There is an atmosphere of mourning in many areas of Yerushalayim on motzei shabbos due to the loss of three avreichim, important members of the kehillah. The same holds true in Bnei Brak and Kfar Chabad as two other important members of the communities were niftar over shabbos.

Rabbi Yechiel Rabinowitz Z”L, a well known askan in Yerushalayim involved in major tzedaka efforts died suddenly on Friday night upon his return home from a sholom zachor. He told family members that he did not feel well, collapsing a number of hours later. MDA responded but ultimately, resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful and he was pronounced dead on the scene. He was 57.

Reb Yechiel Z”L was a well-known askan in the homes of many gedolei torah, including Rishon L’Tzion Rav Ovadia Yosef Shlita, working tirelessly to assist families in need.

The levaya was held on motzei shabbos, beginning from the niftar’s home at 20 Imrei Bina Street in Kiryat Sanz at 10:30PM moving past the Rachmanstrivka Beis Medresh and then to Har Menuchos.

HaRav Moshe Betzalel Blum Z”L was a pillar of the Toldos Aaron community. He was involved in real estate, a chossid who was close to the Rebbe Shlita. He too died suddenly on Friday night. He was learning until a later hour in the beis medrash. His rebbitzin found his lifeless body on shabbos morning. He was 63. Two of his children are still unmarried. A daughter is scheduled to get married on Chanukah. One of the sons is accompanying the Rebbe Shlita in the United States. Levaya details to be announced.

HaRav Yitzhak Hacker Z”L died a short time after candle lighting. He was a Bialla chossid and did merit to marry off all his children. He was niftar after a prolonged illness. The levaya began at 8:30PM motzei shabbos, passing the Bialla Beis Medrash on Yaakobson Street and then to Har HaZeisim. The niftar was a mechanech in a talmid torah, also a resident of Kiryat Sanz, living about a block from Rav Rabinowitz.

HaRav Avraham Moshe Deutsch Z”L was niftar on shabbos, an important member of the Bnei Brak Sanzer community. The levaya began at 9:00PM on motzei shabbos from the niftar’s home, 15 Harav Shach Street in Bnei Brak. The procession traveled to Shamgar Funeral Home in Yerushalayim and kvura was in Har Menuchos.

HaRav Menachem Mendel Raskin Z”L was among the founders of Kfar Chabad. He was the gabbai of the central shul for many years. He too was niftar on shabbos. The levaya began on motzei shabbos at 9:00PM from the niftar’s Kfar Chabad home to Shamgar Funeral Home in Yerushalayim and to Har HaZeisim.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)