HaRav Kasriel Kaplan zt"l, known as a marbitz
Torah and a dayan in London for 35 years before moving to
Jerusalem, passed away at the age of 74.
Kasriel Dovid Kaplan was born in London to R' Noach, who was
born in Jerusalem. At a young age his talent for learning
became apparent and he began cleaving to prominent Torah
figures. Whenever he heard an odom godol had arrived
in London, he would rush to pay him a visit.
During the Holocaust years he stayed in a town outside of
London where several gedolei olom were living among
the refugee community, including HaRav Eliyoh Lopian, HaRav
Yechezkel Abramsky and a number of admorim. He took
advantage of the opportunity to learn from their conduct and
teachings; for the rest of his life he recalled the treasures
he was able to glean during this period. Meanwhile these
gedolei olom were highly impressed with the boy's
aptitude and treated him warmly, forming bonds that lasted
for many years.
In 5712 (1952) he came to Jerusalem to study at Yeshivas
Chevron, making the most of his years there to form ties with
the Torah greats of that era, including HaRav Issar Zalman
Meltzer zt"l, who gave him semichoh and an
enthusiastic approbation for his chiddushei Torah. He
also received semichoh from HaRav Tzvi Pesach Frank,
the rov of Jerusalem, as well as other rabbonim. Often he
would travel to Bnei Brak to speak with the Chazon Ish
zt"l and other Torah luminaries from that
generation.
HaRav Kaplan also maintained ties with leading admorim
such as HaRav Aharon, the Admor of Belz, and the Beis
Yisroel.
After several years of learning in Eretz Yisroel he
returned to England, where he became a prominent
avreich at the Gateshead Kollel, where the other
avreichim knew they could turn to him to resolve
difficulties in their learning.
In 5720 (1960) he married the daughter of R' Aharon Zucker,
known as a great baal chessed in London. Once married
he continued his learning at the rabbinical kollel in
Gateshead. Their home was open to guests, including prominent
rabbonim visiting from Eretz Yisroel as shluchei
derabbonon.
In 5725 (1965) they moved to London, where a short time later
he was asked to serve as a dayan in the local
kehilloh, a post he continued to occupy for the next
35 years. As his genius and gadlus gained renown his
opinion was sought by individuals around the world,
particularly regarding difficult questions such as freeing
agunos.
All of the leading poskim respected his opinion, even
quoting his rulings in their books. HaRav Kaplan kept many
important letters that he had received from gedolei
Yisroel around the world, including correspondences with
HaRav Moshe Feinstein, HaRav Yitzchok Yaakov Weiss, the
author of Minchas Yitzchok, and ylct"a HaRav
Yosef Sholom Eliashiv.
HaRav Kaplan also served as the rov of Beis Knesses Shomrei
Hadas and as a rosh kollel in London, and often gave
shiurim on every area of Torah.
In 5759 (1999) he moved to Eretz Yisroel, settling in
Jerusalem's Bayit Vegan neighborhood. Although at first he
did not accept any post many people, including prominent
rabbonim, would consult with him on halachic matters. Soon he
agreed to give daily shiurim at Yeshivas Toras
Chochom, headed by HaRav Yitzchok Meir Morgenstern, a long-
time acquaintance from London. HaRav Kaplan also served as
the head of a halochoh kollel where he was well liked
by the avreichim, who particularly enjoyed hearing his
recollections of gedolei Yisroel.
In recent months he began to feel weak but did not alter his
daily schedule. A week before Pesach he flew to England to
spend the holiday with his children, but had to be
hospitalized the day after his arrival. In his sickbed he
continued to speak divrei Torah; even in his last
week, after his condition had deteriorated severely, his
family members once noticed he had been listening intently to
their Torah conversation and whispered a citation from the
Tosafos. His mind remained clear until the end and his soul
departed after instructing those at his bedside to say the
verses of accepting the yoke of the Kingdom of Heaven.
His funeral in London last week on 17 Iyar drew a large crowd
and eulogies were delivered by HaRav Elchonon Halperin, HaRav
Ephraim Padwa, gavad of London, HaRav Chaim Samat, rov
of Beis Medrash Golders Green, his eldest son HaRav Shimon
Kaplan, a ram at Yeshivas Shaarei Torah in Manchester,
and two other family members.
At night the aron was brought to Eretz Yisroel,
where a large crowd was waiting outside Yeshivas Torah
Chochom despite the late hour. HaRav Tuvioh Yitzchok Weiss,
gavad of the Eidoh Chareidis of Jerusalem and the
deceased's friend years ago at Yeshivas Gateshead, spoke of
his great strength in Torah, the esteem in which gedolei
Yisroel held him and the great loss of a prodigious
talmid chochom in our generation. Eulogies were also
given by HaRav Y.A. Weiss, av beis din of Hordenka in
Manchester and HaRav Yitzchok Meir Morgenstern. He was buried
at Mount of Olives Cemetery.
HaRav Kasriel Kaplan zt"l is survived by his wife,
sons, and sons-in-law, including marbitzei Torah,
grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
