It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Refoel Yitzchok Reichman zt”l. He was 91 and passed away at Shaarei Tzedek Medical Center in Yerushalayim.
Rav Reichman was one of the last remaining talmidim of the Brisker Rov zt”l.
Rav Reichman was born in 1934 in the Bronx, New York. His father, Rav Shlomo Zalman Reichman zt”l, served as a rov there.
Even in his youth, his exceptional abilities were evident. When he began learning at Yeshiva Rabbeinu Yitzchok Elchonon in New York, he stood out among the talmidim. The rabbeim, including Rav Moshe Shatzkes and Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik of Boston, often enjoyed learning with the young prodigy. Talmidim from that period recalled that during shiurim, the rosh yeshiva would often turn his head towards young Refoel to see how he would respond.
During the summer months when Rav Reichman was on break from RIETS, he would head to Lakewood Yeshiva to learn from Rav Aharon Kotler zt”l.
In early summer of 1954, he arrived in Eretz Yisroel with his father to immerse himself in Torah study. Upon his arrival, the heads of the Mir and Chevron yeshivos, hearing that the young prodigy was coming, both requested that he join their yeshivos. Unable to decide between the two, he chose to split his day: learning in the morning at Chevron Yeshiva, where he studied with Rav Moshe Shapiro, and in the afternoon at Mir Yeshiva. Eventually, he decided to learn full-time at Mir Yeshiva, where he became greatly beloved by the rosh yeshiva, Rav Chaim Shmulevitz zt”l. During his time at Mir, he learned with Rav Nachum Partzovitz zt”l.
Upon his arrival in Eretz Yisroel, he, along with his father, visited the home of the Brisker Rov zt”l, who appreciated the efforts of his father in raising funds from Brisk expatriates in the United States for the yeshiva. During that meeting, Rav Reichman asked the Brisker Rav for a fixed time to learn with him. The Brisker Rov, who was so impressed by the American prodigy, set a time for him every Motzoei Shabbos to come and discuss Torah matters. For several years, he regularly visited the Brisker Rov every Motzoei Shabbos to talk in learning.
Rav Reichman maintained his connection with the Brisk family over the years, often davening at Yeshivas Brisk on Rechov Press Street on Shabbos, and visiting the Brisker Rov’s sons, Rav Berel, Rabbi Meshulam Dovid, and Rav Meir, every Yom Tov.
In Av 1956, he married his wife, the daughter of Rav Michel Dovid Shapiro, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Tiferes Zvi.
After his marriage, Rav Reichman opened a kollel, which was rare at the time, where yeshiva graduates could study in a separate framework and receive a decent stipend. Many Torah giants, such as Rav Avraham Dov Auerbach, Rav Yehuda Trager, and Rav Label Mintzberg, among others, studied at this kollel. The kollel quickly gained a reputation as a place where Torah giants were nurtured.
During this period, he received semicha from some of the leading Torah authorities of the time, including Rav Moshe Feinstein, Rav Yechezkel Abramsky, and others.
Rav Reichman had a special relationship with Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, which developed into a close connection, to the point where Rav Elyashiv would discuss current matters with him. This relationship lasted many years, with Rav Elyashiv entrusting him with various public responsibilities and appointing him to several rabbinic committees.
Even as a young talmid chochom, Rav Reichman was known for his public shiurim, filled with wonderful chiddushim rooted in true Torah scholarship. Talmidim from Chevron at that time would seek to hear his shiurim, including notable figures like Rav Dovid Cohen and Rav Shmuel Yaakov Bornstein.
During a mass immigration wave, when many families from Sephardic communities faced spiritual decline, particularly children who ended up on the streets from broken homes, the gedolei Yisroel were alarmed. Rav Shimon Biderman of Lelov and Rav Nosson Braverman established an institution for immigrant girls named Beit Olot, where they educated these girls in a boarding school setting, raising them in Torah and yiras Shomayim. This institution saved hundreds of girls, who later established exemplary families. Seeing that the founders could not bear the burden alone, Rav Reichman joined them and took on a significant part of the responsibility. He took care of both the financial and spiritual needs of the mosad, often degrading himself to raise funds, and he gave much of his own money and energy for this noble cause.
He had a special concern for the plight of girls who, for various reasons, were not accepted into schools. He dedicated many hours and great efforts to place them and persuade school and seminary directors to accept these girls. Despite having no prior connection with these families and not belonging to their circles, he exerted himself for each girl as if she were his own daughter. Many families recounted how he made them feel as if their problem was his personal concern.
Rav Reichman had the merit of marrying off his three daughters to talmidei chachomim. His eldest son-in-law is Rav Zvi Braverman, the head of the Beis Din in Beitar, and his other sons-in-law are Rav Yehuda Ben Shlomo, rosh kollel in Yerushalayim, and Rav Binyamin Dreyfus, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Chochmat Shlomo.
The levayah was held today at the Har Tzvi Beis Medrash on Rechov Tzefania in Yerushalayim, followed by kevurah on Har HaMenuchos.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com Israel}
“In Av 1956, he married his wife, the daughter of Rav Michel Dovid Shapiro, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Tiferes Zvi.
correction
Michel Dovid Shlepaverski”