Prominent figures in the Torah world, including HaRav Shmuel Auerbach
shlita, HaRav Meir Tzvi Bergman shlita and HaRav Nosson
Tzvi Finkel zt"l, were among thousands of bnei Torah
attending the levaya for HaRav Dov Schwartzman zt"l, rosh
yeshiva of Yeshivas Beis HaTalmud, who passed away Sunday night at the
age of 91 after several years of poor health.
Dov Schwartzman was born in Elul 5681 (1921) in Nevel, Russia to HaRav
Yehoshua Zeev, an alumnus of Yeshivas Slobodka and later a rov in Tel
Aviv. After Sukkos 5690 (1929) his family moved to Eretz Hakodesh, and
in 5693 (1933), when he was just 12-and-a-half, he entered Yeshivas
Chevron in Jerusalem's Geula neighborhood, where he became known for
his sharp mind, powerful memory and hasmodoh.
In 5706 (1946) he traveled to the United States, where he married the
daughter of HaRav Aharon Kotler zt"l, rosh yeshiva of Lakewood
Yeshiva. Immediately after the wedding he began studying at the
yeshiva and leading chaburos.
HaRav Kotler had come to Eretz Yisroel on a special visit after World
War II. Outstanding bochurim gathered to speak with him about
their learning as he searched for a chosson for his daughter.
But when Rav Aharon was told about an exceptional bochur who
had remained at the yeshiva to learn, he went to size him up and then
chose him as a son-in-law.
For two years he served as a ram at Yeshivas Rabbenu Chaim
Berlin and then with HaRav Shmuel Kamenetsky shlita he started
the Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia. Thirteen years later, in 5725
(1965), he founded Yeshivas Marom Tzion in Jerusalem's Bayit Vegan
neighborhood. It later became Beis HaTalmud, including a yeshiva
ketanoh, a yeshiva gedoloh and a number of kollelim.
The yeshiva spent time at a number of locations, eventually settling
in Sanhedria Murchevet. HaRav Schwartzman formed a partnership with
HaRav Yitzchok Hutner zt"l, but it did not last long.
Recalling HaRav Schwartzman's astounding hasmodoh, HaRav
Simchah Zissel Broide zt"l once described how the two spent an
entire winter zman learning Maseches Eruvin every day for nine
hours of uninterrupted study, completing the maseches with
Rishonim by the end of the winter.
He mastered all of the Maharal's works. For many years he was known
for his profound Shabbos night shiurim on Mizmor Shir Leyom
HaShabbos, presenting a different angle on the passage each
time.
He established the first yeshiva for baalei tshuva, Shema
Yisrael, which was founded as part of his yeshiva and then branched
off into a number of yeshivas, including Yeshivas Ohr Somayach, where
he served as Nosi and gave shiurim. His approach was that Torah
study is the best means to advance them in Yiddishkeit.
His second marriage was to Yehudis Muller, the daughter of Rav Meir
Muller, chairman of Agudas Yisroel's Vaad Hatzalah in France.
* * *
The levaya set out from Yeshivas Beis HaTalmud in Jerusalem's
Sanhedria Murchevet neighborhood. Eulogies were delivered by HaRav
Shmuel Auerbach; HaRav Moshe Shapira; HaRav Mordechai Ezrachi, rosh
yeshiva of Yeshivas Ateres Yisroel; HaRav Noach Heisler, the rov of
Sanhedria Murchevet; the Mashgiach HaRav Don Segal; HaRav Boruch Dov
Povarsky, one of the roshei yeshiva of Yeshivas Ponovezh; HaRav Mendel
Weinbach, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Ohr Somayach; his talmid HaRav
Yonoson Domb, mashgiach at Yeshivas Beis Meir; his son HaRav
Yaakov Eliezer Schwartzman, rosh yeshiva of Lakewood East (Beth
Medrash Govoha of America in Eretz Yisroel); his sons, HaRav Zevulun
Schwartzman, HaRav Isser Zalman Schwartzman and HaRav Yitzchok
Schwartzman; and his son-in-law, HaRav Yosef HaKohen Shtrasser, rosh
kollel at Yeshivas Beis HaTalmud.
HaRav Dov Schwartzman zt"l was buried on Har Hazeisim near the
graves of his forefathers.
