ZAKA director Yehudah Meshi-Zahav lost his father to the coronavirus over Shabbos while still sitting shiva for his mother, who also passed away of the virus, and within the shloshim (30 days) of his brother’s death after contracting the virus HaRav Menachem Mendel Meshi-Zahav, z’l, was found in his home unconscious on Friday morning and was evacuated to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital. Unfortunately, he passed away a day later on Shabbos afternoon at the age of 84. HaRav Menachem Mendel was born in Jerusalem to his father, Rav Chaim Dovid, z’l who was known for his ability to read hands, which perhaps he learned from his father Rav Yisrael Yitzchak, z’l, a mekubal.

Rabbi Yehuda Dukes, a beloved husband and father who inspired thousands around the world with his unshakable faith as he battled COVID 19, passed away on Thursday, 8 Shvat, 5781. He was 39. Rabbi Dukes was the founder and director of the JNet organization, who devoted his life to assisting thousands around the world in learning Torah. After he fell ill 9 months ago, his wife, Sarah Dukes, inspired thousands with her strong faith and belief that her husband would survive. Her updates on her husband’s condition and progress were a source of inspiration to many. Last month, Yudi arrived home from the hospital after 8 months of illness, only to be readmitted the next day due to liver failure due to COVID. He passed away today, leaving his wife Sarah and 6 children.

YWN regrets to inform you of the Petira of Hagaon HaRav Yehuda Kelemer ZATZAL, the longtime Rov of Young Israel of West Hempstead. He was 74. Rav Kelemer studied in Mir Yerushalayim, and received Semicha from Hagaon HaRav Chaim Shmulevitz ZATZAL. He was the Mechaber of numerous Seforim, and was a well-known Posek. Prior to learning in the Mir, the Niftar learned in Telz Cleveland. With his brilliant mind, Rav Kelemer was chosen by the Rosh Yeshiva, HaRav Gifter as his personal Chavrusa at the young age of 15. Hagaon HaRav Rv Elyashiv would send people in America to ask Shailos by him. He was a 9th generation (direct – “ben achar bas”) of the Baal Shem Tov.

Shock and mourning engulfed the city of Modiin Illit on Motzei Shabbos with the news of the petira of Mrs. Leah Kirshenbaum, a’h, of COVID-19 at the age of 43. The nifteres was a well-known and beloved gannenet (playgroup teacher) in the city, and has lovingly taught hundreds of the city’s children for over twenty years. She contracted the coronavirus about a week and a half ago and her condition deteriorated quickly, apparently a result of the chronic medical condition she suffered from. She passed away on Shabbos, leaving behind her bereft husband, three children, parents and siblings. Leah, a’h,  grew up in the Sanhedria neighborhood of Jerusalem and moved to Modiin Illit after her marriage to Rav Eliezer Kirschenbaum, a Rosh Kollel of one of the Achvas Torah kollelim.

Yeshivas Kol Torah was engulfed in mourning on Motzei Shabbos when the bitter news reached the yeshivah of the petira of HaGaon HaRav Shalom Povarsky, who served as one of the yeshiva’s Roshei Yeshivah for decades. The Rosh Yeshivah, z’tl, 85, was taken to Hadassah Ein Kerem on Wednesday due to breathing difficulties caused by the coronavirus. His condition deteriorated and at the end of the week, he was sedated and ventilated and on Shabbos, he was niftar. HaRav Povarsky was born in Europe, the youngest son of the late Rosh Yeshivah HaGaon HaRav Yehoshua Dovid Povarsky, z’tl, Rosh Yeshivas Ponevezh and author of Yeshuas Dovid. When he was four he moved with his parents to Eretz Yisrael. As a bochur, HaRav Povarsky learned in Ponevezh.

YWN regrets to inform you of the Petirah of Mr. Paul Miller Z”L at the age of 104. Mr. Miller, the child of Jewish Lithuanian immigrants, taught math for over eighty years, of which more than fifty of them were spent teaching in the Mechina of Ner Yisroel in Baltimore. He was always ready to go out of his way to help those students who needed a little extra assistance and he forged cherished relationships with three generations of Talmidim. The private Levaya will take place at Levinson’s on Wednesday, December 23, at 1:30 PM. Interestingly, Mr Miller made headlines in 2011 when he was inducted into the National Teacher Hall of Fame. He was 18 when he began teaching in 1934 after attending teachers college at what is now Towson University.

Mourning engulfed the Torah world on the news of the petira of HaRav Avraham Wolfson, z’tl, one of the greatest Torah supporters and ba’alei tzedaka of this generation, overnight Monday at the age of 70. Rav Avraham suffered a heart attack eight months ago and his medical condition has been precarious ever since. More recently he contracted the coronavirus and a month ago, he was hospitalized and sedated and ventilated. The niftar, the son of Reb Zev Wolfson, z’l, the founder of the Wolfson Foundation, resided in Flatbush, where he opened his home to host countless Roshei Yeshivah and other guests who came to the States to fundraise or for other purposes.

YWN regrets to inform you of the Petira of HaRav Tzvi Elimelech Eckstein ZT”L, a Rebbe for more than 50 years in Mirrer Yeshiva in Flatbush. He was 79. The Niftar contracted COVID-19 around two weeks ago and was hospitalized a few days later. His condition turned critical until he was Niftar early Thursday morning. He was a Talmid of Hagaon HaRav Aharon Kreiser ZATZAL before going to RJJ and then the Mirrer Yeshiva, where he learned under HaRav Shmuel Brudny, HaRav Shmuel Berenbaum and the Mashgiach, HaRav Hersh Feldman. HaRav Eckstein was a Magid Shiur and an assistant Menahel for more than 50 years at the Mirrer Yesiva, where he was Mechanech thousands of Bochrim over the years. His entire life revolved around the Yeshiva, walking through the doors each day for decades.

YWN regrets to inform you of the Petira of HaGaon HaRav Gedalia Dov Schwartz ZATZAL, longtime Posek in Chicago. He was 95. He served as the Rosh Bais Din of the Chicago Rabbinical Council and was a Rov and Posek in Chicago for over 30 years. The Niftar served as the Rosh Av Bais Din of both the Beth Din of America and the Chicago Rabbinical Council (cRc) as well as the Rosh Bais Din National Beth Din of the Rabbinical Council of America. Rav Schwartz was one of Hatzalah Chicago’s Rabbinic Advisory Board Members. He gave the founders his Bracha to start up when others felt unsure if Chicago needed a Hatzalah. Hatzalah has so far responded to over 8,200 calls for service and many lives have been saved.

YWN regrets to inform you of the Petira of Hagaon HaRav Yisroel Chaim Menashe Friedman ZATZAL, the Rosh Av Beis Din of Satmar in Williamsburg. He was 94. The Niftar was a Dayan in Satmar for decades, since the time of the Divrei Yoel ZATZAL – who appointed him as a Dayan. He was Niftar on an auspicious day in Satmar, Chof Alef Kislev, the day that the Divrei Yoel was saved from the Nazis YM”S. The Levaya will be held today (Monday) at 12:00PM at the Satmar Bais Medrash located at 152 Rodney Street. The Kevura will be held in Kiryas Yoel. Boruch Dayan HaEmmes… (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)