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NEWS
HaRav Yitzchok Shraga Faivel Warhaftig zt"l
by S. Bruchi
Straightforward sevoro, profound understanding of the
sugyos of the Shas, warmth, geniality,
humility and every midda tova, coupled with a
willingness to impart all these to his admiring students,
are what endeared the gaon, HaRav Yitzchok Shraga Feivel
Warhaftig to his many students. These students regarded him
as a model of the perfect oveid Hashem, whose entire
life focused only on serving Hashem with his entire being
and on raising kevod Shomayim.. It is no wonder,
then, that when his bier was placed beside the aron
kodesh in the main study hall of the Belzer yeshiva on
Agrippas Street, many of his students did kriya, as
one is required to do upon the petirah of his rav,
and bemoaned the great loss of an odom godol
vetzaddik who had guided them along the path leading to
Beis Hashem.
HaRav Yitzchok Shraga Feivel Warhaftig, zt"l the son
of Klonimus Kalman zt"l, was niftar on
Wednesday (29 Sivan). He was born on 19 Sivan 5698 (1938) in
Jerusalem. As a child, the sterling character traits which
accompanied him his entire life and caused him to be beloved
and admired by all, were already evident. -- the traits of
outstanding hasmodoh, nobility of spirit, humility
and respect for one's fellow.
He studied in the Chevron yeshiva as a young man, and
quickly became known as one of the yeshiva's finest
students. The rosh hayeshiva, HaRav Avrohom Farbstein was
very fond of him, regarding him as a sterling vessel and as
a bor sud she'eino me'abed tippah, destined to
illuminate the Torah world in his greatness.
After his marriage, he continued to study in kollel, and was
appointed to the position of nosei venosen in Beis
HaTalmud, where he became very close with HaRav Yitzchok
Hutner, zt"l. For a brief period, he was a ram
in Or Somayach, where he succeeded in inspiring many
students.
During the past few decades, he was one of the roshei
yeshiva of the Belzer yeshiva, where he taught thousands of
students. His shiurim were famed for their depth and
profundity. He was an illui, who was well versed in
all of the Torah's recesses, and was the epitome of toil and
exertion in Torah, who derived his vitality from Torah.. He
studied with great fervor, detaching himself from his entire
surrounding when he learned, and was a model of humility and
unassuming behavior. Shayif ol veshayif nofik vegoris
be'Orayisa todiro.
His home in Ramat Polin in Jerusalem was a beacon for those
who sought guidance in Torah and mussar, and he
received all with a beaming countenance and remarkable
nobility of spirit.
Over a week ago, he suffered heart failure and lost
consciousness. Many prayers for his recovery were said
throughout the yeshiva world, but on Wednesday morning (29
Sivan) he returned his pure soul to its Maker.
His levaya, which set out from the Shamgar funeral
home, headed toward the central Belzer beis medrash in
Kiryat Belz. Headed by the Admor of Belz, it was attended by
thousands of Belzer Chassidim. From there it continued to
the Belzer yeshiva on Agrippas Street, where he taught for
twenty-five years. Stirring hespedim and divrei
his'orerus were delivered by HaRav Shmuel Rosengarten,
the rosh yeshiva of the Belzer yeshiva; HaRav Aharon
Dirnfeld, HaRav Shmuel Betzalel, HaRav Yitzchok Ezrachi,
HaRav Yehoshua Karniol and HaRav Yom Tov Zilberman.
He leaves behind an illustrious Torah home, and is survived
by his wife, tibodel lachayim tovim v'arukim as well
as by his son, HaRav Kalman, and his three daughters who are
married, respectively to HaRav Yeshaya Feldman, HaRav
Eliyahu Cheshin and HaRav Gershon Hanflig. His thousands of
students bitterly mourn the loss of their beloved mentor
whose words they so thirstily imbibed.
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