Yosef Sholom Eliashiv and HaRav Arye Yehuda Leib Steinman and HaRav Shmuel Wosner. All of the rabbonim of the Bayit Vegan neighborhood urge the public to support this fund.

Contributions may be forwarded to Bank Leumi, branch 766 (Bayit Vegan), account no. 28457/01.


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