Yerushalayim’s Ezras Torah neighborhood is in mourning following the passing of one of its founding pillars, Rav Zev Hakohein (Velvel) Kopshitz zt”l. He was 71 years old and had been battling illness over the past year.
Rav Kopshitz passed away on Leil Shabbos Kodesh, leaving behind a legacy of dedication to Torah, community, and kedushah. He was among the early builders and shapers of the Ezras Torah neighborhood and played a key role in its spiritual development.
Born in Yerushalayim on the 10th of Elul in 1953, Rav Zev was the only son among daughters to his father, the eminent gaon Rav Avraham Hakohein Kopshitz zt”l, a leading rosh yeshiva at Kochav MiYaakov-Tchebin and rav of the Neve Tzvi neighborhood in Yerushalauyim. His mother, Rebbetzin Mina a”h, was a daughter of Rav Chaim Shraga Feivel Frank zt”l, the rav of the Yemin Moshe neighborhood.
Through his father, Rav Kopshitz was a descendant of the mara d’ara d’Yisroel, Rav Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld zt”l.
He was raised in a home filled with Torah and yiras Shamayim, and as a young man, he studied at the Chevron Yeshiva in Yerushalayim, where he developed into a true ben Torah.
Upon reaching marriageable age, he wed the daughter of Rav Aharon Teitelbaum zt”l of Tiveria. Together, they built their home in Ezras Torah, where Rav Kopshitz became a distinguished and respected member of the community.
Among his many contributions, Rav Kopshitz was instrumental in establishing rabbinic leadership for the neighborhood. He played a central role in bringing Rav Simcha Bunim Waldenberg zt”l to serve as the community’s rav. Rav Kopshitz personally traveled to the home of the Steipler Gaon zt”l to obtain his signature on the appointment letter.
Over the years, Rav Kopshitz was deeply involved in public struggles for kedushas Shabbos and other values dear to Torah Yidden. One of his most notable efforts was his leadership in the battle to close the Ramot road on Shabbos, an effort that gained widespread attention. He was known as a fierce advocate for the sanctity of klal Yisrael.
A meticulous observer of mitzvos and a man of great yiras Shamayim, he was also widely known for distributing top-quality esrogim—the “Zev Kopshitz esrogim”—sourced from the prestigious Kirshenbaum orchards. His matzah chaburah was equally well known, producing meticulously prepared Brisker matzos, carefully supervised from the harvesting of the wheat through every stage of production with the highest standards of hiddur.
He merited to leave behind sons, daughters, and many grandchildren, all following in his path.
The levayah was held this evening at his home at 31 Rechov Ezras Torah in Yerushalayim, proceeding to Har HaZeisim for kevurah.
Yehi zichro baruch.

{Matzav.com}