It is with great sadness that Matzav.comreports the passing of Rav Dovid Michel Shmidl zt”l, longtime chairman of the Asra Kadisha organization and a leading figure in the fight to preserve the sanctity of Jewish burial sites, who passed away at the age of 92.

Rav Shmidl, who lived in Bnei Brak, passed away today after undergoing resuscitation efforts at his home. His condition had deteriorated in recent months, beginning in Kislev, and he had grown increasingly weak until his passing earlier today.

The levayah is scheduled to take place this evening in Bnei Brak. From there, the procession will travel to Yerushalayim, where the taharah will be conducted at Shamgar Funeral Home. The levayah will then proceed through Kikar HaShabbos on its way to Har HaZeisim for kevurah.

Rav Shmidl was born in Vienna, Austria, on Pesach 1934 (תרצ”ד), the only child of his parents, Rav Pinchas and Miriam Shmidl, who were of Hungarian descent. At the age of five, in 1939, he immigrated with his family to Eretz Yisroel. His father supported the household through business and retail trade.

In his youth, he studied at the Slabodka Yeshiva in Bnei Brak, where he absorbed Torah from the roshei yeshiva. During that time, he became close to the Chazon Ish zt”l and later became one of the prominent talmidim of Rav Gedaliah Nadel zt”l. He continued his learning at Yeshivas Be’er Yaakov under Rav Moshe Shmuel Shapiro zt”l.

He married his wife, Aliza, daughter of Rav Eliezer Steinharter z”l, who served as a teacher at the Rav Wolf Seminary in Bnei Brak. Together they built a home founded on Torah and yiras Shamayim.

Rav Shmidl was counted among the elder disciples of both the Chazon Ish and the Brisker Rav. As early as 1956 (תשט”ז), he acted on behalf of the Brisker Rav in efforts opposing excavations near the burial site of the Rambam in Tiveriah. In the 1960s, he played a central role in the chareidi struggle against autopsies in Israel and served on the public committee for the protection of human dignity established by Rav Rafael Soloveitchik zt”l.

From the mid-1970s, following the passing of activist Rav Avraham Baruch Arten z”l, Rav Shmidl assumed leadership of Asra Kadisha, an organization dedicated to preventing the desecration of Jewish graves in Israel and abroad. Under his leadership, the group spearheaded numerous high-profile battles against construction and excavation projects believed to endanger ancient burial sites. In 1979, he was even arrested for his involvement in protests at a military site on Har Shenan, where it was claimed that graves of Amoraim had been disturbed.

Rav Shmidl maintained close ties with leading gedolim, frequently consulting with them regarding his activities. He was a regular visitor to the home of Rav Elazar Menachem Man Shach zt”l, who once described him in a rare expression as “one who is unique in his sharpness, breadth of knowledge, and pure fear of Heaven.”

In one account shared by an activist who participated in a meeting between Rav Shmidl and a chareidi Knesset member, Rav Shmidl was asked how his group managed to endure repeated protests and physical confrontations. He responded firmly: “The power we have is to receive blows and not to give blows. That is the secret of our strength; on the day that we strike back, we will lose.”

Over the years, he was also involved in Torah scholarship and publishing. He headed a unique kollel known as Mesivta d’Rabbi Yochanan, which operated in the shul of the early chassidic community in Tiveria. Participants learned there throughout the week, returning home only for Shabbos. In 2011, after the local chassidic community expanded, the kollel closed in its original form, and Rav Shmidl relocated to Moshav Komemiyut, where it was reestablished. He also served on the editorial team of the well-known Rambam edition published by Rav Shabsi Frankel and authored numerous Torah insights published in various compilations.

Rav Shmidl is survived by a distinguished family, including eight daughters and one son, along with many grandchildren and descendants who continue in his path.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}