Rav Aharon Walkin zt”l

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It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of Rav Aharon Walkin zt”l.

Rav Walkin was born in Brooklyn, NY and the sandek at his bris was the posek hador, Rav Moshe Feinstein zt’”.

Rav Walkin grew up in Kew Gardens Hills and eventually moved to be near his grandparents in Kew Gardens.

He was a great-grandson of the Pinsker Rov, Rav Aharon Walkin zt”l, after whom he was named, and a grandson of his son, the Lukatcher Rov, Rav Shmuel Dovid Walkin. Rav Shmuel Dovid fled the war by staying in Shanghai and eventually made his way to Crown Heights, where he was a rov. He eventually moved to Kew Gardens and was a rov there for the remainder of his life.

Rav Shmuel Dovid was actually one of the prominent talmidim of the Chofetz Chaim, learning in Radin for twelve years and spending much time at the home of the Chofetz Chaim. His wife, Rebbetzin Tziviah Walkin, was a granddaughter of Rav Moshe Londinsky, the Radiner rosh yeshiva. Rebbetzin Walkin was raised and lived next door to the Chofetz Chaim. Rav Aharon Walkin heard first-hand stories about the Chofetz Chaim.

Rav Walkin’s father, Rav Moshe Yoel Walkin, was born in Poland before World War II, and during World War II, the family relocated to Shanghai. Rav Moshe Yoel was the rov of Bais Medrash Bais Aharon of Queens. Rav Walkin’s uncle is Rav Chaim Walkin, mashgiach of Yeshiva Ateres Yisroel of Yerushalayim.

Growing up near his zaide and bobbe, Rav Aharon was zoche to absorb the rarified atmosphere that his grandparents brought with them from the Chofetz Chaim’s home and derech. He heard many stories from his zaide, his father, and his uncle, who had heard the stories from their parents. When Rav Aharon heard a story, he would write it down, and he slowly gathered a large otzar of firsthand stories about the Chofetz Chaim.

Rav Aharon was a talmid of numerous great roshei yeshiva and rabbonim, He counted among his rabbeim Rav Yitzchok Isaac Leibis, who was the head of the Igud Harabonim, who was Rav Walkin’s role model in halacha. Rav Walkin was also extremely close to Rav Chaim Pinchos Scheinberg, Rav Avrohom Pam, and Rav Yisroel Belsky.

He developed a close relationship, as well, with Rav Shmuel Berenbaum, rosh yeshiva of Mirrer Yeshiva, and Rav Dovid Feinstein, rosh yeshiva of Mesivta Tiferes Yerushalayim, and he learned under Rav Shlomo Feivel Schustal at Yeshiva Torah Temimah.

Rav Walkin was the rov of a shul, Khal Bais Aharon in Lakewood, NJ, where he resided, and was rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Ohel Simcha in Queens, where he traveled regularly and delivered shiurim in the yeshiva and in the community. Rav Walkin served as the rosh yeshiva of the Chazaq Bais Medrash Bais Nosson Meir and the rosh kollel of Kollel Zichron Moshe V’Leah.

Rav Walkin was an outstanding talmid chochom who had overflowing ahavas Yisroel and ahavas haTorah. He loved people and he relished sharing divrei Torah with others, spreading the devar Hashem. His warmth and genuineness endeared him to one and all. He could always be found with a smile, and had a good word for one and all.

His passing has plunged his talmidim and admirers into mourning.

He is survived by his wife, Dr. Yaffa Walkin, and their family.

The levayah will be held tomorrow, Erev Shabbos, at 11:30 a.m. Join via Zoom here.
Meeting ID: 477 204 156
Password: 440475

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Meeting ID: 477 204 156

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Yehi zichro boruch.

Photos – (C) Flash 87 Images:

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20 COMMENTS

  1. ברוך דיין האמת
    נפלה עטרת רשאנו
    אוי לנו אוי לנו שקרה כך אצלנו
    חורבן בית המקדש
    שריפת התורה
    אין מילים ודמעות עד אין סוף ….

  2. What?! How can this be? I just watched him for the first time, speak live on TorahAnytime this Sunday, part of the Chazak conference! He spoke so nicely and gently. He gave me tremendous chizuk. I remember telling my wife that I like this person and I want to hear him when he speaks again. Oiy meh hayu lanu. This is very painful.
    BDE.

  3. of the Rosh Yeshiva of the Chazaq Bet Midrash Bais Nosson Meir and Rosh Kollel Zichron Moshe veleah, the father of countless talmidim,
    Moreinu Verabeinu Ateret Roshenu Harav Aharon Walkin Zatza”l

    Time: Apr 3, 2020 11:30 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

    Join Zoom Meeting
    https://zoom.us/j/477204156?pwd=aHhyOWI2S0tocjB5YnkvbnoxK3lQUT09

    Meeting ID: 477 204 156
    Password: 440475

    One tap mobile
    +13126266799,,477204156# US (Chicago)
    +16465588656,,477204156# US (New York)

    Dial by your location
            +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
            +1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
            +1 253 215 8782 US
            +1 301 715 8592 US
            +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
            +1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)
    Meeting ID: 477 204 156
    Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/aer1ZBmOe

  4. Oy yoy וי וי
    I can’t such a klop he was a gain a rebbe a madrich someone who cared for each yochid and for the klal

  5. This is my cousin..he was so special..our family is heartbroken..we lost a tzaddikk a very special human being..this is such al loss

  6. He made a huge impact and revulation in the heart of Queens, particularly Kee Garden Hills! He will solely be missed!

  7. I cant even believe it .it cant be real .he was mamash a huge pillar and big figure in the queens community yehi zichro baruch

  8. I was a classmate and friend of Rav Aharon at Yeshiva Ohr Yisroel in Forest Hills in the 1970’s. We both graduated in 1978. Although we went our separate ways afterward, I heard that he had gone on to become a prominent Rav and Torah leader. Our paths never crossed again after elementary school so I never had the chance to know Rav Aharon as the tremendous tzaddik he was as an adult. But I knew him well as a child and even as a little boy, he was always smiling, always full of life, a kind and generous person who always ran to do a chesed for someone while also being a huge anav with impeccable middos. I knew his parents and his younger brother too – the whole family was wonderful. I didn’t know him as he was in the pictures posted here but looking at his face, I can still see the smiling boy, full of life, full of middos, bursting with energy. I was very sad to hear that he had been niftar while still being so young and with so much left to offer the world. May he be a mailitz yosher for all of Klal Yisroel and beg Hashem to end this terrible Makkah we are now experiencing. Boruch Dayan Ha’emes.

      • Aharon graduated in 1978. He had a younger brother. Can’t remember his name. I have my Ohr Yisroel yearbook from 1978 and Rav Aharon is in it. We went to Great Adventure in NJ for our graduation trip. I rode a roller coaster with him. Such a nice, nice boy.

        • His brother lives in far Rockaway. He has been there for many years and also has tremendous energy. Rav Aharon truly changed my life and many others. The combination of Torah genius with love and emet with middos you never find. It’s a huge huge loss!!!

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