This past Monday (23 Sivan), a large crowd headed by
gedolei Yisroel accompanied Rabbi Avrohom Yosef
Shapira zt"l on his last earthly journey. Rabbi
Shapira was niftar suddenly at the age 71.
The levaya began at Rabbi Shapira's home in Tel Aviv
and continued on to Jerusalem, where he was buried in the
rabbinical section of Har Hamenuchos. With his passing world
Jewry lost a unique personality and model of a genuine
shlucha derabonon, who dedicated himself to succeeding
in his mission, and sanctified sheim Shomayim in his
appearance and manners.
He was born in 5689 (1929) in Levov, the capital of eastern
Galicia. His grandfather was HaRav Alter Elyakim Shraga
Shapira zt"l who was the gaavad of Vikna and
the ravad of Tchernowitz.
In 5699, when the Nazi sword wielded its power over Europe,
the Shapira family move to the city of Tomshvar in Romania,
where Reb Avrohom Yosef became one of the close students of
the Damesek Eliezer of Vishnitz.
At that time, he also studied under HaRav Osher Yonah
Weinberger, who directed a yeshiva in Tomshvar and he was
well-known for his great hasmodoh and perspicacity.
Later, he moved to Bucharest, which was known as haven for
the great tzaddikim of the time. From there, he and
his parents moved to Lugano, Switzerland and, in 5708 (1948),
he went to Eretz Yisroel and joined the yeshiva of the
Tchebiner Rov. He studied under the gaon of Tchebin for seven
years, always saying that those were the most beautiful years
of his life.
For a time, the Gaon of Tchebin delivered a weekly
shiur in the Chayei Olam yeshiva. Since the
shiur was said quite rapidly, the young Avrohom Yosef
was chosen to review it for the public, alternating in this
task with HaRav Moshe Yosef Miletzki. He often spoke in
learning with the gaon of Tchebin, who also gave him
smicha.
In 5711 (1951), he married the daughter of HaRav Avrohom
Shmuel Binyomin Sofer, the ravad of Pressburg and the
author of Chashav Sofer.
Due to his is attachment to the Tchebiner Rov, he also became
close to the Admor of Gur, the Beis Yisroel, who frequently
visited the Gaon of Tchebin.
Later, R' Avrohom Yosef moved to Tel Aviv near his father,
and began to eke out a livelihood. Although he had some
success in his business dealings, he never left the tents of
Torah. He would deliver daily shiurim in various
synagogues in Tel Aviv. Despite the fact that he lived in Tel
Aviv, he maintained his ties with the Tchebiner Rov,
traveling to Jerusalem every now and then to see him.
Even though he dealt extensively with government heads and
ministers, even before he became active in public affairs, he
proudly preserved his Chassidic appearance. Despite his
involvement in worldwide business dealings, he taught his
entire family to remain staunch in Torah and Chassidus.
A unique chapter in his life began in 5741 (1981), when the
Admor of Gur, the Lev Simcha, asked him to head the slate of
Agudas Yisroel in the Knesset. When he entered the public
arena as a Knesset member and the head of the Agudas Yisroel
Knesset delegation, he fulfilled his mission with outstanding
dignity. In his wisdom and characteristic geniality, and with
his gift of speech, he raised the esteem of chareidi
Jewry.
He was dauntless in the face of government ministers and the
open jaws of the media, and not only personified the concept
of kevod HaTorah, but also most deftly deflected the
anti-religious waves which attempted to engulf chareidi
Jewry.
He firmly safeguarded the sacred values of Yiddishkeit, and
is best remembered for his roles in the following battles:
the stopping of El Al flights on Shabbosim, minimizing
Shabbos desecration in public transportation, the curtailing
of the desecration of graves in the Ganei Chamat project in
Tiveria; the battle against indecent advertising; the battle
against the desecration of graves elsewhere and the
prevention of the registration of non-Jews as Jews. He was
also well known for the assistance he extended to private
people.
Due to his special qualifications and personality he was
appointed chairman of the Finance of the Knesset. He was also
appointed chairman of the coalition, even though he was the
head of one of its smaller parties. He was well known too, as
an expert at achieving comprises between people and
groups.
For a while, he served as the chairman of the Advisory
Council of the Bank of Israel, regarding all these tasks as
sacred missions which he filled loyally.
He would often travel around the country in order to explain
Yiddishkeit to those distant from it. He greeted everyone
warmly, and was a tremendous baal chessed his entire
life.
Upon his resignation from the Knesset due to the rotation
decision of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, he continued his
communal activity as a member of the higher bodies of Agudas
Yisroel and as the chairman of Agudas Yisroel of Tel Aviv. He
was chosen by all of the religious parties in that city to
head its religious bloc. In this position, he staunchly stood
up against those who sought to breach the walls of Shabbos
and Yiddishkeit in the city.
Although he suffered from an illness for the past seven
years, he continued his activities as usual, and participated
in the meetings of the executive board of Agudas Yisroel.
Many public meetings were held in his home, which was like a
meeting hall for discussions on every important issue.
During his many travels he would spend his time probing the
depths of the gemora. He was very meticulous about
davening in a minyan, and maintained a permanent
minyan with shiurim in his home. He recently
founded a kollel for dayonus in Haifa called
Medrash Pinchas after his ancestor, the Rabbi of Koritz. It
is headed by HaRav A. Atlas.
On Friday, Sivan 20, he was hospitalized but his condition
improved and he was scheduled to be released the following
Tuesday. However, on Monday, 23 Sivan, at 4 P.M., he suffered
a sudden heart attack and returned his soul to its Maker.
The levaya left his home on Striker Street in Tel
Aviv, and passed by the home of his mechutan, the
Admor of Sadigura, where he often davened. In Jerusalem the
levaya left the Shamgar funeral hall, and passed by
the Gerrer beis medrash and the Sadigura beis
medrash, as well the Pressburg yeshiva in Givat Shaul, on
its way to Givat Shaul.
He is survived by his sons, Reb Yitzchok Yehuda, Reb Pinchos,
Reb Elimelech, Reb Shraga, Reb Shmuel Binyomin, and his sons-
in-law, Reb Shlomo Avrohom Einhorn, and Reb Yehoshua Eliezer
Broker, as well as by grandchildren and great-grandchildren,
all of whom are following in the paths of Torah which he
charted for them.
