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.
