HaRav Tzvi Dov Kahanowitz, zt"l, one of
Yerushalayim's finest talmidei chachomim and
marbitzei Torah who for scores of years served as one
of the heads of the Tifferes Tzvi yeshiva, was brought to
his final rest on 8 Kislev. His levaya was attended
by a large throng of roshei yeshiva, rabbonim and
talmidei chachomim.
HaRav Tzvi Dov Kahanowitz was born in 5684 (1924) in Lodz.
His father, HaRav Yechiel Kahanowitz, was an outstanding
talmid chochom and a prominent Strikover chossid. His
mother was the daughter of HaRav Elozor Halperin, the Admor
of Koznitz-Lodz, Hy"d.
HaRav Tzvi Dov came to Eretz Yisroel with his parents
when he was six years old. However, after a brief stay his
parents were forced to return to Poland. There he studied in
the talmud Torah of the Alexander Chassidim. At the
age of eleven his parents once more moved to Eretz
Yisroel and settled in Haifa. As a youth, he studied in
the Tifferes Yisroel yeshiva, where he was especially close
with its rosh yeshiva, HaRav Dov Meir Robman,
zt"l.
The period of his youth during which he studied with great
hasmodoh in the Hevron yeshiva was one of growth in
Torah and yir'oh. He was esteemed by all of the
roshei yeshiva in Hevron who praised him for his diligence,
prayer and devotion to mussar study, calling him one
of their most outstanding students.
Upon marriage to the daughter of HaRav Tzvi Korlanski, one
of Yerushalayim's finest talmidei chachomim, he began
to deliver shiurim as a ram in Yerushalayim.
Because of the clarity of his delivery and his pleasant
manner of speech, he was asked to preside as ram in
the Bnei Tzion yeshiva, alongside the great rabbonim HaRav
Sholom Schwadron and HaRav Ezra Barzel.
He taught hundreds of students in Tifferes Tzvi for nearly
thirty years. Among these students are prominent roshei
yeshiva, dayanim, rabbonim and gedolei haTorah
vehamussar from the world over. His students note that
he had the ability to explain even the most difficult topics
in a lucid, flowing manner.
He also delivered a regular shiur to workingmen in
the central Zichron Moshe synagogue in Jerusalem. There was
a time when he delivered two such shiurim daily, one
at vosikin and one in the evening. Despite his
failing health, he continued to deliver shiurim in
gemora, Mishnah Berurah, Chumash, Mishnah and
aggodo, and willingly accepted every invitation to
speak.
He became well known as an outstanding talmid
chochom, and hundreds would flock to his shiurim.
He drew many closer to Torah, encouraging the unfortunate
and broken in spirit. His shiurim had such a strong
an impact on his listeners that many actually changed their
lifestyles as a result, enrolling their children in chareidi
institutions.
He left behind many chiddushim and writings.
Recently, he began to prepare his writings for publication
and even merited to see some of them published. Despite his
health problems, he never stopped his Torah study.
On his way to vosikin Wednesday morning in the
Zichron Moshe shul, where he had davened for fifty
years and served as a ba'al tokei'a during the
holidays, he collapsed, returning his pure soul to its
Maker.
Hespedim were delivered beside his home by HaRav
Shmuel Yaakov Bornstein, one of the roshei yeshiva of Hevron-
Geula, who spoke about HaRav Tzvi Dov's pleasant way of
speaking as well as the manner in which he instilled his
students with a love of Torah. Other hespedim were
delivered by his mechutan, HaRav Yaakov Galinsky as
well as by the niftar's brother, HaRav Aryeh
Kahanowitz and the niftar's two sons, HaRav Shlomo,
head of the Be'er institutions in Rechovot and the
yeshiva ketana in Yesodot and HaRav Elyakim, a
prominent mechanech in Jerusalem and one of the heads
of the Talmud Torah Mesorah.
Outside of the Zichron Yaakov shul, a hesped was
delivered by the ravad of the Eidah HaChareidis who
is also the rav of the shul, HaRav Yisroel Yaakov Fisher. In
a weeping voice, he described the great extent of the
niftar's hasmodoh, brilliance, and dedication to the
dissemination of Torah. Another hesped was delivered
by HaRav Yitzchok Ezrachi, one of the roshei yeshiva of the
Mirrer yeshiva.
He is survived by a blessed generation of sons, daughters,
grandchildren and great-grandchildren, all of whom are
following the paths of Torah as outstanding talmidei
chachomim. After the levaya -- which was attended
by thousands of people -- he was buried on Har Hazeisim,
beside his fathers.
