[Watch the levayah LIVE here.] It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of Hagaon Rav Meshulam Dovid Soloveitchik zt”l, rosh Yeshivas Brisk in Yerushalayim. He was 99 years old.
Rav Soloveitchik had battled ill health for the last few years and particular medical challenges over the last period.
Born in 1921, Rav Soloveitchik was the fifth of twelve children and the third son born to the Brisker Rov, Rav Yitzchok Zev Soloveitchik, and Rebbetzin Alte Hindel.
Rav Soloveitchik was a grandson of Rav Chaim Soloveitchik of Brisk and a great-grandson of the Bais Halevi, Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik, serving as the oldest link to the legendary Brisk dynasty.
His mother was a daughter of Rav Chaim Auerbach.
Rav Soloveitchik’s exact date of his birth was unknown, but it is known that his older brother, Rav Chaim, was born in January 1920 and his younger brother, Rav Refoel Yehoshua, was born in spring 1924, and he was born in between.
Rav Soloveitchik was named Meshulam after his maternal great-grandfather, Rav Meshulam Auerbach.
Rav Soloveitchik emigrated to Eretz Yisroel with his father during World War II and settled in Yerushalayim. He then married his rebbetzin, a daughter of Rav Asher Sternbuch of London.
In the late 1970s, Rav Soloveitchik opened his yeshiva in the Gush Shemonim section of the Givat Moshe neighborhood of Yerushalayim. For decades, Rav Soloveitchik delivered shiurim and imparted the Torah and hashkafah of Bais Brisk, serving as a guiding light to bnei Torah. He was also a treasure trove of chiddushim, stories and hanhagos from his father and grandfather.
Rav Soloveitchik is survived by his rebbetzin and their family.
Watch the levayah LIVE here.
Yehi zichro boruch.
Photos, (c) Flash 87 Images:
{Matzav.com Newscenter}
Rav Soloveitchik did not open his yeshiva in the Gush Shemonim neighborhood in the 1970’s, as this article states. For many years the yeshiva did not have its own building, 1st seder the yeshiva learned in the Americaner shul and 2nd seder they learned in the Kerem shul. The yeshiva did not build and move into its current building till the late 1990’s.