Monday night, the 26th of Nisan, a shocked, pained crowd of
residents of the Bayit Vegan neighborhood accompanied Reb
Refoel Rubinstein, zt"l on his last earthly journey.
One of the most prominent avreichim of his
neighborhood, he was killed in a tragic car accident at the
age of 44. His son, Matisyahu ben Devora, who was with him in
the car, is suffering from second degree injuries.
R' Refoel, son of Reb Eliezer and Soroh , was born in 5714.
As a child, he studied in a talmud Torah in Bnei Brak
and later in the Yeshivas Or Yisroel in Petach Tikvah. His
sharp mind as well as his unique hasmodoh, were well
known in the yeshiva. While still a young student, he
published the first and expanded edition of Darkei
Mussar. His mentors, HaRav Yaakov Neiman and HaRav Yosef
Rozovski, the roshei yeshiva of Or Yisroel, were very
fond of him, and enjoyed speaking with him in Torah for
lengthy periods.
After a number of years in Or Yisroel, he transferred to the
Ponevezh yeshiva, where he continued to absorb the teachings
of his mentors. At that time, he was especially close to the
rosh hayeshiva, HaRav Shmuel Rozovski.
He married Devora, daughter of Reb Yitzchok Yaakov Leuchter,
and moved to Jerusalem. He studied for a number of years in
the Beis Zevul kollel of Sha'arei Chessed, where he was one
of the most outstanding avreichim. He never missed a
day of Torah study, and was one of the first to appear at the
kollel's sedorim day in and day out.
He devoted the bulk of his time to Torah study, and spent his
spare hours publishing sifrei kodesh. He was eager to
perform kol dovor shebekedusha, loyal to maranan
verabonon and genuine da'as Torah. He helped
everyone in need, during both happy times and times of
distress. He greeted everyone warmly and with a smile, and
was beloved by all.
R' Refoel davened in the Bnei Hayeshivos Ohel Yaakov
veSoroh synagogue, whose rav is HaRav Boruch Shmuel HaKohen
Deutsch. During the synagogue's difficult times, Reb Refoel
made great efforts to help it continue to function, and was
the life spirit behind the series of shiurim held
there and one of the founders of its first shiur.
He would spend many hours in the beis medrash
engrossed in deep Torah study, and would not close his
gemora until he had clarified every detail of the
topic he was studying. He was an amazing shakdan who
immersed himself in Torah every available moment of the day.
In-depth study was his entire essence, and he derived his
entire vitality from exuberant, high-spirited Torah study,
out of rischa de'Oraisa and the joy of Torah.
On Monday afternoon, he and his son set out on a shiva
call. A car heading toward him on the road between the
Nachshon and Re'em junctions, veered from its course, for
unknown reasons, and crashed into Reb Refoel's car. He was
killed from the impact of the collision, while his son,
Matisyahu ben Devora, was seriously injured.
The bitter news of his tragic petirah shocked his
entire family as well as all of his acquaintances and
friends.
At his levaya, which left his home late Monday night,
Tehillim were recited for the recovery of his son.
Words of .chizuk were conveyed by his father-in-law,
Reb Yitzchok Leuchter, as well as by HaRav Leib Heiman, HaRav
Azriel Auerbach, HaRav Shmuel Yaakov Borenstein, HaRav
Zevulun Zaks, HaRav Shlomo Breuer, and a brother-in-law of
the niftar,HaRav Avrohom Pollack. All dwelled on his
unique character traits and vast Torah knowledge.
He is survived by his wife, Devora, and nine children, the
youngest only a year old, as well as by his parents and
brothers and sisters, who are deeply pained by the tragic
petirah of their loved one in the prime of his
life.
Emergency Fund
An emergency fund has been established to help his family.
On the presidium of the fund are the rabbonim HaRav Azriel
Auerbach and HaRav Yehuda Silman. It was established with the
recommendations of HaRav Yosef Sholom Eliashiv and HaRav Arye
Yehuda Leib Steinman and HaRav Shmuel Wosner. All of the
rabbonim of the Bayit Vegan neighborhood urge the public to
support this fund.
Contributions may be forwarded to Bank Leumi, branch 766
(Bayit Vegan), account no. 28457/01.
