Many residents of Jerusalem's Unsdorf neighborhood took part
in the levaya last week of HaRav Boruch Noach Abelow
zt"l, a talmid chochom who endured much
suffering before he passed away from a major stroke last
week.
A descendent of HaRav Avrohom Abelow, the av beis din
of Vilna, Boruch Noach was born in New York on Simchas Torah
5693 (1933). Although mitzvah observance in the US was at a
low ebb he worked hard to keep every detail of halochoh with
genuine mesirus nefesh. As a young man he had close
ties with his rosh yeshiva at Yeshivas Torah Vodaas, HaRav
Yaakov Kamenetsky. Later he transferred to Yeshivas Lakewood,
where he learned under HaRav Aharon Kotler zt"l, who
had an impact that would last for the rest of his life.
In 5720 (1960) he moved to Eretz Yisroel, building a
home of Torah and yir'oh together with his wife.
During those years he cleaved to Jerusalem's gedolim,
forming a special bond with Maran HaRav Eliashiv
shlita, whose rulings he followed carefully for the
rest of his life.
In addition to his in-depth learning and vast knowledge of
Shas and Shulchan Oruch Rav Boruch Noach was
punctilious in his adherence to halochoh, adding various
chumros based on a deep-seated sense of yiras
cheit. He abstained from eating meat for over 40 years
due to various concerns and carefully avoided bread and other
chometz products for months after Pesach — long
before the heightened public awareness of chometz she'ovar
olov haPesach — not wanting to rely on the
mechiras chometz. He was also very strict in matters
related to tefillin, Krias Shema and Shabbos.
A major stroke last Chanukah left the right side of his body
paralyzed and kept him confined to his sickbed. Relatives and
visitors said he voiced no complaints regarding his poor
condition and limitations, regretting only that he could no
longer toil in Torah study.
Although he was very sick on Erev Pesach all of his attention
was focused on fulfilling all of the mitzvas of the Seder
Night in detail. Last Wednesday 28 Nisan he had to be
hospitalized and the next morning returned his soul to his
Maker with his eldest son at his side.
Although he passed away in Nisan, during which
hespeidim are forbidden, Maran HaRav Eliashiv ruled he
should be eulogized based on the special din applying
to a talmid chochom muvhok.
When the levaya set out from the Shamgar Funeral Hall
the rabbonim of Unsdorf and Kiryat Sanz eulogized him. HaRav
Abish Eisen spoke of his careful adherence to halochoh. HaRav
Sholom Eisenberger, a moreh tzedek in Kiryat Sanz,
said the world lost a pious man who did not partake of the
pleasures of This World in the least, and accepted
yissurim with love throughout his lifetime. The Admor
of Trisk, HaRav Moshe Eichenstein, praised his humility and
gadlus in Torah. HaRav Dovid Freiman said decades ago
the deceased would engage his father, HaRav Ben Tzion, in
Torah exchanges for hours on end.
The last hesped was delivered by his son-in-law, HaRav
Moshe Trachtman, who said from the day they met until his
final day all of their conversations revolved around Torah
and halochoh.
After the hespeidim the funeral proceeded to Har
Hamenuchos.
Rav Boruch Noach Abelow zt"l is survived by his
devoted wife, sons and daughters married to HaRav Moshe
Trachtman and HaRav Shimon Greenfeld, as well as
grandchildren and great- grandchildren.
