Rabbi Yosef Ezra Zalika ZT”L was niftar on Friday night in Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer following a long illness. He was taken to the hospital on Thursday and was niftar at the age of 64. The niftar served as mora d’asra of Pardes Katz.

He learned in the Sheirit Yosef Yeshiva Gedola and moved to Bnei Brak in 5729, then learning in Kollel Ohr HaChaim under the auspices of HaGaon Rav Shimon Ba’adani and Kollel Rabeini Yosef Chaim in the Hatikvah neighborhood.

He was married in 5735 and learned in a kollel in Meron with HaGaon Rav Amnon Sabguyie, returning home for shabbos only. He was appointed rav of Pardes Katz in 5742 after being directed to accept the post by Maran HaRav Shach ZT”L, a post that he filled with mesirus nefesh. He also served as a dayan on the beis din of HaRav Chaim Landau ZT”L and for his son HaGaon HaRav Moshe Yehuda Leib Landau Shlita.

The levaya was held on motzei yomtov in Eretz Yisrael at 23:00 from the niftar’s home on Chazon Ish Street in Bnei Brak to the Ponevezh Beis HaChaim. Thousands attended the levaya.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)