A massive gathering of rabbonim, roshei yeshivos,
dayonim, admorim and thousands more accompanied HaRav
Yisroel Moshe Dushinsky zt'l, Av Beis Din of
the Eida Chareidis of Jerusalem, to rest in Jerusalem last
Wednesday.
Born on 21 Kislev 5682 (1922), he was the only child born to
his father, Maharitz Dushinsky, who had just assumed the post
as rov of Chust, and his mother Esther, the daughter
of Rav Yoel Tzvi Neihaus. The Maharitz' first marriage to the
daughter of the Levushei Mordechai failed to produce any
children.
In his youth he was blessed by the tzadikim of his
generation, the Shinover Rov, the Ahavas Chesed of Vishnitz
and the Minchas Elozor of Munkatch. He was named after his
father's father, Rav Yisroel, and his uncle, the Maharam
Shick. The Levushei Mordechai treated young Yisroel Moshe --
who stood out among his peers for his mental prowess and
lofty middos -- like a grandson.
His father was very close to his only son. Yisroel Moshe
accompanied him everywhere, including visits and meetings
with gedolei Yisroel. In Adar of 5692 (1932) he even
took Yisroel Moshe along with him on his journey to Eretz
Hakodesh. During this trip the boy received a brochoh
from HaRav Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld when he came to deliver a
mishloach monos as the rov lay on his deathbed just
days before his histalkus. HaRav Sonnenfeld lay his
hand on the boy's head and gave him a blessing for arichus
yomim.
When the Maharitz parted from his kehilloh in Chust
before moving to Eretz Yisroel, the heads of the
kehilloh suggested that the post remain vacant for his
son until he came of age. But the Maharitz refused saying,
"Nafshi keshuroh benafsho, el asher teilchi eileich."
Some considered this a hint that he was destined to take his
place in Eretz Hakodesh.
On 6 Elul 5693 (1933) Yisroel Moshe arrived in Eretz Yisroel
with his father. In Jerusalem he studied at the longstanding
talmud Torah, Shomrei Hachomos. At the age of 13 he
joined his father's yeshiva, where he quickly became one of
the outstanding talmidim. Here he acquired most of his
Torah learning and refined character. In addition to his
yeshiva studies he also studied horo'oh with HaRav
Hanoch Padwa and HaRav Eliezer Brand, who were greatly
impressed with the breadth of his Torah knowledge.
After marrying the daughter of Rav Dovid Yehoshua Gross, his
father demanded that he help run the yeshiva by giving
shiurim to the talmidim. During the Maharitz'
final years, which was a tempestuous period in Eretz Yisroel,
he trusted his son implicitly. As a young avreich Rav
Yisroel Moshe met with the Chazon Ish, who remarked as he
walked out, "This avreich is a genius in
middos."
Upon his father's histalkus the task of running the
yeshiva fell on Rav Yisroel Moshe's shoulders, at the age of
only 28. After the burial he was even named a member of the
Badatz of the Eida Chareidis. HaRav Pinchos Epstein would
call on him every time one of the dayonim was missing,
particularly in cases involving gittin and
chalitzoh.
In 5727 (1947) Rav Dushinsky was appointed a regular member
of the beis din, where he sat for over 40 years. He
would delve deeply into cases before him, astounding
observers with his ability to show temperance without
forsaking the Torah's warning of lo soguru--i.e. not
to let fear sway one's judgment. In 5749 (1989), following
the petiroh of the Minchas Yitzchok, he was appointed
Rav Av Beis Din (Ravad) of the Eida Chareidis of Jerusalem
and in 5756 (1996), following the petiroh of HaRav
Moshe Aharon Freund, he became the Gavad of the Eida
HaChareidis.
During the years of his leadership he nurtured his yeshiva
with expert care, building it gradually based on the model of
Mosdos Beis Yosef Tzvi in Europe. Thousands of
talmidim, including marbitzei Torah and
dayanim, grew and flourished within its walls.
HaRav Dushinsky was renowned for his pure tefillos,
refined character, rare humility, his practice of concealing
his genius in various fields of Torah and his thorough
knowledge in thousands of the seforim in his vast
library.
In recent years he fell sick and suffered greatly. Although
he successfully underwent several difficult operations, two
months ago his condition deteriorated and, due to various
medical problems, he had to be hospitalized at Hadassah Ein
Kerem. Last Tuesday his grandson Yosef Tzvi, the son of his
son Rav Mordechai Yehuda, was married at Heichal Maharitz, a
recently completed beis medrash in Beit Shemesh. But
the simchah was mixed with sorrow over HaRav
Dushinsky's absence and declining state of health. Before the
chuppah his talmid, HaRav Amram Hoffman, called
upon the guests to use this auspicious moment to pray for his
full recovery.
Late that night his condition deteriorated further and at
3:15 a.m. he returned his soul to his Maker as his close
family and loyal colleagues--headed by his talmid,
HaRav Avrohom Yitzchok Ulman, a member of the Badatz Eida
Chareidis--stood nearby and cried out Shema
Yisroel.
His aron was immediately taken to Yeshivas Beis Yosef
Tzvi on Jerusalem's Shmuel Hanovi Street as hundreds of his
talmidim recited Tehillim through bitter tears
until the levaya set out. At 1:00 p.m. his bier was
brought into the heichal where hespeidim were
given by his son-in-law, HaRav Chizkiyah Sofer, av beis
din in Toronto; his son and successor, HaRav Yosef Tzvi;
his son, HaRav Mordechai Yehuda, his mechuton, the
Gavad of Erlau; his grandson, HaRav Yitzchok Tzvi Sofer,
moreh tzedek of the Hisachdus Horabbonim in Boro Park;
and HaRav Yosef Davidowitz, who announced the appointment of
his son HaRav Yosef Tzvi as his successor to the posts of
Rosh Yeshiva and Nosi Hamosdos.
The levaya then set out toward Kikar Zupnik and beside
the Eida Chareidis buildings he was eulogized by HaRav Shmuel
Halevi Wosner and Badatz members HaRav Moshe Sternbuch, HaRav
Yaakov Blau, HaRav Moshe Halberstam, HaRav Meir Bransdorfer
and HaRav Avrohom Yitzchok Ulman. The last of the eulogizers
was his son- in-law, HaRav Tzvi Yissochor Dov Katz,
dayan and moreh tzedek of the Hisachdus
Horabbonim and rov of Kahal Beis Yosef Tzvi in Brooklyn.
After the hespeidim he was accompanied by a large
crowd to the old cemetery adjacent to the old Shaarei Tzedek
Hospital building on Jaffa Road that was used during the
fighting in 1948 when other cemeteries were not accessible,
and was buried in a plot he purchased during his lifetime,
near the grave where his father, Maharitz Dushinsky, lies
buried.
Following the burial, final words of parting were offered by
the Gavad of Kiryas Yoel Monroe, HaRav Aharon Teitelbaum, son
of the Satmar Rebbe, who travelled especially to participate
in the levaya, and his talmid, Rav Naftoli
Frankel, rov of Chug Chasam Sofer in Jerusalem.
