It is with great sadness that Matzav.comreports the petirah of Rav Shimon Shatin-Shapira zt”l, a longtime yungerman at the Breslover kollel. He was 61 and had endured many years of intense physical and emotional suffering.
Rav Shimon, who became known as “Rav Shimon Ba’al HaYissurim” for the tremendous pain he bore with ahavas Hashem, was a fixture in the Breslov community. Despite frequent hospitalizations, he never allowed illness to separate him from his deep bond with Torah. Those who knew him often found him immersed in learning at all hours, even within hospital corridors.
Rav Shimon was a son of Rav Aryeh Leib Shapira zt”l, a prominent mashpia in Breslov and brother of the famed tzaddik Rav Shmuel Shapira zt”l. His entry into the world was marked by tragedy: his mother fell ill during childbirth and passed away a month later, leaving behind eight young orphans. Rav Shimon, just one month old at the time, was the youngest.
Rav Shimon was lovingly raised by his aunt, Rebbetzin Shulamis Shatin-Morris, and her husband, Rav Yosef Tzvi Shatin zt”l, a talmid of the Mir Yeshiva in Shanghai. They raised him as their own, nurturing him in Torah and yiras Shamayim and ensuring that all his needs were met.
After marrying, Rav Shimon settled in Bnei Brak and became known for his tireless devotion to Torah learning in the Breslover kollel, where he learned for decades. His diligence and love for Torah were legendary. Even during his rare breaks, he was seen deep in thought, engaged in Torah study or writing chiddushim. Some of his insights were printed in his sefer, Machsheves HaAvodah, which received a glowing haskamah from the renowned posek Rav Binyamin Yehoshua Zilber zt”l, author of Az Nidberu.
In recent years, Rav Shimon suffered greatly, enduring excruciating pain. Yet, he never voiced complaint. Instead, he embraced his suffering with ahavah, continuing to cling to his learning no matter the circumstances. He would hurry to the hospital’s shul for every tefillah, inspiring many with his unwavering resolve. Doctors treating him came to know that when he went missing from his hospital bed, he could reliably be found in the beis haknesses.
One of his brothers recalled visiting him in the hospital, only to be met by a frustrated doctor who said, “Tell your brother Shimon he’s not in kollel. He can’t keep running off to shul. We need to treat him.”
His levayah at the Vizhnitzer Bais Hachaim in Bnei Brak drew many gedolei Torah and bnei Torah. Among those who eulogized him was the mashgiach, Rav Moshe Dovid Lefkowitz, who movingly quoted Chazal: “Kol sheHaKadosh Baruch Hu chafetz bo medaka’o b’yesurim—Whoever Hashem desires, He afflicts with suffering.” He spoke of the home Rav Shimon came from, a legacy of greatness. Rav Shimon’s son-in-law, Rav Yehuda Berman, who had been deeply devoted to him during his illness, delivered a heartfelt hesped recounting the years of pain, his unparalleled hasmadah, and the boundless tzedakah and chesed he performed throughout his life.
Following the kevurah, Rav Yaakov Koenig, Rosh Kollel of Breslov, offered a final tribute to “this gavra rabba,” who had been a steadfast pillar in the kollel for decades.
Rav Shimon leaves behind a family continuing in his path of Torah, avodah, and yissurim b’ahavah.
Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com Israel}