It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of Rabbi Mordechai Goldstein zt”l, rosh yeshiva of the Diaspora Yeshiva on Har Tzion in Yerushalayim. He was 85.
Rabbi Goldstein had been confined to a wheelchair in recent years and passed away yesterday.
An early talmid of Rav Aharon Kotler in Lakewood and Rav Henach Leibowitz at Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim in Queens, Rabbi Goldstein was one of the pioneers of the contemporary teshuvah movement.
In 1965, Rabbi Goldstein established the Diaspora Yeshiva in Yerushalayim, which was open to one and all, attracting those returnees seeking a less traditional approach, both in dress, learning and music. Many of the talmidim were musicians, and a number of albums were released from within the yeshiva.
Ten years after the yeshiva was founded, Rabbi Goldstein supported Avraham Rosenblum in the founding of the Diaspora Yeshiva Band.
Rabbi Goldstein also founded a yishuv in Gush Etzion called Metzad.
He is survived by his sons and sons-in law, many of whom are Rabbonim and mechanchim, daughters and daughters-in-law, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sisters Simcha Brocha (Sybil) Gitlin of Crown Heights, and Zisel (Cicely) German of Brewster, NY and his brothers, Rabbi Gedalia Goldstein from Ashkelon, Israel and Dr. Eli Goldstien, professor of Infectious Diseases of Venice, California.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Very very very huge ohel Yisroel & ohel Eretz yisroel
Rav Goldstein was a very holy tzaddik who led many on the path to teshuvah before it was the thing everyone did. He was also a gadol in yishuv eretz yisrael. Surely he has a special place in gan eden near kisei hakadosh!
An extremely unique Rosh Yeshiva, who saw the good in every talmid. He loved Eretz Yisroel and admired the pioneers and called himself a SETTLER of Har Tzion. Yehi zechron baruch!!!