

Once again Klal Yisrael is faced with the bitter loss of one of the pillars of the generation, HaGaon HaRav Shmuel Halevy Wosner ZT”L, known for his vast authoritative grasp of halacha published as the Shevet Halevy.  He was 101 years old. 

Rav Wosner was hospitalized in Bnei Brak’s Mayanei HaYeshua Hospital on Thursday night motzei Purim.  Klal Yisroel around the globe was urged to be mispallel for the Torah giant as his condition took a turn for the worse. 

His condition continued to deteriorate until his Petira just after Yom Tov started in Eretz Yisroel. 

The news traveled quickly to America, as an Arab employee at the hospital notified his children living overseas – including one son who lives in Boro Park. 

Born in 1913 in Vienna, Austro-Hungary, Rav Wosner studied in Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin under Rav Meir Shapiro ZT”L. Upon his arrival in Eretz Yisrael before WWII, Rav Wosner studied in Yerushalayim at Dushinsky and it was then his gadlus was evident to all, becoming a member of the Eida Chareidis as a young age. 

Gedolim of the generation including the Chazon Ish, Rav Isser Zalman Meltzer, and the Tchebiner Rov urged Rav Wosner to relocated to Bnei Brak and establish his Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin, which he did. 

Rav Wosner is also known for his insightful rulings pertaining to halacha and medical ethics, leaving his stamp on the day-to-day learning and medical lectures that attract leading physicians and researchers from around Eretz Yisrael and the world to Bnei Brak’s Mayanei HaYeshua Hospital.  The ongoing limud at the Torah hospital continues to receive inspiration from Rav Wosner’s piskei halacha and in-depth responsa to many complex medical issues. 

Rav Wosner never took part in elections but never instructed others to follow his example.  Many of his offspring and talmidim alike do indeed vote.  There was one exception to this – during the mayoral election in Beit Shemesh in March of 2014.  YWN had reported at the time that Rav Wosner had spoke about the potential Chillul Hashem, and called on those taking part in the election to vote for a charedi Shomer Torah mayor. 

When Rav Wosner turned 100, YWN reported that he had requested to be Sandek at a Bris to mark his birthday. 

Less than a month ago, YWN reported that an historic Asifa was held at the home of Rav Wosner on behalf of the Oneg Shabbos V’Yom Tov Organization.  Maran Hagon HaRav Chaim Kanievsky Shlita was among the Gedolim who participated at the event. 

Details of the levaya to be announced. 

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)