Baruch Dayan Emmes – Rosh Yeshivas Knesses HaGedola in Kiryat Sefer (Chevron), HaGaon HaRav Hillel Zaks ZT”L was niftar on Tuesday 22 Teves at the age of 85. The Rosh Yeshiva collapsed earlier in the week in his home and was transported to Mayanei HaYeshua Hospital in Bnei Brak in serious condition.
Since his arrival at Mayanei HaYeshua Hospital doctors battled to stabilize his condition. His condition began deteriorating on Tuesday, and his family was summoned to his bedside.
Hagon HaRav Hillel Zaks was a grandson of the Chofetz Chaim. He was born in Radin to his father Hagon Rav Menachem Mendle Zaks Z”L, and his mother Feiga, the daughter of the Chofetz Chaim. The family eventually fled the war and ended up in America. Rav Zaks learned under Hagon HaRav Moshe Feinstein, Hagon HaRav Reuven Grazovtsky, and finally in Lakewood – under his Rebbe, Hagoen HaRav Aharon Kotler. He learned bichavrusa with Hagon HaRav Shneuer Kotler and with Hagon HaRav Shmuel Kamintzky Shlita.
He married Rebbitzen Ahuva Esther, the daughter of the Rosh Yeshiva of Chevrom Yeshiva, Hagon HaRav Moshe Chevroni.
He later started his Yeshiva Knesses HaGedolah, which grew into the famous Yeshiva it now is, where he tought thousands of Talmidim over the years.
The levaya will being at 5:00PM from Yeshivas Knesses HaGedolah in Modi’in Illit.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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2 Responses
He wrote a story, that he once drove Reb Aharon Zt’L, and Reb Ahron told him to pick up Non-Yiddishe hitchhikers.
He asked why, so Reb Ahron answered because it says “Ma Hu Rachum Af Atoh Rachum.
Reb Ahron didn’t say, ‘to make a Kiddush Hashem’, because that would have been an ulterior motive and not sincere.
He just told him to do it for the sincere Rachmonus of a fellow Human Being.
That’s what HKB”H wants from us Sincere caring and empathy for every Human Being.
A great gaon,friendly and extremely lively. His Simchas Hachaim,love of learning and mitzvos influenced many people,often just by example. I still remember him dancing at weddings like a young man.He would often gather the children into a circle and dance with them. A truly beautiful sight.Yehi zichro boruch .