It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Shmaryahu Meltzer zt”l, one of the outstanding talmidei chachamim and marbitzei Torah of our generation, who devoted his entire life to Torah, avodah, and raising generations of bnei Torah. Rav Meltzer, Rosh Kollel of Beis Moshe and one of the roshei yeshiva of Yeshivas Toras Simcha in Yerushalayim, was niftar today at the age of 90.

Rav Meltzer was born in the month of Sivan 5695 to his father, Rav Shmuel Avraham Meltzer, mechaber of Ashdos HaPisgah. His father was among the prominent talmidim of Rav Baruch Ber Leibowitz zt”l in Kamenitz, and later relocated to the United States, where he was moser nefesh to uphold Torah and shechitah during a turbulent period, standing firm against the pressures of the time.

Shortly after his marriage in Chicago to the daughter of Rav Chaim Zalman Frank zt”l, Rav Shmaryahu was appointed as a rebbi in a yeshiva ketanah. Even at a young age, his gadlus baTorah was already evident, and he received semichah lehoraah.

In later years, Rav Meltzer served for an extended period as Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Itri, together with Rav Mordechai Elefant. He subsequently stood at the helm of Yeshivas Mishkan HaTorah on Rechov Sorotzkin for many years. At the direction of Rav Elazar Menachem Man Shach zt”l, and with the support of the philanthropist Morris Esformes, he founded Kollel Beis Moshe.

Many of his talmidim attributed their entire ruchniyus to the foundations he laid. Despite his stature, he walked humbly, learning with constant hasmadah and never holding himself above others.

Rav Meltzer was deeply connected to his rabbeim and would often recount what he heard from his father in the name of Rav Baruch Ber Leibowitz. He would repeat the teaching Rav Baruch Ber said in the name of Rav Chaim Soloveitchik zt”l that one who educates his children merely to be an ehrlicher Yid is removing Torah from future generations; rather, a father must be mechanech his children to gadlus baTorah. Rav Meltzer lived this yesod, constantly instilling a drive for gadlus and ahavas Torah in all his talmidim.

He frequently spoke of his rabbeim in Eretz Yisroel and shared memories of his visits to Rav Shach and the Rav Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky. His hasmadah was legendary. Those who entered his home would find him immersed in learning deep into the night, and at times until morning, with remarkable diligence and sweetness. His shiurim were clear and illuminating, opening the eyes of talmidim to true understanding and depth in the sugya.

Last Nissan, Rav Meltzer suffered a devastating personal loss with the petirah of his son, Rav Hillel Yosef Meltzer zt”l, one of the prominent talmidei chachamim of Petach Tikva and among the city’s rabbanim, who was niftar at the age of 57.

Rav Shmaryahu leaves behind sons and sons-in-law who are all talmidei chachamim and marbitzei Torah, among them Rav Yeshayah Nosson Meltzer, mechaber of numerous seforim in halachah; Rav Dov Gershon Meltzer, a marbitz Torah in the Mir; and his sons-in-law Rav Daniel Spetner, a talmid muvhak of Rav Nochum Pertzovitz zt”l; Rav Yitzchak Eizik Silver, a dayan, moreh tzedek, and mechaber of seforim, widely known for Mishpetei HaShalom; Rav Yaakov Yerucham Katzenelbogen of Neve Yaakov; and Rav Eliezer Yehuda Shmulevitz, among the chashuvei avreichim of Kiryas Mattersdorf.

The levayah took place today at Yeshivas Toras Simcha on Rechov Sorotzkin in Yerushalayim and proceeding to Har HaMenuchos for kevurah.

Yehi zichro baruch.