Rabbis, top state officials, and public figures are mourning the elder rabbi of religious Zionism, the rabbi of the day, Rabbi Chaim Druckman, who passed away on the last day of the holiday of Hanukkah.
President of the State Isaac Herzog Obituary: "I mourn the passing of Rabbi Chaim Druckman zt"l. Rabbi Druckman was a public emissary and spiritual leader who led in vision and action some of the most important Torah, Zionist, and revivalist endeavors of our generation.
The Torah of Israel, the people of Israel, and the Land of Israel stood before his eyes every day, hour by hour, and he devoted his life to the State of Israel and the Jewish people.
Want more news, videos and stories? Join the Haredim 10 WhatsApp channel >>
I had a warm and close relationship with him over the years and always gained important and enlightening insights from him, and I have said this to him, his family and his loved ones more than once. My condolences to his family, his lovers and his students. It is a shame to lose David, but he will not be forgotten."
Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu Expressed deep sorrow over his passing: "A great light of love for Israel went out today. At this time of farewell to Rabbi Chaim Druckman, my heart grieves deeply with his dear family and with many, many people in the nation. The State of Israel has lost a great spiritual leader, and I have lost a personal friend whom I greatly respected.".
As someone who experienced the horrors of the Holocaust in his childhood, Rabbi Druckman dedicated himself to nation-building upon immigrating to Israel. His compass was the mission for the benefit of all Israel. The education of youth, concern for settlement, mobilization for social missions, the growth of the Zionist-religious Torah world, and guiding young people toward meaningful service in the IDF were at the forefront of his concerns.
His extensive activity as a member of Knesset reflected his being not only a representative of the sector he represented, but a loyal emissary of the general public in Israeli society.
A key interface between the Rabbi and me was in the field of conversion. As head of the conversion department in the Prime Minister's Office, he took a heart-warming approach that helped thousands of new immigrants join the ranks of our people. The fire of mission that burned in Rabbi Druckman has not been extinguished, and its sparks lie deep in the hearts of thousands of his students.
His path will continue for generations - in the spirit of the words of his teacher and rabbi, Rabbi Kook zt"l: "Bring light, bring holiness, bring righteousness, bring justice, bring a life worthy of its name, for Israel.".
Chairman of Religious Zionism MK Bezalel Smotrich: We were orphans and had no father. The crown of our head has fallen, woe to us, for we have been broken. The elder of the rabbis of religious Zionism, Rabbi Chaim Druckman, zt"l, ascended in a storm to heaven, and where are we going?.
In recent years, I have been privileged to be under the rabbi's protection and learn public leadership from his wisdom, humility, righteousness, and leadership. Rabbi Druckman zt"l was a giant among giants in his love of Israel and saw every Jew as "You are all beautiful, my wife, and there is no flaw in you.".
The Rabbi lived with tremendous dedication to the cause of all Israel throughout his life, and even in recent weeks I was privileged to have the Rabbi speak and advise me in the wee hours of the night. Until his final days, there was not a moment when the Rabbi was not free and available to mobilize for the cause of all Israel.
The people of Israel and the entire world have lost one of the spiritual giants of our generation, a righteous man, an educator, a man whose entire being is dedicated to the Torah of the Land of Israel, to the people of Israel and to the Land of Israel. He raised many students throughout the generations and revived in them the teachings of his rabbis, Rabbi Kook, zt"l, and his son, the Rachi, zt"l.".
Defense Minister Benny Gantz"My heart aches for the death of Rabbi Druckman, whose students I had the privilege of being as a youth at the Or Etzion Yeshiva. The Rabbi was a man of faith, devoted to the State of Israel and the Zionist idea. Later, I had the privilege of helping to maintain the operation of the military boarding school in Or Etzion with the Rabbi's encouragement, and I always found him to be a listening ear. I met with him in recent months, and I was privileged to see him as sharp-minded and determined as ever in the fervor of his faith. Rabbi Druckman was a Holocaust survivor - whose resurrection was an inseparable part of his actions and legacy.
"On this path of rebirth, many more will continue to follow in his footsteps, and this will be his mark. My condolences to his family, may his memory be blessed.".
Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi Lau: "Together with the entire House of Israel, I grieve the passing of Rabbi Chaim Druckman, the great man who, for ninety years of his life, taught, educated, and brought Jews closer to faith in the Creator. And out of his great love for the Torah, he loved every person in Israel, every inch of the land of Israel, and every letter in the Torah of Israel. In these three perfections, he educated and raised generations who will continue to learn, and continue to see the great light shining before their eyes. It is a pity for those who are lost and forgotten.".
United Torah Judaism Chairman MK Yitzhak Goldknopf"Together with all of Beit Yisrael and his many disciples that he was honored to raise and lead, I mourn the passing of Rabbi Chaim Druckman, zt"l, Rosh Yeshiva 'Or - Etzion', head of the 'Bnei Akiva' yeshiva network and elder of the rabbis of religious Zionism. The place will comfort thousands of his disciples, his family and those who follow in his path. It is a shame for David.".
Chairman of Degel Hatorah, MK Moshe Gafni"I was saddened to hear of the passing of the elder rabbi of religious Zionism, Rabbi Chaim Druckman zt"l, after he succumbed to agony. And I send my condolences to his family, his students, and those who cherish his memory. The place will comfort you among the other mourners of Zion and Jerusalem, and you will not add to the grief any further.".
Shas Chairman MK Aryeh Deri"It is with great sadness that I learned of the passing of the elder rabbi of religious Zionism, Rabbi Chaim Druckman, zt"l. After enduring bitter and difficult suffering. I send my sincere condolences to his respected family, along with the tens of thousands of your people, the House of Israel, who deeply mourn his passing. May his memory be blessed.".
Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked: Rabbi Chaim Druckman, a scholar, a great leader and an outstanding educator, has passed away. In his life, the rabbi embodied the combination of the Land of Israel, the people of Israel and the Torah of Israel, raised generations of students whom he educated on the path of Torah and work, and today they play a significant role in the core of activity in Israeli society.
I have known the rabbi for many years. I first met him in 2012 when I was running for the HaBayit Hayehudi primary. Even though I did not grow up in the national religious sector, the rabbi welcomed me warmly and joyfully. Over the years in Israeli politics in which I consulted with him, our bond grew stronger and I was privileged to discover that the rabbi has a good eye, wisdom for life, and a person who knows how to accept others.
The rabbi, whose life is intertwined with the story of the establishment of the State of Israel and the return of the Jewish people to their land, knew how to accommodate the complexities and tensions that exist here, all from a responsible and moderate perspective.
"With his passing, we lost a man who dedicated his entire being to the State of Israel, to the people of Israel, to the Land of Israel, to the Torah of Israel, and to religious Zionism, which were so important to him.".
Knesset Speaker MK Yariv Levin: ""I received with great sadness the news of the passing of Rabbi Chaim Druckman, the elder of the rabbis of religious Zionism, head of the Bnei Akiva yeshivot and recipient of the Israel Prize.
Rabbi Druckman raised generations of students, alongside his tenure as a member of Knesset and Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs. Rabbi Druckman left behind a magnificent legacy of boundless love for the Torah of Israel, for the people of Israel, for the State of Israel, and for the entire Land of Israel. His legacy will continue to accompany the people of Israel for generations.
"On behalf of the Knesset, I send my condolences to his family and his many students. May his memory be blessed.".
