Rav Emanuel HaLevi Toporowitz z”l has passed away at the age of 79. He was known throughout the Torah world as a staunch supporter of limud haTorah and a generous baal tzedakah.
A founder and pillar of Yeshivas Nachlas HaLevi’im in Haifa, he carried the financial burden of the institution on his shoulders for decades out of deep love for Torah. He lived modestly, dedicating the vast majority of his wealth to acts of kindness and charity.
Rav Emanuel was a son of Rav Shlomo Toporowitz zt”l, a prominent rav in Haifa in the previous generation. He was born and raised in poverty in the city, in a home where financial struggle was a constant reality. He would later recall how scarce things were—so much so that one egg would be split among six children for dinner.
His father, Rav Shlomo zt”l, lived in a small shack in the Neve Sha’anan neighborhood after being sent there by the Chazon Ish zt”l to strengthen the spiritual fabric of the area. At one point, Rav Shlomo considered leaving Haifa but, after consulting with the Chazon Ish, was told to stay and would be blessed as a result. The brachah was fulfilled: all of his children became bnei Torah.
As a child, Rav Emanuel would walk the streets wearing two yarmulkes, as local children educated in secular schools would sometimes steal them off his head. He began his Torah studies in Yeshiva Ramat HaSharon and by age 13, was already learning in Ponovezh.
During his teenage years, he would return to Haifa for Rosh Hashanah to blow shofar. He studied the halachos meticulously to ensure he fulfilled the mitzvah precisely and was eventually considered a mumcheh in the laws and practice of tekias shofar.
Following the passing of Rav Aharon Kotler zt”l, Rav Emanuel continued his learning in Lakewood. He ultimately received semichah from Rav Moshe Feinstein zt”l.
He went on to serve as a maggid shiur in St. Louis and later as a rebbi in New York. His impact on students was remarkable. When he arrived, only one student in the school had gone on to yeshiva; after his first year, 25 out of 26 boys enrolled in yeshiva.
Later, Rav Emanuel transitioned into the business world, where he saw great success. Still, he gave away the bulk of his wealth to Torah causes—chief among them, Yeshivas Nachlas HaLevi’im, which was established on the very site of the small shack where he grew up.
He fulfilled the mitzvah of tzedakah quietly and humbly for decades, always helping those in need without drawing attention. He, for example, restored the Jewish cemetery in Kovno and was involved in many other acts of kindness, always discreetly.
Although few knew the extent of his financial means, those close to him revealed that he gave away most of his fortune to tzedakah, keeping only a fifth for himself to live a modest lifestyle.
Members of his community shared that he once paid a large sum of money to help rescue Jews from Iran, bringing them to the United States. Many of those he saved ended up learning in yeshivos in Baltimore and are now talmidei chachamim.
He was also deeply involved in Jewish outreach in Azerbaijan and was part of a vaad hatzalah that regularly donated thousands of dollars to support Jewish life there. He invested not only money but also significant time and effort into this cause.
During the American recession, when many in his community were struggling financially, Rav Emanuel would quietly bring cash to the local rav, asking him to distribute it without revealing the source. Every month, the rav would discreetly pass the money along to help families get by.
Talmidim and alumni of Yeshivas Nachlas HaLevi’im, as well as members of the Neve Sha’anan community in Haifa, owe him an immeasurable debt of gratitude. From the moment the yeshiva was founded, he was its unwavering supporter, even during the most difficult times, never allowing himself to ease up in his efforts.
He was careful to fulfill aseh lecha rav and was close with several gedolim of the previous generation, including Rav Elazar Menachem Man Shach zt”l, who held him in high esteem.
Those close to him noted his scrupulous honesty in matters of money. If he was ever in doubt over a financial issue, he would always defer to the other party, sometimes forfeiting large sums to avoid potential wrongdoing.
Rav Emanuel was buried in Lakewood.
Yehi zichro baruch.
{Matzav.com}