Harav Shmuel Aharon Starik, zt’l, a tremendous talmid chacham and one of the leaders of the Toldos Aharon community in Jerusalem, was niftar on Motzei Shabbos in Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital at the age of 58.
Rav Starik was one of the first people in Jerusalem to be diagnosed with the coronavirus. He had already recovered from the virus and had been transferred to a regular ward, where he suddenly collapsed and passed away on Motzei Shabbos.
Rav Starik’s death shocked the community, who had already been informed of his recovery.
Rav Starik learned b’chavrusa with the mashpia, Harav Tzvi Meir Zilberbarg, and was also an askan in the community and was appointed as one of the members of the “shiva tovei ha’kehilla.” He assisted countless members of his community, including those who had accrued great financial debts.
He left behind his wife, 13 children, one still living at home, and many grandchildren.
Yehi Zichro Baruch.
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
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2 Responses
I know this sounds teribly petty after such an appalling tragedy. But if the rabbi had recovered from the coronavirus, than most likely he died of something else, such as heart attack. True, if that was the case, his body may have been weakened by the virus, leaving him vulnerable to a cardiovascular attack. But I think it only increases unnecessary panic in the hasic community to blame every death of a kedoshin on the virus.
I remember him personally. He came to Baltimore every year to fundraise. Mamash a Tzaddik. BDH.