Nosson Tzvi Finkel (Mir)
Rabbi Nosson Tzvi Finkel | |
|---|---|
 Rabbi Nosson Tzvi Finkel | |
| Titel | Rosh Yeshivas Mir |
| Personal | |
| Born | Nosson Tzvi Finkel 12 March 1943 |
| Died | November 8, 2011 (aged 68) |
| Religion | Judaism |
| Nationality | United States, Israel |
| Denomination | Haredi |
| Jewish leader | |
| Predecessor | Rabbi Chaim Leib Shmuelevitz, Rabbi Nachum Partzovitz |
| Successor | Rabbi Eliezer Yehuda Finkel |
| Position | Rosh yeshiva |
| Yeshiva | Mir yeshiva (Jerusalem) |
| Began | 1990 |
| Ended | 8 November 2011 |
| Buried | 8 November 2011 |
| Residence | Jerusalem, Israel |
Nosson Tzvi Finkel (12 March 1943 – 8 November 2011) was an American-born Orthodox Jewish rabbi and rosh yeshiva (dean) of the Mir Yeshiva in Jerusalem, Israel. During his tenure from 1990 until his death in 2011, he built the Mir into the largest yeshiva in Israel with 6,000 students.[1] He was also a member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Degel HaTorah.[2] He was known for his Torah erudition and his great love for his students.[1]
Biography
Rabbi Finkel was born in Chicago, Illinois to Rabbi Eliyahu Meir Finkel and his wife Sara. He was a great-grandson of the Alter of Slabodka, after whom he was named.[1] His brother is Rabbi Gedaliah Finkel, another lecturer in the Mir yeshiva.
Rabbi Finkel grew up in a "typical" American "Modern Orthodox" Jewish manner. Known in his youth as Natty Finkel.[1] he played basketball (he was the starting center for his high school team (Ida Crown Jewish Academy) and was a regular American kid.[citation needed]
He married his second cousin. His father-in-law was Rabbi Beinish Finkel, the son of Rabbi Eliezer Yehudah Finkel (last Rosh HaYeshiva of Mir Poland and founding rosh yeshiva of Mir Jerusalem) and Sara Greineman. He and his wife had 11 children.[2] Upon the death of his father-in-law in 1990, Rabbi Finkel acceded to the position of rosh yeshiva of Mir Jerusalem.[3]
Illness
Rabbi Finkel suffered from Parkinson's disease for 30 years, experiencing much difficulty in walking and talking, as well as suffering from tremors. Yet he gave regular shiurim (Torah lectures) in the yeshiva and embarked on regular fund-raising trips abroad.[3] He also refused to take pain medication.[1] A student once asked about the refusal, to which he answered that when inquiring about the drugs, his doctor had told him that it would have an effect on his memory.[1] "I'd rather be ill my whole life than to forget even one word of the holy Torah", he reportedly said.[citation needed]
Death
On November 8, 2011 (11 Cheshvan 5772) at 6 a.m. he suddenly went into cardiac arrest at his home; EMS personnel were unsuccessful in resuscitating him. An estimated 100,000 people[2][4] attended his funeral, which began at the Mir yeshiva in Beit Yisrael and continued on foot to Har HaMenuchot. The Edah HaChareidis ordered all Haredi businesses to close during the funeral, and Litvishe Torah leaders Rabbi Yosef Shalom Eliashiv and Aharon Leib Shteinman instructed teachers and students of Talmud Torahs, yeshivas, and kollels to join the funeral procession.[2][5]
Rabbi Finkel's death came one day after the death of Rabbi Dov Schwartzman, another respected Litvishe rosh yeshiva in Jerusalem. Rabbi Finkel participated in Rabbi Schwartzman's funeral on 7 November.[6]
At the funeral it was announced that Rabbi Finkel's second son, Rabbi Eliezer Yehuda Finkel, would succeed his father as rosh yeshiva.[2]
References
- ^ a b c d e f "Jerusalem - Torah Chigri Sak! Hagaon Harav Nosson Tzvi Finkel, Zt"l". Vos Iz Neias?. 8 November 2011. Retrieved 8 November 2011.
- ^ a b c d e Ben Gedalyahu, Tzvi (8 November 2011). "Mir Yeshiva Rabbi Finkel Passes Away". Arutz Sheva. Retrieved 8 November 2011.
- ^ a b "Boruch Dayan Haemes: Harav Nosson Tzvi Finkel". Lakewood Local. 8 November 2011. Retrieved 8 November 2011.
- ^ "Photos: 100,000 Attend Levaya of Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel zt"l". matzav.com. 8 November 2011. Retrieved 8 November 2011.
- ^ "Jerusalem – Tens Of Thousands Attend Levaya of R' Nosson Tzvi Finkel, Zatzal (photos)". Vos Iz Neias?. 8 November 2011. Retrieved 8 November 2011.
- ^ Sever, Yechiel (8 November 2011). "אלפים רבים בהלוויית הגאון הגדול רבי דב שוורצמן זצוק"ל". Yated Ne'eman (in Hebrew). p. 1.
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