Heavy mourning: Elder of the yeshivot leaders, Rabbi Baruch Mordechai Ezrachi, zt"l

October 26, 2023   

But it is a heavy burden in Haredi Judaism in Israel and around the world: The Gaon Rabbi Baruch Mordechai Ezrachi, head of the Ateret Yisrael yeshiva, elder of the yeshiva heads and elder of the members of the Council of Torah Sages of the Degel Hatorah, passed away this morning (Thursday) at the age of 94. The head of the yeshiva, zt"l, was hospitalized in Hadassah at noon on Shabbat Parashat Pinchas, after suffering from shortness of breath. The following Sunday, his condition deteriorated and the head of the yeshiva was put to sleep and ventilated. In all the Torah temples and yeshivahs, the gates of heaven were torn in prayer - and the head of the yeshiva underwent treatment to regulate his breathing. During the past four months, his condition has known ups and downs. In the past week, there has been a slight improvement in his condition, but to the great sorrow of this morning, the Aralems conquered the cliffs and the head of the yeshiva returned his pure soul to its Creator. The Gaon Rabbi Baruch Mordechai Ezrachi zt"l taught Torah and reverence for over sixty years in the yeshivots of Kfar Hasidim, Hebron and in the 'Ateret Yisrael' yeshivot in Jerusalem, which in recent years moved to Modi'in Illit. He authored the 'Birket Mordechai' series of books and served as a member of the Council of Torah Elders of 'Degel Hatorah'. He was the son-in-law of the Maran Mashgig, the late Rabbi Meir Hadash zt"l. Upon learning of the sad news, a sense of mourning descended upon the world of Torah and yeshivot. In the 'Ateret Yisrael' yeshivot that he founded, where he taught Torah for decades, there is a sense of deep mourning and sorrow. His funeral will leave tomorrow morning from his home in the Beit Yisrael neighborhood in Jerusalem, since his only son is currently in the United States - and is awaiting his arrival. The Rosh Yeshivot will be buried next to his wife, Rebbetzin Shulamit, on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem.