But in the world of Torah and Hasidism: Rabbi Mordechai Auerbach, rabbi and chief rabbi of the Avir Yaakov congregation in Tel Aviv, and head of the Helichot Shlomo yeshiva, passed away on Saturday at the age of 84 at the Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv.
In recent days, his health condition has deteriorated severely after suffering from acute pneumonia, and he was hospitalized in the intensive care unit, but due to a heart attack, he died.
The late zt"l was born on the 3rd of Adar 5772 in the Shaarei Chesed neighborhood of Jerusalem, to his father, the eminent Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach zt"l, Rosh Yeshiva 'Kol Torah', and to his mother, Rebbetzin Mrs. Chaya Rivka, née Ruhamkin.
From his youth, he was instilled with Torah and the fear of God in his father's house, and diligently studied his Talmud. When he reached his maturity, he married his wife, the daughter of the rabbi Aharon Lemberger, zt"l, the granddaughter of the Rebbe of Kopischnitz, zt"l.
After his marriage, he settled in the city of Tel Aviv. With the blessing and instruction of the Rebbes of Beit Rozhin, he was appointed as the rabbi of the 'Abir Yaakov' community of the Sadigura Hasidic sect in Tel Aviv. For decades, he led his community with great grace.
Known as a genius, he dedicated his life to the propagation of Torah and bringing those far away closer. His seminary on Oliphant Street in Tel Aviv became a beacon for seekers of the path and brought thousands to Judaism. Along with daily Torah lessons, he received audiences daily for halachic recitations and blessings.
He headed the 'Lechiot Shlomo' yeshiva in Tel Aviv, as well as the presidency of many educational institutions, including the Jerusalem seminary for girls 'Ohel Rivka' and the Hasidic Torah Talmud 'Hechmat Shlomo'.
He left behind a blessed generation of righteous people, sons and daughters, sons-in-law and descendants who continue in his path.
His sons: the Gaon Rabbi Aharon Auerbach, son-in-law of the Gaon Rabbi Eliyahu Sternbuch, zt"l Rab"d of Antwerp; the Gaon Rabbi Chaim Leib Auerbach, son-in-law of the Rebbe of Slonim.
His sons-in-law: Rabbi Avraham Nathan Bornstein, rabbi of the Radomsk synagogue in Bnei Brak; Rabbi Yosef Meir Feldman, rabbi of the 'Torat Chaim' Yeshiva in Vizhnitz in Elad.
His brothers are: the Gaon Rabbi Shmuel Auerbach zt"l, the Gaon Rabbi Avraham Dov Auerbach zt"l, the Gaon Rabbi Baruch Auerbach zt"l and the Gaon Rabbi Azriel Auerbach, the Germash Auerbach rabbi of the Derech Simcha community in Beitar, the Gaon Rabbi Yaakov from the Ezrat Torah neighborhood. His brother-in-law: the Gaon Rabbi Yitzhak Yerucham Bordiansky, supervisor of the 'Kol Torah' yeshiva.
His funeral procession will leave at 10:00 PM from his Avir Yaakov seminary at 17 Elephant Street in Tel Aviv, for Mount Hamunehot in Jerusalem, where he will be buried.
