Maran Rosh Hayeshiva Harav Chaim Yaakov Goldvicht, zt"l

Rav Goldvicht, zt"l, married Rabbanit Miriam, shetichyeh, daughter of the sage Rabbi Joseph Berkowitz, zt"l, one of the great Roshei Yeshiva in Poland before World War II. They moved to Bnei Brak where Rav Goldvicht, zt"l, studied under the Chazon Ish, zt"l, and was also close to Hagaon Harav Isaac Sher, zt"l, Rosh Yeshivat Slobodka, who was one of the greatest masters of Mussar of the generation. In Bnei Brak, as well, Rav Goldvicht, zt"l, was known as a prodigy, and would conduct Talmudic discussions which were attended by the elite of the Kollel members in the city, who were themselves to become renowned Torah greats.

In the year 5714, he was asked to establish Yeshivat Kerem B'Yavneh, and from its inception he served as its Rosh Yeshiva. Rav Goldvicht, zt"l, succeeded in establishing the Yeshiva to the degree to which it is now recognized among Yeshivot worldwide.

Rav Goldvicht, zt"l, originally conceived and implemented the Hesder program for Yeshivot, which integrates Torah study with active service in the Israeli army. In 5751, in recognition of this, he accepted the Israel Prize, the highest award given by the State of Israel for a major contribution to Israeli society. This acceptance was on behalf of the entire Yeshivat Hesder movement.

He established the Kollel program to prepare students for the Rabbinate and Dayanut (Judiciary), a program which has won acclaim in Yeshiva circles worldwide.

The Overseas Students Program was introduced by Rav Goldvicht, zt"l, almost forty years ago, and has allowed thousands of Diaspora Jews to advance their religious education in the Holy Land, and foster closer ties with the Land of Israel and its people. Over five hundred of these students have made Aliyah, making Israel their permanent home.

Today, thousands of Rav Goldvicht's students in Israel and overseas function as Roshei Yeshivot, Rabbis, and Dayanim, while many others are involved in the secular professions. They embody his value of Torah and sanctity in their personal and communal responsibilities.

In addition to his Talmudic scholarship, Rav Goldvicht, zt"l, was known as one of the deep thinkers in Jewish thought and theology, and was a renowned lecturer in these fields.

Following his retirement from the Yeshiva leadership, Maran Rosh Hayeshiva, zt"l, gave Sichot in homes of Yeshiva alumni and to different friends in the Jerusalem area. In fact, on the evening before his passing, he had delivered a Shiur in Har Nof to Yeshiva alumni.

During his last years, Rav Goldvicht, zt"l, wrote several Sifrei Kodesh in Halacha and Aggadah on the Jewish Holidays, and was preparing other Sfarim on Pirkei Avot, Parshat Hashavuah and Masechet Sanhedrin.

Maran Rosh Hayeshiva, zt"l, passed away due to cardiac arrest in his apartment in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Arzei Habira, on Tuesday morning, 7 Adar I, at the age of 69. His passing came after a difficult period of several months, when he was hospitalized several times.

Rav Goldvicht, zt"l, is survived by his wife, Rabbanit Miriam, and two children: Rav Yosef, a Ram in Yeshivat Ohr Yisrael in Petach Tikvah, and Rabbanit Leah, married to Rav Moshe Meyernick, a Rosh Kollel in Jerusalem.

Just before he passed away, the Rosh Hayeshiva, zt"l, requested an intensification of Torah study, in merit of his soul. This was his will at the time of his death, as well as during his lifetime: to increase Torah study and to facilitate the growth and glorification of Torah.

Passing of Maran Rosh Hayeshiva, zt"l

In addition to the Kerem B'Yavneh's Talmimdim, the entire staff of Ramim, the Kollel community, administration members, and office and maintenance workers went to Jerusalem for his burial. Later in the week, the entire Yeshiva administration assembled for a special meeting in memory of Maran Harav Chaim Yaakov Goldvicht, zt"l. Speeches in his memory were delivered by Rosh Hayeshiva, Rav Mordechai Greenberg, shlita; the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Mr. Bernard Dov Hochstein; and Dr. Zerach Warhaftig.

The Talmidim were stunned by the news of the P'tira, and found it difficult to digest the bitter and devastating reality. They took upon themselves the task of around-the-clock learning in the Yeshiva during the Shiva week. The Talmidim also participated in a number of cycles of recitation of Mishnayot during the month of Shloshim, and the completion of two cycles of Shas and the entire Talmud Yerushalmi during the year following Maran Rosh Hayeshiva, zt"l's passing.

The Kaliver Rebbe, shlita, spontaneously came to the Yeshiva on the evening following the passing to encourage and strengthen the Ramim, Avrechim and Talmidim. He also requested to take part in one of the Masechtot of the Shas cycles in memory of Maran Rosh Hayeshiva, zt"l, and to come for the Siyum. The emotions of those present at the Sicha of the Rebbe were clearly visible, particularly during the recital of the Kri'at Shema at the end of the Sicha.

During the Shiva period, there were many Shiurim and Sichot "L'Ilui Nishmato" delivered by different Rabbanim of the top alumni of Kerem B'Yavneh, including: Rosh Hayeshiva Rav Mordechai Greenberg, shlita; Rav Micha'el Brom, shlita, Rosh Yeshivat Shilo; Rav Zalman Baruch Melamed, shlita, an alumnus of the first group of Kerem B'Yavneh students and Rosh Yeshivat Bet El; and Rav Yitzchak Ehrlenger, shlita, a Yeshiva alumnus and former "Ram", whose wife is the niece of Maran Rosh Hayeshiva, zt"l.

On Thursday afternoon of the Shiva week the Kollel Avreichim listened to a Sicha based on an article by the Rosh Yeshiva, zt"l, which was delivered by Rav Zecharia Tubi, shlita. That evening the Talmidim learned until the early morning hours and were given a Shiur by Rav Moshe Chaim Dimantman, shlita.

At the end of the Shiva for Moreinu V'Rabbeinu, there was a Yom Limud L'Ilui Nishmat Maran. During the morning there was independent study time. Beginning in the afternoon, there were Sichot and Divrei Hitor'rut by Rosh Hayeshiva Rav Mordechai Greenberg, shlita; Rav Moshe Chaim Dimantman, shlita; Rav Avraham Rivlin, shlita, the Mashgiach; Rav Yeshayahu Chaim Hadari, shlita; Rav Tzefania Drori, shlita; and by Harav Goldvicht zt"l's son-in-law, Rav Moshe Meyernick, shlita. Mishnayot were recited by the son of Maran, zt"l, Rav Yosef Goldvicht, shlita.

At the end of the Shloshim period there was a Yom SheKulo Torah and an Azkara L'Ilui Nishmat Maran Rosh Hayeshiva, zt"l. Shiurim and Divrei Hitor'rut were given by Rosh Hayeshiva Rav Mordechai Greenberg, shlita; Rav Mordechai Eliyahu, shlita, the Rishon L'Tzion; Rav Yisrael Meir Lau, shlita, Chief Rabbi of Israel; Rav Simcha HaCohen Kook, shlita, Chief Rabbi and Av Bet Din of Rehovot; Rav Mordechai Alon, shlita, Rosh Yeshivat Chorev; Rav Sinai Adler, shlita, the first Ram at Kerem B'Yavneh; and Rav Kalman Ber, shlita, a current Ram at the Yeshiva.

Special Y'Mei Limud and evenings of Torah study were held in memory of Maran Rosh Hayeshiva, zt"l, - from Ramat HaGolan, Gush Etzion and Jerusalem in Israel to locations worldwide such as New York, London, and Johannesburg.

Rav Goldvicht, zt"l, is survived by his wife, Rabbanit Miriam, shetichyeh, and two children, Rav Yosef, a Ram in Yeshivat Ohr Yisroel in Petach Tikvah, and Rabbanit Leah, married to Rav Moshe Meyernick, a Rosh Kollel in Jerusalem.

KBY History