Esther Bakshi-Doron o"h, the wife of former Chief
Rabbi Eliyahu Bakshi-Doron, passed away at the age of 64 on
Rosh Chodesh Iyar.
She was born in Jerusalem in 5700 (1940) to HaRav Shalom
Lopes, the rov of Acco for over half a century, in whose home
she absorbed ahavas haTorah and yiras Shomayim,
and also grew up under the powerful influence of her
grandfather, HaRav Yaakov Lopes, who served as rosh yeshiva
of a yeshiva for mekubolim in Jerusalem. On her
mother's side she traced her descent to the Bardugo family of
rabbonim, who were descendants of Rosh Mashbir and
Mayim Amukim, both rabbonim who lived in the time of
the Or Hachaim.
She was an emblem of regal conduct and refinement, who never
allowed loshon hora to be spoken in her presence. Most
of her life she rose early for tefillas vosikin, a
practice she began in her father's home.
When she traveled abroad to participate in the wedding of one
of her offspring she returned ahead of schedule, saying she
was unable to tolerate the tumo of Chutz
la'Aretz.
Her hand was always outstretched to the poor and her home,
with the ten children in her care, was always open to guests.
The poor and needy ate in her home every Shabbos and holiday.
She ran tzedokoh funds that distributed bridal needs
to kallohs. Dozens of requests arrived every day and
she would meet their needs with rachamim. On Erev
Pesach, she distributed tens of thousands of dollars to the
needy. She was unable to refuse any Jew in need of help.
After returning to Eretz Yisroel following the wedding of her
last son, she became ill. She recuperated but recently her
condition suddenly deteriorated and she was hospitalized at
Hadassah Ein Kerem. On Motzei Shabbos she heard Havdoloh,
recited Krias Shema Al Hamitoh and Vidui
and then, fully conscious until the final moments,
returned her soul to her Maker surrounded by family
members.
The levaya was attended by a large crowd of rabbonim
and talmidei chachomim. Hespeidim were
delivered by HaRav Shimon Ba'adani, rosh yeshiva of
Yeshivat Torah Vechaim, Tel Aviv Chief Rabbi Yisroel Meir
Lau, her son HaRav Ben Tzion, rosh kollel of Kollel Binyan
Av, and her husband.
Mrs. Esther Bakshi-Doron o"h is survived by ten
children, sons and daughters married to talmidei
chachomim, and grandchildren, all following in her
footsteps. She was buried in the Aram Tzova rabbinical
section of Har Hamenuchos, beside her father's grave.
