A pillar of the Sanz chassidus has been lost with the passing of Rav Yitzchok Eizik Meir Zalmanowitz z”l, devoted meshamesh bakodesh to the Sanz Rebbe who was niftar at the age of 72 after an illness.
His levayah is scheduled for Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. outside the Ohel Nechemia beis medrash in Kiryat Sanz, Netanya, and will continue to the Sanz section of the Shikun Vatikim cemetery, where he will be laid to rest.
Rav Zalmanowitz was born on 29 Av 5712 to his illustrious father, Rav Yisroel Aryeh Zalmanowitz zt”l, author of Chayei Nefesh, who served as the rov of Acco and was the founding rov of Kiryat Sanz in Netanya, as well as head of its institutions. His mother was Rebbetzin Leah a”h.
His bris took place on 6 Elul in the old village of Kefar Yavneh, where none other than the Chazon Ish zt”l served as sandek. He was named Yitzchok Eizik Meir.
Raised in a home steeped in Torah and communal leadership, Rav Zalmanowitz learned as a child in the local cheder in Yavneh, later continuing in Kiryat Sanz after the family moved there when he was eight years old. He quickly distinguished himself as an exceptional student in Torah, yiras Shamayim, and middos tovos. He also spent a year learning in the Tchebin Yeshiva in Yerushalayim, where he learned b’chavrusa with Rav Yosef Moshe Schneerson, who is now the rosh yeshiva.
As a young man, he married Rebbetzin Chaya Tova, the daughter of Rav Chaim Shlomo Rabinowitz zt”l, a beloved figure in Yerushalayim and a descendant of the Rebbe of Peshischa.
The couple lived in Yerushalayim, where Rav Zalmanowitz was counted among the outstanding avreichim in the famed Kollel Rav Acha. In 5738, he was called by the Rebbe, the Shefa Chaim of Sanz zt”l, to serve as mashgiach ruchani in the Kiryat Sanz yeshiva ketanah in Netanya. His warmth, compassion, and refined character left an indelible impression on the talmidim, who recall him as a fatherly figure and role model of avodas Hashem.
From his youth, Rav Zalmanowitz was deeply attached to the Shefa Chaim, serving him with total devotion and meriting rare affection and closeness from the Rebbe.
Over forty years ago, he accepted the role of personal assistant to the Rebbe—then still the young rov of Kiryat Sanz—and for nearly four decades became the closest confidant and most trusted aide in the Rebbe’s court.
He and the current Rebbe were classmates and shared a profound bond. The Rebbe entrusted him with the most sensitive and significant matters of the chassidus, and for many years Rav Zalmanowitz was the primary conduit for all matters entering and leaving the Rebbe’s private domain.
Sanzer chassidim recounted that Rabbi Zalmanowitz never treated the role casually, even after decades of service. Each day, he would prepare himself with awe, purity, and reverence, approaching the Rebbe’s door with trembling respect as though it were his first day on the job. Despite the tremendous closeness he enjoyed with the Rebbe, his sense of awe never diminished.
In his later years, after falling ill, he asked the Rebbe for permission to retire from his position. However, the Rebbe instructed him to continue, and he remained in his role until just before his final hospitalization, from which he did not recover.
Rabbi Zalmanowitz was known for his boundless kindness, offering a listening ear and understanding heart to all who came to him, even during difficult periods in his own life. His signature smile warmed everyone he encountered.
He leaves behind a remarkable legacy of children, sons-in-law, and grandchildren who follow in his path.
He was predeceased a decade ago by his brother, Rav Eliyahu Zalmanowitz zt”l, who served as rosh kollel of Gorlitz in Bnei Brak.
Yehi zichro baruch.
{Matzav.com Israel}