Baruch Dayan HaEmmes: Avraham Rosenthal, longtime mayor of Kiryat Yearim (Telshe Stone) was niftar suddenly on erev Shabbos. The niftar suddenly collapsed, and EMS was summoned. The responders worked on him for 45 minutes before the decision was made to pronounce him dead.

The niftar was born in Yerushalayim and in his youth, he was a talmid in Yeshivas Eitz Chaim. He later learned in Amshinov and was a talmid of HaGaon HaRav Shmuel Auerbach ZT”L. He lived in Rehovot after he was married, where he was an aide to HaGaon HaRav Shlomo Kook ZT”L, who was the city’s rabbi. After the rav was niftar, he began to work as a bookkeeper and was the accountant of Yeshivat HaMesurah on Techakmuni Street in Jerusalem.

He was among the first residents of Telshe Stone in 5755, and was appointed a vaad member, responsible for the education portfolio. After David Yifrach resigned as head of the municipality, Rosenthal was elected in 5756 with the backing of the rav of the community, Rav Aryeh Shulman. He continued in office without dispute until this last election.

Rosenthal headed the city for 22 years as its mayor. There was machlokes in Degel Hatorah surrounding his candidacy prior to the last election, and he refused to step down as Degel leader Moshe Gafne wished, citing Gedolei Torah have not given the word for him to step down. Ultimately, a compromise was reached by which Rosenthal would serve one year, during which Yitzchak Ravitz would serve as deputy mayor, until he steps down.

Rav Rosenthal was 70. The levaya took place on erev Shabbos.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)