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25 Kislev 5765 - December 8, 2004 | Mordecai Plaut, director Published Weekly
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NEWS
R' Refoel Posen, zt"l

by S. Bruchi

During the week of Parshas Vayishlach, 5765, R' Refoel Posen, zt"l, passed away at the age of 86.

He was born in Frankfurt to R' Eliezer Posen, from one of the great families of German Jewry and a cornerstone of the kehilloh led by HaRav Shamshon Rafael Hirsch zt"l. At the age of 17 he left Germany due to the rise of Nazism, moving in with his relatives from the illustrious Sasson family in London.

Throughout his lifetime Refoel Posen thanked HaKodosh Boruch Hu for sparing his life. As the sole survivor of the famous Posen family, he ingrained his children with the cherished values he received from his parents, Hy"d.

In London he studied at Yeshivas HaRav Schneider for five years before moving to Gateshead, where he learned bechavrusa with HaRav Tuvioh Weiss, today gavad of the Eida Chareidis, and also with HaRav Leib Lopian, the son of the Mashgiach HaRav Eliyohu Lopian. He also taught limudei kodesh at the local school.

He married Shoshanoh Reisel of the illustrious Eisemann family whose father was among the heads of Agudas Yisroel in Germany and was trusted by gedolei Yisroel. He had a special bond with the Mashgiach HaRav Eliyohu Eliezer Dessler zt"l, whom he consulted on every matter. Based on his advice, HaRav Posen moved to Eretz Yisroel in 5710 (1950), settling in Bnei Brak a short time later.

He began to work for the municipality of Bnei Brak as a construction engineer. For the next 36 years of his working career he always prioritized his Torah study over his livelihood. He even sought an early retirement in order to devote all his time to Torah learning.

As a regular participant in HaRav Moshe Mordechai Shulsinger's shiur, R' Refoel completed the Shas several times. He also attended talks and shiurim given by the Maran HaRav Yechezkel Levinstein and Maran HaRosh Yeshiva HaRav Shach zt"l.

Although his will contained instructions not to eulogize him, HaRav Shmuel Halevy Wosner ruled that divrei chizuk vehisoreirus could be said. The speakers were HaRav Yeshayohu Bornstein, his grandson, HaRav Avrohom Posen, and a relative, HaRav Michoel Bodenheimer.

 

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