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12 Adar II 5765 - March 23, 2005 | Mordecai Plaut, director Published Weekly
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NEWS
HaRav Simcha Bunim Waldenberg, zt"l

By Betzalel Kahn

Thousands of Jerusalem residents from the Ezras Torah neighborhood took part in the levaya of HaRav Simcha Bunim Waldenberg zt"l, who served as the rov of Ezras Torah and the beis medrash Beis Yisroel for over 30 years.

The deceased was the only son of HaRav Eliezer Yehuda Waldenberg ylct"a, the author of Tzitz Eliezer and an av beis din in Jerusalem. He married the daughter of HaRav Chaim Sholom Segal o"h, and together they built a Torah home following in the paths of our forefathers.

At a young age he was asked to serve as the rov of Ezras Torah. In a letter that the Kehillas Yaakov sent neighborhood residents in honor of the inauguration ceremony, he referred to HaRav Simcha Waldenberg as a tzaddik tomim and instructed them not to deviate from his advice, for Hashem was with him.

The young rov led his kehilloh intrepidly, never compromising on matters of kedushoh. He was accorded great respect by his followers, who knew him to be a man of truth. In contrast to his firmness regarding halochoh and all potential breaches, he had a soft spot for children, whom he always received warmly, making time to attend to their needs.

Ezras Torah residents were witness to a rabbinical figure from bygone generations. Renowned for his fabulous hasmodoh he could often be heard learning until daybreak. Then he would rise from his gemora and go to tefillas Vosikin adorned with tallis and tefillin, cutting a thoroughly majestic figure in the streets.

His knowledge in every area of Torah study was phenomenal and he sought no worldly pleasures, taking special care to keep his eyes from wandering.

HaRav Waldenberg suffered yissurim when his daughter passed away at a young age and soon afterwards he himself contracted an illness that kept him bedridden for the rest of his life. His wife passed away following a brief illness a few years ago. With his simple faith HaRav Simcha Bunim accepted all of these trials with love. Torah was the source of his happiness and he clung to it steadfastly.

Two weeks ago, during the last week of Adar I, he was hospitalized following a deterioration in his condition. Last Sunday afternoon, 2 Adar II, while fully conscious, he returned his soul to his Maker as his family members said Krias Shema at his bedside.

Thousands packed into the courtyard of beis knesses Beis Yisroel as the dedicated gabbai, R' Yosef Gutfarb, said Tehillim in a halting voice. The first of the eulogizers was the deceased's father ylct"a, the Tzitz Eliezer, who quoted the verse, "Hatzevi Yisroel al bomosecho cholol eich noflu gibborim" (Shmuel II 1:19). "Not over the death of my son do I cry out, but the departure of the soul of an ish Elokim. From his early youth gedolim attested that his soul belonged to hundreds of years earlier."

HaRav Don Segal said that even when HaRav Waldenberg sat at home within his own dalet amos, his yiras Shomayim was plain to see. In the name of neighborhood residents he appointed his son, HaRav Yaakov Waldenberg, to lead the community in his father's stead.

HaRav Moshe Sternbuch, ravad of Jerusalem's Eida Chareidis, also spoke. "A holy man has left us," he said in a choked voice. "His suffering atoned for the sins of the generation and protected us."

HaRav Aviezer Piltz and HaRav Nosson Hacohen Kopshitz delivered hespeidim as well. HaRav Yaakov Waldenberg then spoke of his father's firm stance in all situations and his unwavering focus on yiras Shomayim temimoh.

HaRav Simcha Bunim Waldenberg, zt"l was buried on Har Hamenuchos.

 

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