Rav Moshe Akiva Druck z'l, long-time editor of
Hamodia and a veteran of many struggles to uphold
chareidi Judaism, passed away on leil Shabbos parshas
Toldos at the age of 80.
He was born in Jerusalem to Rav Meir and the daughter of R'
Naftoli Tzvi Porush, one of the heads of Jerusalem's Perushim
community. His grandfather, Rav Kalman Druck, a Chortkov
chossid, left the town of Kossov to settle in
Jerusalem.
The spirituality R' Moshe Akiva imbibed welled from an
atmosphere of Yerushalayim Shel Maaloh. His grew up around
two botei medrash: Beis Medrash DeChassidei Boyan in
Botei Rand and Beis Medrash Perushim in Botei Broide, where
his grandfather regularly davened.
The Drucks lived next door to HaRav Issar Zalman Meltzer
zt"l whose Torah-filled home influenced the young
Moshe Akiva considerably. In his boyhood he developed a close
relationship with HaRav Shneur Kotler, the grandson of HaRav
Issar Zalman, who came from the US to study Torah in
Jerusalem and later was rosh yeshivas Lakewood.
He studied at Yeshivas Eitz Chaim and later at Yeshivas Torah
Veyiroh. He married the daughter of R' Yosef Deutsch, one of
Jerusalem's founders and a descendent of Rav Shimon Deutsch,
who was a talmid of the Chasam Sofer. While coping
with the hardship and austerity Jerusalem residents faced in
those years, he built a Torah home on foundations of yiras
Shomayim and good middos.
At a young age he joined the company of young writers who
began to write in Agudah's local weekly, Kol Yisroel.
The paper's editor, Rav Moshe Blau, grew close to R' Moshe
Akiva and imparted much of his wisdom and knowledge to the
budding reporter.
Later, after the first chareidi dailies in Eretz Yisroel were
founded--Hayoman and Hamevaser--R' Moshe Akiva
worked as one of the leading editors and writers at the
respective newspapers. When Hamodia was founded he
joined the initial staff of writers and editors, gaining a
reputation as one of the newspaper's most dedicated workers.
During this period R' Druck was particularly close to Rabbi
Yitzchok Meir Levine of Agudas Yisroel.
His reporting assignments brought him into the homes of
gedolei Yisroel, including the Beis Yisroel of Gur,
HaRav Zalman Sorotzkin of Lutzk, the Brisker Rov and others.
The Beis Yisroel often entrusted him with important tasks.
At one time R' Druck filled a high-level position at the
Ministry of Religious Affairs. He worked in the area of
cemeteries and burial, playing an important role in
preventing autopsies.
Immediately after the Six-Day War he initiated the first
steps toward upholding kedushoh and tznius
standards in the area near the Kosel. Just days after the war
ended he installed a fixed mechitzoh, to the dismay of
anti-religious opponents who tried to thwart the initiative.
He considered this the central accomplishment of his lifetime
and said it would serve as his certificate of entry in
Heaven. Afterwards he was assigned the task of administering
the Department of Holy Sites.
For the last twenty years of his life he served among
Hamodia's leading editors, devoting much of his energy to
encouraging young reporters to bring creative thoughts and
ideas to the newspaper. He attributed considerable importance
to the task of guiding and directing them.
In his writing he invested much time and energy to the task
of casting a spotlight on the Torah world in order to foster
its development and to promote chareidi educational
institutions.
His beloved brother, Rav Shlomo Zalman Druck, a prominent
public figure in chareidi Jerusalem and a member of the City
Council, passed away fifteen years ago. R' Moshe Akiva's
great sorrow over his loss took its toll on his state of
health and ever since he suffered from numerous illnesses and
yisurim. Three years ago his youngest daughter, Mrs.
Nechomoh Gerlitz, passed away and the tragedy led to further
decline in his physical well-being. He moved in with his son
and the entire household--his wife, his son, and all of the
extended family--stood by him, attending to his needs and
honoring him.
A few months ago his health began to deteriorate further. On
leil Shabbos, after maariv the family sang Sholom
Aleichem and Eishes Chayil at his bedside and then
he returned his soul to his Maker, surrounded by his son, his
grandson and other Jews who recited Shema Yisroel with
a minyan.
On motzei Shabbos the levaya set out from the Shamgar
Funeral Home to the Mount of Olives, where he was interred
alongside his forefather's graves in the Kossov section.
In the will he wrote ten years ago he asked not to be
excessively praised and not to be accorded various titles.
R' Moshe Akiva Druck, z'l, is survived by his wife;
his son Yosef, one of the top chareidi writers and editors;
his daughter, the wife of Rav Reuven Krishvesky and Director
of Education at the Beis Yaakov Seminary in Jerusalem; as
well as grandchildren and great-grandchildren who are
talmidim chachomim.
