A large crowd accompanied HaRav Chaim Yaakov Warhaftig,
zt"l, on his last earthly journey. HaRav Warhaftig, a
prominent figure in the English Torah community, was seventy
years old at the time of his petiroh.
HaRav Chaim Yaakov was born in the German city of Darmstadt,
where his father, Rav Elozor, served as rov. His mother,
Channah, tibodel lechayim tovim ve'arukim, is the
great- granddaughter of Rav S. R. Hirsch and of HaRav
Yechezkel Landau, author of Noda BiYehuda. In a home
so steeped in Torah and yiras Shomayim, he absorbed
ahavas Torah as well as outstanding character
traits.
Prior to the Second World War, the family fled to England,
and lived for a while in London before moving to a more
secure residence in the small town of Letchworth.
Despite the hardships, his parents made every effort to give
their son a pure Jewish education. His father was founder and
rosh yeshiva of the Chayei Olam yeshiva in London. Chaim
Yaakov later learned in Gateshead, forming a close
relationship with the mashgiach, HaRav Moshe
Schwab.
He married the daughter of HaRav Shamshon Rafael Erlanger,
and moved to the Stamford Hill neighborhood in London, where
he established a pure Torah home. He aspired to see his
children growing in Torah and yiras Shomayim, and
would learned with them daily.
He was a loyal Torah activist whose door was open to all.
Many benefited from the family's warm hospitality: among them
Torah emissaries from Eretz Yisroel and seminary girls for
whom he and his and his wife would find marriage partners. He
was also known for his fervent prayers, recited with
considerable kavono.
He accepted his physical suffering with love, and always
glowed with simchas chaim and bitochon.
He promoted the idea of the daf Hayomi and made many
efforts on behalf of such programs in his community. He held
rabbonim in high esteem, and strove to absorb their teachings
and hashkofos. He participated in the annual English
yarchei kallah programs.
A short while before his petiroh, while seriously ill,
he attended the wedding of his first grandson.
His health drastically deteriorated last week, and he was
niftar. Hespedim were delivered at his home by HaRav
Y. Padwa, moro de'asra, of the Union, as well as by
HaRav Z. Feldman, rav of the Eitz Chaim shul; HaRav C.
Wosner, HaRav Y. Erlanger and two of the niftar's
sons.
From London, the aron was flown to Eretz Yisroel. It
was met at Lod by the Admor of Chernobel. A large crowd
arrived at the Shamgar funeral home to accompany him on his
last earthly journey. Hespedim were delivered by his
mechuton, HaRav Yisroel Eliyahu Weintraub; his brother-
in-law, HaRav Avrohom Erlanger, rosh yeshiva of Kol Torah;
his nephew, HaRav Sender Erlanger, and two of his sons.
He is survived by his wife, his mother and three sisters, as
well as by sons, sons-in-law and grandchildren, all of whom
are pursing the path he charted for them.
