Rebbetzin Hendel Kaplan, a”h, a daughter of HaGaon HaRav Meshulam Dovid Halevi Soloveitchik, zt”l, and wife of HaRav Nechemia Kaplan, shlit”a, one of the gedolei marbitzei Torah in Eretz Yisroel was niftar on Monday night at the age of 68 following a prolonged illness. The levaya took place at her home on Rechov Yosef Ziv in Yerushalayim, leading to her kevurah in Har HaMenuchos.

Rebbetzin Kaplan, a scion of Torah royalty, was born on Lamed Nissan 5717 (1957) into one of the most illustrious families of gedolei Yisroel. She was the daughter of HaRav Dovid Soloveitchik zt”l, the Rosh Yeshiva of Brisk, and the granddaughter of HaRav Yitzchok Ze’ev Soloveitchik, zt”l, the Brisker Rov. Her yichus extends back to Rav Chaim Brisker, the son of the famed Beis Halevi, zt”l. She was also a great-granddaughter of Rav Rafael Shapira, a son-in-law of the Netziv, and through her maternal side, a descendant of the Vilna Gaon.

She was raised in a home steeped in Torah, yiras Shamayim, and mesorah, absorbing the Brisker derech directly from her father and the many gedolim who graced their home.

Upon reaching marriageable age, she married Rav Nechemia Kaplan shlit”a, one of the leading marbitzei Torah in Eretz Yisroel. Together, they built a home of kedushah and Torah, raising 14 children, all of whom follow in the path of Torah and avodas Hashem.

Rebbetzin Kaplan was not only a devoted wife and mother but played a pivotal role in the Brisker Yeshiva under her father’s leadership. In keeping with Brisker mesorah, which maintains extreme chumros in kashrus, Rav Dovid entrusted her with preparing the food for the yeshiva bochurim, ensuring that every stringency in kashrus was meticulously upheld. Her avodas hakodesh in this capacity allowed even those who adhered to the most stringent Brisker chumros to partake of the yeshiva’s meals without concern.

Rebbetzin Kaplan leaves behind an illustrious family. She is survived by her husband, her children and grandchildren, talmidei chachamim and bnei Torah, and her brother, Harav Yitzchok Ze’ev Soloveitchik shlit”a, Rosh Yeshivas Brisk.

Just last year, in Nissan 5784, the family endured another painful loss with the sudden petirah of her brother, Rav Asher Shlomo Zalman Soloveitchik, zt”l, who passed away tragically at the young age of 54 following a sudden stroke.

Her mother, Rebbetzin Yehudis tbl”ch, is the daughter of Rav Asher Sternbuch zt”l, of London, a son-in-law of HaRav Shlomo Zalman Pines, zt”l, author of Pnei Shlomo, and a descendant of the Vilna Gaon. She is also the sister of HaRav Moshe Sternbuch, shlit”a, Rosh Av Beis Din of the Eidah HaChareidis.

The levaya drew a large crowd of gedolei Torah, talmidei chachamim, family members, and bnei yeshiva, all mourning the tremendous loss of a true eishes chayil who stood as a pillar of Torah, kedushah, and mesorah. The pain was palpable as words of hesped and nechamah were delivered in honor of the nifteres, whose legacy of Torah and avodas Hashem will live on through her descendants.

Yehi zichrah baruch.

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