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The Torah and the yeshiva and chasidic world is in mourning with the petirah of one of the senior Roshei Yeshiva of our generation, Hagaon Rav Elyakim Schlesinger zt”l, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas HaRama in London and author of Beis Av. He was 104 years old. Until his final moments, the Rosh Yeshiva remained fully lucid and even delivered a shmuess last Shabbos.
Over the past week his condition declined following pneumonia, and he was hospitalized after his kidneys ceased functioning. He was niftar late last night.
The levayah will take place today (Wednesday) at Yeshivas HaRama in Stamford Hill, London, with kevurah in Enfield. The mitah will arrive at the yeshiva at 5:30 PM (100 Fairholt Road), and the hespedim will begin at 7:00 PM.
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Rabbi Schlesinger zt”l was born in Vienna in 5682 (1921) and studied under the Daas Sofer in Pressburg, later receiving semichah in Nitra. After moving to Eretz Yisrael, he learned in Yerushalayim and in Ponovezh, becoming close to the Ponovezher Rav. Following his marriage to the daughter of Rabbi Moshe Bloy z”l, he served as Rosh Yeshiva in Yerushalayim and later, at the recommendation of the Brisker Rav zt”l, relocated to England, where he founded Yeshivas HaRama.
He established the first kollel in London, laying the foundation for the Torah world in England. Known for his close קשר with gedolei Yisrael, his open home, and his tireless mesirus nefesh for pure chinuch, he raised generations of talmidim imbued with Torah and yiras Shamayim..jpg)
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HaGaon Rav Elyakim. Schlesinger zt”l was well known for his close קשרים with the Gedolei Yisroel of his dor, among them the Brisker Rav, the Chazon Ish, and other גדולי עולם. Many of the precious memories he had from those encounters were later written down in his sefer HaDor VeHaTekufah.
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For many years he was marbitz Torah to alfei ורבבות, and was zocheh to raise talmidim who became גדולי תורה ויראה. He stood b’mesirus nefesh on the mishmeres of chinuch tahor in England, and the gezeirah of giyus bnei hayeshivos in Eretz Yisroel burned in his heart constantly..
In the year 5779 he traveled to a historic, high-level meeting with the British Secretary of Education, in an attempt to be mashpia that the harsh gezeirah signed by the Department of Education be rescinded. This decree sought to obligate all independent schools to teach curricula that are not fitting for Torah-true chinuch, and are not even compatible with basic religious education.
Kuloh Torah every moment that was free was dedicated to intense hasmadah, to the extent that it was impossible to distract him from his learning. His avodah of tefillah was something exceptional, marked by deep chiyus and heartfelt tears shed daily before the Ribono shel Olam.
He leaves behind a דור ישרים מבורך: nine children, including his eldest son, the gaon Rabbi Eliezer Schlesinger, who continues his path as Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas HaRama, along with many descendants marbitzei Torah v’yirah.
Bhol