It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Rabbi Avrohom Werdyger z”l at the age 93. Rabbi Werdyger served as an MK in the Knesset beginning in 1967.
Rabbi Werdyger was steadfast and courageous during his many years as an askan representing the chareidi community, even in the face of adversity.
Reb Avrohom was born in Lodz, Poland. His father was Rabbi Yaakov Werdyger.
Reb Avrohom immigrated to Israel and was active in Poalei Agudas Yisroel in Poland, France and Israel. He served in the IDF and in 1967 was a member of the 6th Knesset after Knesset member Yaakov Katz was in a car accident and died.
Reb Avrohom served until the end of the 8th Knesset, and was then in the 11th, 12th and 13th Knessets, serving in the latter as part of a rotation with former MK Rabbi Menachem Porush.
In the 12th Knesset he served as chairman of the Knesset Ethics Committee and served as deputy minister for Yerushalayim affairs, a position created specifically for him.
Rabbi Werdyger became famous when he refused to cooperate with Shimon Peres’ attempt to establish a narrow government and Agudas Yisroel officials demanded that he resign if he is not ready to vote according to the party line. The pressure put on him led him to write a letter of resignation, but following the publication of the opinion of Maran Rav Elazar Menachem Shach zt”l, against the same exercise, he withdrew his resignation and supported the new government of Prime Minister Yitzchak Shamir.
A few months ago, his wife, Chaya, passed away at age 87.
He is survived by his son, Chanoch Werdyger, chairman of the Tov party, and his son-in-law, Rabbi Refoel Frank, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Nahardaah.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com Israel News Bureau}
Yehi zichro boruch