But in Safed: 'Pishke', the man who made everyone's heart happy, dies at age 59

May 14, 2014   

Baruch Dayan, the truth teller: This morning (Wednesday), Rabbi Yisrael Zvi Blau, one of the most prominent Chabad Hasidim, passed away at the age of 59.

The late Rabbi, son of Rabbi Yaakov Zalman Blau, was affectionately known by his friends as "Pishke." He studied in his youth at the Torat Emet Yeshiva in Jerusalem, and at the Tomchei Temimim Yeshiva in the United States, where he married his wife, a daughter of the Dubov family.

Four months ago he suffered a stroke and was hospitalized.

נהג כל יום לעלות למירון וללמוד, וטרח להגיע לכל השמחות של אנשי צפת. נודע כמשמח אלוקים ואדם, ונמנה על מקימי שכונת מאור חיים. לפני 4 חודשים קיבל אירוע מוחי, ומאז לא קם ממיטת חוליו. לפני כשבוע הועבר לבית החולים שערי צדק בירושלים.

He left behind 12 sons and daughters, grandsons and granddaughters, who follow in his footsteps.

His funeral left Shamgar for Mount Hamunuchot.

Sitting 'Seven' in his house at 5 Tzahal Street in the city of Safed.