Chaim Veshalom Yosifu Loch: Maran Rav Elyashiv Turns 100 Today

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rav-elyashiv2Today, Rosh Chodesh Nissan, the posek hador, Maran Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv shlit”a, is marking a milestone: his 100th birthday. Rav Elyashiv was joined last night by close family and talmidim for a small gathering at his home at Rechov Chanan 10 in Meah Shearim. Last night, following Rav Elyashiv’s daily shiur, delivered in the bais medrash adjacent to his home, attendees broke out in spontaneous singing in honor of the gadol‘s birthday.

Today, Rav Elyashiv is slated to visit the newly reconstructed and rededicated Churvah Shul in the Old City of Yerushalayim.

Over the last year, Rav Elyashiv has been zoche to celebrate the birth of a great-great-grandchild, a great-grandson born to Rav Elyashiv’s son-in-law and daughter, Rav Chaim and Rebbetzin Batsheva Kanievsky.

Born on Rosh Chodesh Nissan Tof Reish Ayin, April 10, 1910, Rav Elyashiv is a grandson of Rav Shlomo Elyashiv zt”l, the Leshem, who was niftar in 1925 and hailed from Šiauliai, Lithuania. His father was Rav Avraham of Homel and his mother was Rebbetzin Chaya Moussa, daughter of the Leshem. His wife, who passed away in June, 1994, was a daughter of Rav Aryeh Levin zt”l, the “Tzaddik of Yerushalayim.”

Rav Elyashiv and his Rebbetzin had eleven children. His daughters’ husbands include Rav Chaim Kanievsky; Rav Yosef Yisroel Yisraelzon zt”l; Rav Elchonon Berlin, rov of the Achva shul; Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein, rov of Ramat Elchanan (whose wife was nifteres and who has since remarried; Rav Ezriel Auerbach; and Rav Binyomin Rimer, a rosh yeshiva at the Tshebiner Yeshiva and at Yeshiva Kiryas Melech in Bnei Brak.

One of Rav Elyashiv’s daughters was killed in 1948 by Jordanian shelling.

When Rav Aharon Leib Shteinman was once asked if there is anyone in our generation who understands Kabbolah, Rav Steinman thought for a while, and then nodded his head and answered affirmatively. He was then asked who it is, and after a moment’s silence, Rav Steinman answered, “Rav Elyashiv.”

The halachic rulings and insights of Rav Elyashiv have been published in several seforim. The multi-volume Kovetz Teshuvos contains teshuvos from questions asked of him over many years. Many of his drashos and chiddushim, most dating from the 1950s, were collected and published as Divrei Aggadah. Another work that includes his p’sakim is titled “Yashiv Moshe.” These works were not written by Rav Elyashiv himself, but were compiled by his relatives and talmidim.

May Hakadosh Boruch Hu give Rav Elyashiv kochos and gezunt to continue leading Klal Yisroel for many, many more years, amidst good health.

{Yair Alpert-Matzav.com Israel}


10 COMMENTS

  1. does anyone have insight into the family name “Elyashiv” ? Was that original name in Lita, or was it changed at some point?

  2. Just a correction- he had a great great great grandson born last Iyar. He already has a number of great greats.

  3. To # 5- The surname Elyashuv was that of Rav Elyashiv’s maternal grandfather, who was from Shavel. He was a famous mekubel, known as the Leshem, because his seforim were entitled “Leshem Shvo Veachlomoh” I don’t know why or at what time the aidem took on his father in law’s name.

  4. #6 Chaya Mushka was my great-great-great-grandmother’s name (in Seta, Lithuania) as well;

    It was not perceived as a Lubavitcher thing in those days.

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