Thousands joined rabbonim and roshei yeshivos at the
levaya for HaRav Binyomin Yehoshua Zilber zt"l,
a former talmid at Yeshivas Novardok and an oved
Hashem from his early youth, who passed away on the
Thursday before Rosh Hashanah at the age of 92.
Binyomin Yehoshua was born in 5676 (1916) in the town of
Yazwa to HaRav Boruch Tzvi Zilber, who was a Trisker Chossid
and died sanctifying Shem Shomayim with his whole
family during the Holocaust. He had lost his mother Soroh at
the age of nine.
At the age of eleven his father sent him to study at Yeshivas
Novardok in Mezritz under HaRav Dovid Bleicher, moro
verabbo. From that point on R' Binyomin's entire world
remained within his own daled amos shel halochoh. He
was the embodiment of a genuine ben yeshiva constantly
engrossed in his learning. From an early age it was clear he
was destined for greatness, devoting his entire life to
avodas Hashem.
Years later it was revealed that one Simchas Torah, HaRav
Bleicher seized the young man's hands and danced with him in
a show of joy over the young shakdan and
tzaddik. During these years he stayed in the tents of
Torah at all times, filling his treasure-chest of knowledge
with Torah, and became the pride and joy of Yeshivas
Novardok.
In 5693 (1933) he came to Eretz Yisroel after setting out for
the train station without even a ticket in his pocket. Upon
arriving at the train station he learned that one of the
young men who had been planning to go was too sick to travel
so R' Binyomin was given his ticket, allowing him to travel
to Eretz Yisroel. Among those who recommended him for an
aliyah visa was HaRav Bleicher, the rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas
Novardok, who said despite his tender age all his deeds were
for the sake of Heaven.
Upon arrival in Eretz Hakodesh he started learning at
Yeshivas Beis Yosef in Bnei Brak, where he attended
shiurim given by the Steipler zt"l and
continued amassing his tremendous knowledge of Torah and
poskim.
Based on the Chazon Ish's recommendation he married the
daughter of HaRav Mordechai Rubinfein, author of the
mussar sefer Kol Korei. At first the couple lived in
Jerusalem's Kerem neighborhood (now considered part of
Geulah) near Maran HaRav Shach zt"l, learning in the
same kollel as Maran HaRav Eliashiv and HaRav Wosner
ylct"a.
HaRav Zilber moved to Bnei Brak but later was asked to serve
as menahel ruchani at Yeshivas Beis HaTalmud in
Jerusalem of HaRav Dov Schwartzman shlita. He also
gave shiurim and talks at HaRav Avrohom Yaffen's Beis
Yosef kollel in Jerusalem.
For many years he would leave home on Rosh Chodesh Elul and
return after Yom Kippur, spending 40 days totally secluded
from worldly matters, ensconced at Yeshivas Itri or at the
home of HaRav Moshe Sternbuch while the latter was serving as
ravad of Johannesburg or in Sanhedria Murchevet near
Yeshivas Beis HaTalmud. He would also go to Beis HaMussar to
study for days on end.
Over the years he published books on halacha, mussar
and avodas Hashem including Oz Nidberu, a
15- volume set of responsa, five more books on the laws of
Shmittah, Mekor Hahalochoh on the laws of Shabbos,
Bris Olom on the laws of Shabbos and Shmittah, and
Beis Boruch on the Chayei Odom. He also
published a number of mussar books, including one on
Shaarei Tshuva, Toras HaYiroh on Rabbenu Yonah
and Shaarei Ha'avodoh and Kuntrus Havidui,
which infuse readers with ahavas Hashem and yiras
Hashem.
HaRav Zilber's health was in decline for the past several
years until he returned his soul to his Maker on Thursday
afternoon in the presence of 40 of his children and
grandchildren as they accepted upon themselves ol Malchus
Shomayim.
The levaya set out that evening from his home in Bnei
Brak, headed toward Har Hazeisim in Jerusalem.
The first to deliver a hesped was HaRav Shmuel Halevi
Wosner shlita, who spoke about HaRav Zilber's
gadlus and humility and asked that he act as a
meilitz yosher for Klal Yisroel.
HaRav Boruch Dov Povarsky said, "After all the trials he
underwent, HaKadosh Boruch Hu dubbed Avrohom Ovinu
`yirei Elokim.' Every generation has certain
individuals who embody the traits of Avrohom. Rebbe Binyomin
zt"l was a ben olom haboh. His whole life was
humility and meekness."
HaRav Nissim Karelitz recalled that throughout his lifetime
he toiled in Torah. "And I remember when he was still a
youth, when he got married he was already referred to as a
tzaddik. We have an obligation to arouse ourselves
following the petiroh of an odom godol, and may
our his'orerus be an illui neshomoh for
him."
HaRav Yaakov Galinsky noted the niftar was among the
gems of Yeshivas Novardok. "Rebbe Binyomin, the world didn't
know you and you didn't know the world. I can still recall
how Maran the Chazon Ish called you a tzaddik. HaKadosh
Boruch Hu is rejoicing at the arrival of an untainted
soul and a tzaddik."
Following the eulogies the levaya resumed at the
Shamgar Beis Halvayos in Jerusalem, where he was eulogized by
HaRav Tuvia Weiss, the Gavad of the Eida Chareidis in
Jerusalem, HaRav Dovid Tzvi Ordentlich, his grandson HaRav
Naftoli Stolik and HaRav Shmuel Auerbach.
HaRav Binyomin Yehoshua Zilber zt"l lost two children,
HaRav Yechiel Avrohom and a daughter, the wife of the late
Rav Simchah Leib Golshevsky, and is survived by six children,
Rav Dovid, Rov Shmuel Yitzchok, Rav Boruch and three
daughters married to Rov Moshe Tzitzensky, Rav Chonoh Horlick
and Rov Avrohom Menachem Tussman respectively, as well
grandchildren and great-grandchildren carrying on his
spiritual legacy.
