Dei'ah veDibur - Information & Insight
  

A Window into the Chareidi World

26 Cheshvan 5765 - November 10, 2004 | Mordecai Plaut, director Published Weekly
NEWS

OPINION
& COMMENT

OBSERVATIONS

HOME
& FAMILY

IN-DEPTH
FEATURES

VAAD HORABBONIM HAOLAMI LEINYONEI GIYUR

TOPICS IN THE NEWS

HOMEPAGE

 

Produced and housed by
Shema Yisrael Torah Network
Shema Yisrael Torah Network

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NEWS
HaRav Chaim Yisroel Sofer, zt"l
by Betzalel Kahn

HaRav Chaim Yisroel Sofer zt"l, a prominent avreich in Jerusalem, was laid to rest on Erev Shabbos Parshas Vayeiro after succumbing to a difficult disease at the age of 41, ending a life of mesirus nefesh for Torah and avodas Hashem the day after his eldest son's wedding.

HaRav Chaim Yisroel was born to HaRav Moshe Yosef Sofer, the son of HaRav Simchah Bunim Dovid Sofer the grandson of the Yalkut Eliezer, and his mother Soroh Golde, the daughter of HaRav Meir Cohen. He was the son-in-law of HaRav Osher Freiman, a dayan and moreh tzedek in Jerusalem.

HaRav Chaim Yisroel studied at Yeshivas Ponovezh, where he earned distinction among the leading talmidim.

During his final days, HaRav Sofer gathered together his children and told them, "I am very sick and I don't know how much time I have left in This World, but you should know that when I go, our Father in Heaven will watch over you, and if this has been decreed, we must accept it lovingly and serve Him wholeheartedly and with joy."

At the levaya, the deceased's father delivered a eulogy in a tremulous voice, saying his son passed away during the week in which we read about Akeidas Yitzchok, which gave him the strength to bear the pain of his loss. Hespeidim were also given by HaRav Freiman; HaRav Tzvi Shapira, rosh kollel of Kollel Tal Torah in Jerusalem where the niftar had learned for many years; HaRav D. Mintzer, a friend since childhood and one of the roshei yeshiva of Yeshivas Knesses Beis Yitzchok; his friend HaRav Tzvi Braverman, a dayan and moreh tzedek in Beitar Illit; and his newlywed son, R' Aharon.

HaRav Chaim Yisroel Sofer is survived by his wife and their 13 children, ranging in age from his newlywed son and recently engaged daughter to a nine-month-old baby girl.

Based on directives from rabbonim, the Vaad HaRabbonim LeInyonei Tzedokoh Be'eretz Hakodesh has set up a fund for the widow and orphans. The rabbonim recommend that donors contribute $10 per month for a period of 40 months. Donations can be made by calling 1-800-22-36-36 or by direct deposit to Bank Pagi, Branch 185, Acct. No. 105-454516. Mailing address: Fund for Widow and 13 Orphans, POB 50585, Jerusalem.

 

All material on this site is copyrighted and its use is restricted.
Click here for conditions of use.