(PHOTOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE)

Prominent attorney Yaakov Weinroth Z”L was niftar on Monday night the eve of 7 Marcheshvan after years of battling a difficult illness. He was 71-year-old and known to many, including HaGaon HaRav Chaim Kanievsky Shlita, who visited him in his room. His brother Tzvika Z”L was just niftar a few months ago.

A few minutes following his petira, a son, Dovi, wrote, “I don’t know which was larger in my father, his brain or his heart…”.

Weinroth was considered among the highest-ranking lawyers in Israel until recently, serving as defense counsel for Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara in their ongoing corruption investigations. He also represented former President Ezer Weizman and Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman.

Weinroth would learn regularly with the Rosh Yeshiva of Ponavezh, HaGaon HaRav Berel Povarsky as seen in the accompanying photo. The two had a strong friendship for many years, and the lawyer considered himself his personal disciple since his studies at Ponevezh Yeshiva. For many years now, the two have been learning every week. Weinroth did not give up, even on the busiest of days.

A special anecdote was heard in the past, that one of his lessons with the Rosh Yeshiva cost him untold thousands of dollars as one of his clients in Spain called for a long consultation, but Weinroth refused because of his scheduled chavrusa. The wealthy client understood, and announced his private plane was at Weinroth’s disposal to fly him back and forth from Israel to permit him to continue learning with his chavrusa as well as continuing their business matters.

About eight years ago, Weinroth was acquitted of a serious indictment filed against him for bribery and money laundering. Weinroth was accused of representing Shuki Vita, a former senior tax authority official for a very low payment. In return, Vita obtained large tax breaks for senior businessmen Weinroth represented in his office, such as Arkady Gaydamak and Michael Cherna.

Weinroth claimed that there was no connection between the two. Weinroth won a landslide when he was completely acquitted of all the charges against him and his name was completely cleared.

About a year ago he referred to the illness from which he suffered, and in a media interview, he said: “I pray to the HKBH to give me another day and another day and another day, and nothing is simple for me”.

Weinroth leaves behind his wife and 6 children.

Responding to the petira of Weinroth, PM Netanyahu tweeted: My wife and I are deeply saddened by the passing of our beloved attorney Yaakov Weinroth. Yaakov was wondrous in his personality, his wisdom, his sharp mind, his sense of justice and his loyalty to his people. This is a great loss for his family, acquaintances and admirers, and this is a great loss to the world of Israeli law”.

הבוקר התפרצה פעילה פוליטית לדבריי בטקס חנוכת המרכז הרפואי בק״ש. זה היה שעות ספורות אחרי שהתבשרתי על פטירתו של ידיד נפשי, עו״ד יעקב וינרוט. אני רגיל לביקורת ואין לי שום בעיה עם קריאות ביניים. קיבלתי אלפי קריאות כאלה בחיי. אבל היום, בעומק הכאב והצער, הרגשתי שזה פשוט לא היה מתאים

— Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) October 16, 2018

“Ben Torah, bochur yeshiva” and “Talmid chacham” were among the attributes used in his statements by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu regarding the death of Yaakov Weinroth.

Below is an excerpt from Mr. Netanyahu’s remarks:

“This was supposed to be a happy day. True, this is a sad day because we started the morning today, and I cannot begin without expressing something personal. My wife and I learned today of the passing of a dear friend, a noted jurist, among the great jurists that have arisen in the State of Israel, a yeshiva student, a talmid chacham imbued with the heritage and wisdom of Israel, open to the world, and I will yet speak about him this evening, but I wanted to tell you here something related to this medical center: The late Yaakov Weinroth heroically battled cancer, and the tragedies that struck the Weinroth family, one after the other, this year, his brother succumbed to cancer, as did his daughter-in-law and brother-in-law, all in one year…”

The levaya was held today, Tuesday, 7 Marcheshvan, in the Netanya Cemetery. The hespedim began in the niftar’s home at 23 Yona Street in Ramat Gan at 4:15PM.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)