Rav Yaakov Homnick zt”l

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Yaakov Homnick zt”l of the Ramat Eshkol neighborhood of Yerushalayim. He was 94.

Reb Yaakov was born on the Lower East Side on New York City, a son of Reb Aharon Homnick, who immigrated to the United States as a teenager from the Ukraine, and his mother, Sheina.

His parents, unlike many others in those days, chose a Torah education for their children and sent Reb Yaakov to study at Yeshiva Rabbeinu Yaakov Yosef, where he was influenced by Rav Zeidel Epstein.

In his youth, he continued on to Yeshivas Rabbeinu Yitzchok Elchanan, where he learned from Rav Shmuel Valk and later from Rav Shatzkes and Rav Soloveitchik. He also learned under Rav Mendel Zaks and was close to the mashgiach Rav Yaakov Moshe Lesin.

When Bais Midrash Elyon was established in Spring Valley, Reb Yaakov joined the yeshiva, learning together with Rav Shraga Moshe Kalmanowitz, Rav Gershon Zaks, Rav Don Ungarischer and others under Rav Reuven Grozovsky. He became very close to the founder of the yeshiva, the pioneer of Torah in America, Rav Shraga Feivel Mendlowitz.

He married his wife, Chana, nee Hammer, of Los Angeles. Chana was one of the first students of Rebbetzin Vichna Kaplan at Bais Yaakov in Williamsburg.

After his marriage, Reb Yaakov learned at Yeshivas Rabbeinu Chaim Berlin’s Kollel and became close to the rosh yeshiva, Rav Yitzchok Hutner, who ultimately asked him to give a shiur to an elite group of high school boys.

Eventually, Reb Yaakov was asked by rabbonim to travel to Eretz Yisroel to help establish yeshivos for the children of immigrants. And so, the young American couple traveled to Eretz Yisroel, where Reb Yaakov established a yeshiva in Moshav Taoz for children of immigrants from Yemen. He took advantage of his stay in Eretz Yisroel to meet with various gedolim, including the Brisker Rov, the Bais Yisrael of Ger, and others.

Prior to the birth of his eldest son, he returned to the United States and began serving as a rov in Oak Park, Michigan, which was a spiritual desert at the time. Reb Yaakov immediately began extensive Torah activities, establishing a Talmud Torah for the children of the community.

By the time he left Oak Park, there was already a thriving community there, thanks in part to his work.

After that, he served as a rov in several congregations in Philadelphia, until he and his wife decided to immigrate to Eretz Yisroel and settle there.

A new chapter in his life began, with him initially serving as the first director of Neve Yerushalayim institutions. His house often served as a second home for the girls of the school.

He was later called to head a bais medrash in Amsterdam, and later returned to Eretz Yisroel, where he joined the Rashi Institute.

Reb Yaakov was a noted baal menagein and served for many years as a chazzan for the Yomim Noraim.

He was predeceased by his eldest son, Rav Yisrael Meir Homnick, the late mashgiach of Yeshivas Yad Aharon.

He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Chana Homnick, his son, Rav Akiva Homnick, R”M at Yeshivas Chedvas Hatorah, Shlita, and his daughter, Mrs. Bulman, wife of Rav Yeshaya, marbitz Torah at Yeshiva Toras Moshe.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com Israel}