Based on a interview with one of the Roshei HaKollel of
Kollel Beis Hatalmud Rabbi Binyomin Wurzberger.
Rabbi Boruch Abaranok zt"l, a talmid of the
Chofetz Chaim, passed away in Melbourne Australia at the age
of 90 years old.
As a talmid of the Chofetz Chaim and having married the
niece of the Chofetz Chaim, HaRav Abaranok reflected the
character traits that were so saliant in the Chofetz Chaim.
He sat on the beis din for gittin. Though this
took precious time, any money that he received was given to
assist the Melbourne Mikveh. He was the biggest donor to the
Mikveh! He would say that money received from breaking
a home should be used to build a home.
Although he raised the level of kashrus very
dramatically, he was never paid for his services. He would
take time to go to the premises under his hashgacha and
not only check that all was in order, but also to personally
crack eggs to check for blood spots on regular basis.
Rav Abaranok and his family collected money on a regular basis
to provide for needy talmidei chachomim in Israel,
particularly a well-known talmid chochom who today has
written many seforim and is today one of the leaders of
Am Yisroel.
A prominent rov one said that thanks to the presence of HaRav
Abaranok in Australian the respect for rabbonim was elevated
significantly. He was a beacon of the aristocracy of the
Lithuanian rabbonim in Australia for the last five decades. He
would frequently say when someone asked him for forgiveness,
for something they would have done to him, that he forgives
them for what they have done and for what they are going to
do.
He was had no airs about him. He was happy to admit he does
not know an answer and he would get back to the questioner
with the pertinent information that he could possibly find in
almost all circumstances. About two years ago he fell down at
the entrance of a 15-year-old boy's house whom he had come to
deliver an answer.
Rav Abaranok answered the call of Mizrachi to serve as their
rov. He served with all his energy answering questions and
giving shiurim, speeches -- and most of all raising the
level of kashrus in the community.
He was beloved by young and old alike and always had a good
word for talmidim who encountered him. Young children
enjoyed being in his proximity due to his warmth and personal
interest. Many of his talmidim were exceedingly close
to him and would afford him more care than a child for a
parent. This obviously mirrored the esteem and the love which
he well deserved or his commitment to them.
