Rav Avraham Kantor zt”l, a distinguished talmid chacham known for his vast knowledge and decades of teaching, passed away this morning at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Yerushalayim after an illness. He was 69.
The levayah took place at Shamgar Funeral Home in Yerushalayim, proceeding to Har HaMenuchos for burial.
Rav Kantor was regarded as one of the prominent talmidei chachamim in Yerushalayim and Modiin Illit. Over the past several months, he battled a serious illness before his passing.
He was born on the 20th of Nissan, 5717, to his father, Rav Tzvi Nosson Kantor, and his mother, Mrs. Hadassah Kantor.
In his youth, he studied at Yeshivas Torah Ore in Yerushalayim, where he became closely attached to his revered rebbi, Rav Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg. During those years, he was known for his exceptional diligence and was counted among the yeshiva’s most dedicated learners.
After reaching marriageable age, he married the daughter of Rav Yaakov Gedalia Aharoni of Petach Tikvah.
Following his marriage, Rav Kantor continued his studies in the kollelim of Yeshivas Beis HaTalmud in Yerushalayim and Yeshivas Novardok. Throughout his life, he devoted himself entirely to Torah study and avodas Hashem. Despite his stature, he remained exceedingly humble and never sought recognition. He was widely regarded as a formidable talmid chacham with mastery across all areas of Torah learning.
He maintained a close connection with the mashgiach, Rav Dan Segal, and was among the regular mispallelim at his beis medrash, Ohel Moshe, in Gush Shemonim.
For more than 25 years, Rav Kantor taught Torah at Yeshivas Mishkan Shlomo. He was also among those learning Kodshim and Taharos in a kollel in Modiin Illit, where he engaged deeply with some of the most complex sugyos.
Those who knew him described a man with extraordinary breadth of knowledge, capable of delivering a shiur on virtually any topic at a moment’s notice. He was devoted to every avreich and approached each interaction in learning with humility and warmth, always engaging others with a welcoming countenance.
His immersion in Torah was legendary. Even when simply passing a shul, he would often be drawn inside and become absorbed in his learning. At family gatherings as well, he would use any available time to return to his seforim, remaining deeply engaged in study for extended periods.
About a decade ago, he relocated from the Ezras Torah neighborhood in Yerushalayim to the Neot Hapisga neighborhood of Modiin Illit.
Rav Kantor is survived by a large and distinguished family, having merited to raise 14 children and to see all of them married during his lifetime.
Yehi zichro baruch.
{Matzav.com}