Numerous Tzfat residents laid to rest HaRav Eliezer HaKohen
Kahn, a respected member of the city's chareidi community who
passed away suddenly at the age of 50. An outstanding
avreich at the height of his achievement in Torah, he
served as an example of hardworking dedication to Torah and
elevated middos.
Eliezer Kahn was born in America on 20 Shevat 5715 (1955) to
the late Rav Shlomo Yehuda Kahn, a talmid of HaRav
Ehrenfeld, and to his mother Hentshe tlc"a. He studied
at the yeshiva ketanoh run by the Viennese
kehilloh in Williamsburg, and then went on to Yeshivas
Telz and Yeshivas Lakewood. He married the daughter of HaRav
Yerachmiel Gradman, who had close ties with HaRav Yaakov
Kamenetsky. When they married, the couple made their home
near HaRav Kamenetsky and the young avreich cleaved to
him wholeheartedly.
He receive semichoh from HaRav Tuvioh Goldstein, rosh
yeshiva of Yeshivas Emek Halochoh. Years later, on the advice
of HaRav Kamenetsky, he moved to Eretz Yisroel with
his family, settling in Tzfas after finding that its
inexpensive housing would allow him to continue his Torah
learning without financial worries.
In Tzfas he joined Kollel Nachalas Naftoli, run by HaRav
Avigdor Feivelson ylct"a. He was known for his careful
adherence to the laws of shemiras haloshon, and gave a
shiur based on Chofetz Chaim, to instill the
importance of shemiras haloshon in others. His family
members recall his exceptional hasmodoh and his
devoted tefillos.
Feeling ill a few weeks ago he was taken to the hospital,
where at first the doctors thought that he was merely
suffering from dehydration. But his condition deteriorated
within a matter of hours until he returned his soul to his
Maker on 23 Teves.
The levaya set out late that night from the central
beis medrash in Kiryat Meor Chaim, where he made his
home. Despite the late hour, hundreds of Tzfat residents
gathered to take part in the levaya.
The neighborhood rov, HaRav A. Ernster, delivered a eulogy
lamenting the loss. "The City of Tzfat has lost the Chofetz
Chaim dwelling in it," he declared, calling on listeners to
emulate the deceased's ways of ahavoh ve'achvoh and to
lend a hand to support the surviving family members, left
like a boat torpedoed out at sea.
He was followed by HaRav Yisroel Meir Weiss, rosh yeshiva of
Yeshivas Nachalas Halevi'im, where one of the deceased's sons
is a top student. The Rosh Yeshiva spoke of the
chinuch he passed on to his children and the great
love of Torah he instilled in them. A brief hesped was
also given by the deceased's brother-in-law, HaRav Moshe
Breines, and then his son-in-law and his oldest son offered
words of parting, noting his hasmodoh and uncommon
middos.
He was buried in the middle of the night as the family and
community members stood dumbfounded, unable to believe the
great tragedy that had suddenly descended on them. HaRav
Eliezer HaKohen Kahn zt"l is survived by his wife and
ten children, of which only two are married.
Based on instructions by rabbonim, a fund has been set up for
the family by Vaad HaRabbonim LeInyonei Tzedokoh Be'eretz
Hakodesh. The public is being called on to contribute to the
fund by calling 1-800-223-636 and noting the contribution is
intended for the Kahn Family Fund ("Keren Mishpachat
Kahn"), Fund No. 2460 or by direct deposit to Acct. 105-
465194 at Bank Pagi, Branch 185 (Geulah).
