The news traveled rapidly in the Torah community on erev Shabbos, learning of the petira of HaGaon HaRav Baruch Solomon zt”l, 70, chief rabbi of Petach Tikvah.

During his younger years as a talmid in Chevron Yeshiva, his rabbonim realized his genius; confident he was headed for greatness. He was noted for his mesirus nefesh and total undiluted dedication to his learning and avodas Hashem.

After the petira of his father, HaGaon Rav Dovid Solomon zt”l, in 1965, he stepped into his place as chief rabbi of Kfar Avraham neighborhood of Petach Tikvah. About a year later, he founded the Nachlas Dovid Yeshiva in his memory. He spent the next decades spreading the light of Torah in the Petach Tikvah Yeshiva.

In 1999, he was appointed Gavaad and Chief Rabbi of Petach Tikvah, a position held until his petira.

Those who were close to the rav recall his leading the battle against the opening of entertainment establishments in the city — sustaining the blows of police batons on many occasions in his defiance of chilul Shabbos.

Rav Solomon maintained a close relationship with Maran Rav Elyashiv Shlita and Maran Rav Kanievsky Shlita.

Thousands were present for his erev Shabbos levaya, including Maran Rav HaGaon Nosson Tzvi Finkel Shlita, who was maspid the niftar for about an hour. Other gedolim present at the levaya included Rav Yaakov Edelstein (Ramat HaSharon), his brother Rav Yehoshua Solomon, Chief Rabbis Shlomo Amar and Yona Metzger, and Tel Aviv Chief Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau, the daily HaMevaser reports.

Rav Solomon zt”l was buried in the city’s Segulah Cemetery.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)