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6 Tammuz 5761 - June 27, 2001 | Mordecai Plaut, director Published Weekly
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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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