YWN regrets to inform you of the Petira of HaRav Aaron Felder z”l, rov of Congregation B’nai Israel-Ohev Zedek in Philadelphia, PA. He was 70 years old.

Rav Felder was a renowned talmid chochom and posek who served as Director of Kosher Standards at the Kof K and was a member of the Kof-K Bais Din and the Bais Din of Greater Philadelphia. A close talmid of Rav Moshe Feinstein zt”l, Rav Felder was sought after for his expertise in p’sak halacha and his guidance in advice in myriad areas.

Rav Felder was a son of Rav Gedaliah Felder zt”l, originally of Istrik, Galicia, who was a noted posek, rov of Shomrai Shabbos-Chevrah Mishnayos Congregation in Toronto for forty years, and author of Yesodei Yeshurun and Nachlas Tzvi. Rav Gedaliah passed away in 1991.

Rav Felder spent 14 years with Rav Moshe Feinstein, learning the Torah and p’sak approach of his rebbi. Rav Felder was a renowned expert in the laws of gittin and was often consulted upon in matters relating to gittin, such as the spelling of certain English names.

Rav Felder authored the multi-volume Rishumei Aaron, which contains rulings and halachic opinions from Rav Moshe, as well as remarkable vignettes about Rav Moshe that are not found elsewhere. [For example, Rav Felder relates that Rav Moshe told him that while in Luban, he was married on a Friday afternoon. His own father was his mesader kiddushin and their sole sheva brachos was on Shabbos; there were no further sheva brachos, unlike the custom prevalent today.]

A teshuvah from Rav Moshe to Rav Felder can be found in Igros Moshe, Yoreh Deah, Vol. 4:43.

Rav Felder is survived by his children, Reb Yissochor Dov Felder, Mrs. Elisheva Rosenhan, Mrs. Nechama Kohn, Mrs. Hadassah Sperling, Mrs. Sari Bernstein, Mrs. Chani Engel and Mrs. Brochi Siff, and his siblings, Reb Yossi Felder of Baltimore and Rav Yacov Felder, rov of Shomrai Shabbos-Chevrah Mishnayos Congregation of Toronto.

The levaya will take place today, Sunday, at 10:30 a.m., at Rav felder’s shul, Congregation B’nai Israel-Ohev Zedek, located at 8201 Castor Avenue, at the corner of Solly Avenue, in Philadelphia. The aron will then be flown to Eretz Yisroel for kevurah in Bet Shemesh.

The family will be sitting shivah at 8019 Langdon Avenue, between Rhawn and Stanwod Streets, in Philadelphia, PA 19152.

Yehi zichro boruch.