A Lev L'Achim volunteer who was wounded in a car accident
three weeks ago after delivering a shiur to school
children in the poverty and crime-ridden Yerushalayim
neighborhood of Ir Ganim, died last Shabbos morning. Rabbi
Zev Tzvi Koff, 28, left behind a wife and four children, the
youngest of which is just six months old.
Lev L'Achim personnel were shaken by the tragedy, as was Reb
Aharon Leib Steinman, who expressed his grief in a personal
letter to the Koff family.
"Whose heart is not filled with pain," wrote Reb Steinman,
"whose eyes are not wet with tears over this great tragedy,
over the sudden passing of the beloved Reb Zev Tzvi Koff in
the prime of his life."
"According to what I've heard," Reb Steinman continued, "in
addition to being a talmid chochom who toiled in Torah
with great diligence, he dedicated part of his precious time
to spreading Torah and outreach by volunteering for Lev
L'Achim, and he merited that his words brought many people
closer to their Father in Heaven."
Reb Zev Tzvi Koff was born in 1972 in Bnei Brak to Rabbi
Yaakov Asher Koff. He learned in the Ponovezh Yeshiva until
his marriage to the daughter of Rabbi Yosef Bernstein. He
then joined the Breslov Kollel in Yerushalayim.
Rabbi Koff was known for his outstanding diligence in
learning. In addition to the sedorim he learned in
yeshiva, he learned many more hours during the day and night.
On Friday nights, he learned throughout the night.
One of his friends recalled how in recent years, Rabbi Koff
would accompany his Rebbe, the Admor of Lelov, to the grave
sites of tzaddikim. On one of those trips, he
dedicated his tefillos to one single request - that he
find a fitting chavrusa. When his prayers were
answered a short time later, his joy knew no bounds.
In recent years, the gedolim have encouraged bnei
Torah to devote a portion of their time to spreading
Torah and outreach by volunteering for Lev L'Achim, and Rabbi
Koff answered their call. He taught and learned with young
secular children to bring them closer to Torah and
mitzvos.
Rabbi Koff was successful in his outreach for several
reasons: First, he had a way with words, and he used them to
draw many people closer to Yiddishkeit. Second, his
unassuming, humble manner made him well liked by all who met
him.
This winter, Rabbi Koff initiated a new program under which
he met with local youth-group counselors every Friday night.
He talked with them about the kedusha of Shabbos, and
his words made such a tremendous impression that, in recent
weeks, the counselors asked him to come to their youth-group
meetings and give the kids their own taste of Shabbos.
Unfortunately, Rabbi Koff did not live long enough to fulfill
this request.
Rabbi Koff, together with a friend, also established a tape
library for the many families in Ir Ganim that the Lev
L'Achim volunteers came in contact with, who wanted to learn
more about Yiddishkeit.
Thousands gathered last motzei Shabbos for Rabbi
Koff's funeral. His aron was taken from the Lelov Beis
Medrash in Yerushalayim to Har Hazeisim, where he was buried.
The funeral lasted until after midnight, with his family,
friends and hundreds of others whose lives he had touched
mourning over their terrible loss.
After the funeral, Lev L'Achim set up a fund to provide
financial assistance to the widow and her children.
As Rav Steinman wrote in his letter to Rabbi Koff's family,
"The One who heals broken hearts should heal your pain.
"And you, precious children, strengthen yourselves. Hashem is
your stronghold, and may you continue in His ways to grow in
Torah, yiras Shomayim and derech eretz."
