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NEWS
R' Zodok Kestenbaum, z"l
by Betzalel Kahn
R' Zodok Kestenbaum z"l, a prominent philanthropist
from Miami, Florida, was brought to rest this week in Eretz
Yisroel.
The deceased was born in Hungary and survived the Holocaust.
After the war he managed to move to Eretz Yisroel until he
was forced to move once again, this time to the US. Hashem
blessed him in his commercial ventures and he became one of
Miami's leading supporters of Torah. He bought a building to
house the Lakewood Kollel which was set up in Miami, and was
among the first to daven shacharis regularly at the
Kollel. For decades he participated in the shiurim
given there.
He would travel to Eretz Yisroel several times per year,
visiting one yeshiva after another with the goal of upholding
the Torah world. He contributed to many yeshivas around the
country and assisted needy families. His will calls for a
foundation that will continue his acts of tzedokoh and
chesed.
Many people took part in his levaya in Miami, where he
was eulogized by the rosh kollel, HaRav Yaakov Gross,
who praised his great dedication to the Kollel, maintaining
Torah and other holy endeavors.
His aron was brought to Eretz Yisroel, where he had
purchased a plot during his lifetime. At the levaya
were roshei yeshivos, numerous bnei Torah he had
helped during his lifetime and family members. HaRav Moshe
Mann, rosh yeshivas Be'er Yitzchok, delivered a hesped
in which he associated the deceased with the verse, "Halo
porose lero'ov lachmecho . . . veholach lefonecho tzidkecho
ukevod Hashem ye'asfecho," as well as the verse, Eitz
chaim he lemachzikim boh, saying the Torah supported him.
HaRav Mann said when the Chayei Odom eulogized his
mechuton the Gra, he said, "He would bring
philanthropists to provide the means for poor talmidei
chachomim to learn Torah," which is what the deceased did
whenever he would come to Eretz Yisroel for a few days. He
would literally bring himself to numerous yeshivas around the
country, appearing in a simple and humble manner, and provide
the means for talmidei chachomim to learn Torah.
R' Zodok Kestenbaum z"l was also eulogized by his
relative, Rav Yitzchok Keller of the US, who noted his great
devotion to his family, Lakewood Kollel in Miami and every
other dovor shebekedushoh.
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