Rabbi Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz
Photo courtesy of Yehuda Perkowitz, Kikar Hashabat
Masses attend Rabbi Lefkowitz' funeral
Tens of thousands of haredim, including senior rabbis, flock to Bnei Brak to pay their last respects to Lithuanian-Orthodox leader
Tens of thousands of haredim flocked to the central city of Bnei Brak on Tuesday morning to take part in the funeral of Rabbi Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz, one of the leaders of the Lithuanian-Orthodox faction and head of Ponovezh Yeshiva.
Lefkowitz died at the Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem on Monday night, two days after collapsing.
The funeral procession began with the reciting of Psalms. Senior ultra-Orthodox rabbis paid their last respects to Rabbi Lefkowitz, including the Rebbe of Ger, the Belzer Rebbe, Rabbi Aharon Yehuda Leib Shteinman and Hasidic "posek" Rabbi Shmuel Wosner.
In his will, read at the hospital on Monday night, the deceased asked that his two sons be the only ones to eulogize him.
Thousands flock to Bnei Brak (photo courtesy of 'Behadrei Hadarim')
Heavy traffic jams were reported in the funeral area due to the blocking of several roads. Police called on drivers to stay away from Bnei Brak till the end of the funeral.
"This is a significant day for the haredi public, in which one of the deciders of Jewish Law has passed away," a Beit Shemesh resident told Ynet while making his way to the funeral.
Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger said Monday night that "the world of Torah has lost one of its central pillars. The rabbi was one of the generation's greatest scholars, who was a genius in all treasures of Torah. His modesty and humility were an example to us all."
Knesset Member Moshe Gafni (United Torah Judaism), who was at the rabbi's bedside before he died, said that "this is a huge loss for the world of Torah. The rabbi was one of the greatest yeshiva heads, who educated thousands of students for generations and was one of the designers of haredi Judaism.
"He welcomed every person hospitably, and many enjoyed his advice and resourcefulness. Out generation is in great mourning."
- Follow Ynetnews on Facebook
