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NEWS
HaRav Yitzchok Levenstein zt"l
By S. Bruchi
Cloaked in mourning, thousands of Bnei Brak residents led by maranan verabonon, HaRav Aharon Leib Shteinman, HaRav Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz, HaRav Nissim Karelitz, HaRav Chaim Kanievsky, HaRav Meir Tzvi Bergman, roshei yeshivos, dayonim, rabbonim and hundreds of Yeshivas Bircas Efraim students past and present took part Friday morning, Erev Rosh Hashana, in the levaya for HaRav Yitzchok Levenstein zt"l, who passed away at the age of 49 following a difficult period of illness.
Yitzchok Levenstein was born on 21 Teves 5721 (1961) to his father, Rav Yehuda and his mother, both of whom survive him. He was raised in a home infused with ahavas Torah and yiras Shomayim, shaping his character as a man of Torah and laying the foundations for a life of hasmodoh, refinement, chessed and concern for others.
After studying at Yeshivas Ponovezh he married and joined a kollel for a short time before being asked to serve as a ram at Yeshivas Bircas Efraim Letzei'irim, where he spent the next 20 years, until the last month of his life, delivering shiurim on a regular basis.
When a yeshiva was started in Or Yehuda he joined the staff of ramim, and took part in building the yeshiva from the ground up. He would spend Shabbosos and chagim at the yeshiva, giving talks to the students.
HaRav Levenstein had a close bond with HaRav Shteinman ylct"a, who he knew since his days at the Ponovezh yeshiva ketanoh and who lives in close proximity to the niftar's parents to this day. As a child he would pay weekly visits to the Rosh Yeshiva to review his learning in cheder, and as an adult he constantly helped his rebbe in myriad ways for many years. The Rosh Yeshiva trusted him implicitly and was accompanied by him whenever he traveled. The niftar would regularly present matters affecting the chareidi world to HaRav Shteinman for consideration.
During the last week of Elul his condition took a turn for the worse, though he retained his faculties through the end. On Erev Rosh Hashana at 9 a.m. he returned his soul, purified through yissurim, to his Maker.
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