It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Yosef Zev Feinstein zt”l, the Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Amalah Shel Torah in Beitar Illit. He passed away at the age of 54 at Shaarei Tzedek Hospital in Yerushalayim.
Rav Feinstein had been battling a severe illness for the past several months. In recent weeks, the name “Alter” was added to his name as a segulah.
The levayah is taking place place tonight at Yeshivas Amalah Shel Torah on Ohev Yisrael Street 2 in Beitar Illit, and will proceed from the Shevet HaLevi shul on Ohel Yosef Street 17 in the Gush Shemonim neighborhood of Yerushalayim to Har HaMenuchos for kevurah.
Rav Zev was born in Bnei Brak on the 2nd of Kislev, 1971, to his father, Rav Aryeh Feinstein, a prominent Chassid of Kretchnif, and his mother, Mrs. Shifra Feinstein. His father, a devout Chossid, was one of the major contributors to the building of the Kretchnifer Talmud Torah, and his name was memorialized on the building’s outer wall.
Rav Zev received a brocha from the Kretchnifer Rebbe that he would be blessed with children who would be talmid chachomim, and indeed, he was blessed with sons who followed in his footsteps as marbitzei Torah.
Rav Zev learned at Yeshivas Or Yisrael in Petach Tikva and later in Ponovezh Yeshiva, where he rose to great heights in his Torah learning, always close to his rebbi, Rav Berel Povarsky, from whom he received much of his hadracha.
He married Nechama Elka, a daughter of Rav Meyer zt”l and Mrs. Rochel Rosenbaum of Lakewood. She became his steadfast partner in supporting his Torah work and nurturing the talmidim of his yeshiva.
Rav Zev served as a Mashpia at the Kretchnif Yeshiva in Rechovot before founding Amalah Shel Torah nearly 25 years ago. Initially located in the Gush Shemonim neighborhood of Yerushalayim, the yeshiva moved to a new, spacious building in Beitar Illit, where an apartment was prepared for Rav Zev to live in.
He was known as an extraordinary talmid chochom, having mastered the entire Shas at a young age, and was beloved by all his talmidim. He devoted himself to teaching and guiding his talmidim, and even after they left the yeshiva, he continued to support and guide them.
Rav Zev was renowned for his deep devotion to tefillos, spending long hours davening, often following the Kretchnifer Nusach. During some Yomim Tovim and Shabbosos, he would join the Kretchnifer Rebbe. He was deeply devoted to his Rebbe, and was instrumental in encouraging the Chassidim to support the institutions of Kretchnif.
Rav Zev was also closely connected to Rav Yitzchak Tuvia Weiss, the Gaavad of the Eidah HaChareidis, and to Rav Dovid Abuchatzeira, the Baba Sali’s son, whom he regarded as his rabbeim.
A few years ago, he suffered a sudden stroke, and since then, his health declined, though he continued to lead his yeshiva with great dedication.
He leaves behind his wife, sons, daughters, and grandchildren, all following in his ways.
Yehi zichro boruch.
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