It is with great sadness that we report the news of the passing of HaRav Yechiel Levenberg ztz’l. He was Niftar on Friday morning.

HaRav Yechiel ztz’l was the son of HaRav Tzvi Levenberg ztz’l, Ra’m in Yeshivas Chaim Berlin, Brooklyn. HaRav Tzvi ztz’l was the son of HaRav Yehuda Heschel Levenberg ztz’l; Rosh Yeshiva of New Haven; the first Yeshiva to be established in the U.S, that was modelled on the Litvishe yeshivos of Europe. He was a ben bayis in the home of HaRav Yitzchak Hutner ztz’l.

His mother, Rebbetzin Chana was the daughter of HaGaon HaRav Moshe Shatzkes, Rav of Lomzha, who escaped war torn Europe together with her father, along with the Mir Yeshiva, via Shanghai.

HaRav Yechiel ztz’l grew up on the Lower East Side, together with his siblings, in the proximity of many Gedolim, including his venerable neighbour HaGaon HaRav Moshe Feinstein ztz’l, with whom he had a close kesher from early childhood. During his years at the Mir Yeshiva in Yerushalayim, he was a Talmid Muvhak of both HaRav HaGaon Rav Chaim Shmuelevitz ztz’l and of HaRav HaGaon Rav Nochum Partzovitz ztz’l learning bechevrusa and maintaining a special bond with both of them.

HaRav Yechiel ztz’l married his Rebbetzin Fayge tblch’t; daughter of Hagaon Rav Moshe Schwab ztz’l, Mashgiach of Gateshead Yeshiva and went to live in England, where he joined the Kollel HaRabbonim in Gateshead and learnt there for fifteen years.

HaRav Yechiel ztz’l was then brought to London to head the Menorah Grammar School . He became a Dayan and Moreh Tzedek there and was Rov of Beis Hamedrash Chovevei Torah. He was known as a tremendous pikeach; both in his familiarity with all areas of learning and in his understanding of human nature. He had numerous talmidim across the spectrum and connected to them all.

During the last two years of his life, he and his Rebbetzin moved to Manchester, to live nearer to some of their children.

He is survived by his Rebbetzin, sons, daughters, grandchildren and great grandchildren and by his brother HaRav Yehuda Heschel Levenberg of Lakewood and Mrs Devora Goldstein of Chicago.

His petira is a great loss for all and his passing marks the end of an era.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)