HaRav Yaakov Osher Kapf zt"l, the grandson of the
Admor of Lelov R' Moshe Mordechai, passed away unexpectedly
in his beis medrash on Purim. The levaya set
out from his beis medrash located in Jerusalem's Neveh
Tzvi neighborhood just three hours later, at midnight. The
deceased was buried in the family plot on Har Hazeisim.
Yaakov Osher Kapf was born on 20 Shevat 5705 (1945) to HaRav
Shmuel Ozer and his mother tlct"a, the eldest daughter
of the Admor of Lelov.
He studied at Yeshivas Slonim-Be'er Avrohom in Jerusalem. He
remembered those years of intense study all his life and when
he eulogized his father he recalled how, although his family
was in a terrible state of privation, his father would scrimp
on basic necessities in order to save a bit of money to buy
books on the maseches his son was learning in yeshiva
at the time.
He married the only daughter of HaRav Moshe Shmuel Tausig,
the rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Tiferes Aharon, who stood by his
side faithfully and devotedly throughout his lifetime. After
they were married he accepted a post as a ram at
Yeshivas Lelov. During this period he was also selected to
help edit Otzar Haposkim and spent several years
editing a number of the volumes.
Every week he would provide food for the poor for Shabbos,
but he asked the Rebbetzin to prepare it discretely to
prevent his children from noticing. On several occasions he
was known to say he forfeited all for the sake of his
children's education in Torah and yiras Shomayim. He
avoided all extravagances, ending fast days with just bread
and water.
He rejoiced over every opportunity to do a mitzvah, even the
"minor" mitzvas that people tend to tread underfoot, devoting
himself body and soul to keep every mitzvah carefully and in
every last detail.
After his father passed away he opened a beis medrash
in his name and the place became a magnet for Torah and
avodoh for the yirei'im and shleimim of
Yerushalayim.
After delivering a talk on Purim he stepped into his side
room, asking for a glass of water. He then lay down on the
bed in the room for a short rest and his neshomoh rose
up to the Heavens as music and dancing filled the beis
medrash. When news of his sudden passing arrived, the
Purim joy turned into bitter mourning as his congregants
began to recite Tehillim.
HaRav Yaakov Osher Kapf zt"l is survived by his mother
and wife as well as his sons and sons-in-law, including
several rabbonim, and his grandchildren. Marbitzei Torah
veyiroh and doers of kindness, they all follow the path
he set with mesirus nefesh.
