Thousands were on hand on Monday for the levaya of Degel HaTorah leader Rav Avraham Ravitz z”l, including Gedolei Torah, roshei yeshivos, ministers, MKs, and people from all walks of life, frum, dati leumi, and many who did not appear Shomer Shabbos.
For over 20 years Ravitz was the representative of Gedolei Yisrael, fighting the battle of Torah in Eretz HaKodesh, an effort that was publicly acknowledged by many at his levaya.
Rav Ravitz was born in Tel Aviv to HaGaon R’ Aryeh Leib. He was educated in Yeshivas Chevron and received smicha. His exceptional abilities became apparent to all early in his years and at a young age, he became active in Yad L’Achim. Out of character, he also served in the Lechi underground and the IDF.
He later became on of the roshei yeshiva of Ohr Somayach, which spearheaded a kiruv program directed at Jews in North America.
In 1989 he accepted the mantle of Degel HaTorah and during the next two decades, he filled an array of deputy ministerial posts, committee seats and other public positions as a shaliach of the chareidi community.
Among the rabbonim seen at the levaya were Maran HaGaon Rav Shmuel Orbach Shlita, HaGaon Rav Farbstein (Chevron Yeshiva), HaGaon Rav Schlesinger (Kol Torah), HaGaon Rav Deutsch (Kol Torah), HaGaon Rav Ezrachi (Ateret Yisrael), HaGaon Rav Levy (Be’er Torah), HaGaon Rav Shapira, HaGaon Rav Heiman (Bayit Vegan) and many others. A heavy security presence was also visible due to the participation of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, government ministers and elected officials.
Hespedim from Gedolei Torah spoke of the niftar’s midos HaChesed, the Shabbos table with endless streams of guests, the kiruv, and his shlichus in Knesset and the public sector.
Five of the rav’s 12 children were among the maspidim, including Moshe, his bachor, who eight years ago gave his father a kidney. Moshe also explained that Baruch Hashem, Hillel was born two weeks ago, and now, as the first great grandchild, he become the only great grandchild who will merit meeting his great grandfather. Many of the rav’s over 90 grandchildren were also present at the levaya.
Former Shas leader Rav Aryeh Deri described himself as a close friend of the niftar, describing him as the champion voice of the chareidi community in Knesset and the public sector.
(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
4 Responses
Correction: Not Rav Prebstein (Chevron Yeshiva), rather Rav Farbstein (Chevron Yeshiva).
“Out of character, he also served in the Lechi underground and the IDF”.
Yechiel, sounds like this sentence is your opinion, rather than fact.
Rav Ravitz was known for his strong feelings of ‘Ahavas Eretz Yisroel’, which many secular Jews remarked was inspiring to them.
why is it out of character to serve in Tzaha’l?! The greatest gedolim had the deepest respect for all of the chayalim? what a shameful thing to write about anyone, especially R’ Ravitz?!?!?
Also interesting the way the author can tell just by looking at people that they’re not shomer shabbos. Why not just say they were not wearing a yarmulke. It is a well established fact that many people in Eretz Yisrael are in fact shomer shabbos despite all appearances to the contrary. Maybe even more would be chozer b’tshuva if the frum would focus more on v’ahavta l’reyacha kamocha and less on being insulting and divisive.