he Ashdod Torah community was plunged into mourning following the sudden petirah of Rav Yehoshua Dovid Weissfish zt”l, a revered melamed and exceptional oved Hashem who spent approximately half a century teaching Torah and was mechanech thousands of talmidim. He suffered a sudden cardiac arrest and was 75 years old.
Those who knew Rav Weissfish and generations of his talmidim were left shocked by the sudden loss of a man remembered for his extraordinary avodas Hashem, prishus and devotion to Torah and tefillah. Throughout his life, he poured his heart and soul into his tefillos, approaching davening with the closeness and sincerity of a son pleading before his father.
Rav Weissfish was born in 5711/1951 to his father, Rav Mordechai Meir Mattisyahu Weissfish zt”l, and his mother, Mrs. Shoshana Weissfish a”h.
As a bochur, he learned at Yeshivas Grodno in Ashdod, where he absorbed Torah from the yeshiva’s Roshei Yeshiva. Following his marriage, he established his home in Ashdod, where he would remain and become a cherished figure for decades.
Rav Weissfish served as a melamed at Talmud Torah Cheder HaRav in Ashdod. Over the course of his many years there, he taught and shaped thousands of talmidim, instilling within them a love for Torah, tefillah and deveikus baHashem.
One of his talmidim described the profound impression Rav Weissfish made on the children entrusted to his care.
“I had the privilege of being one of his thousands of students. His relationship with each and every student was as if he were an only child, with exceptional love and devotion, while providing a personal example of a righteous and exalted man, detached from the affairs of this world.”
His stature was recognized by leading talmidei chachomim as well. Each year on Hoshana Rabbah, Rav Dov Tzvi Karelstein zt”l, Rosh Yeshivas Grodno, would visit Rav Weissfish at his home to seek his brachah. Rav Weissfish was known for his remarkable humility and modesty, avoiding attention and conducting himself with simplicity. Many people attributed yeshuos they experienced to his brachos.
The levayah was held at his home at 7 Chofetz Chaim Street in Ashdod. The procession passed Talmud Torah Cheder HaRav on Rema Street before continuing to the Ashdod cemeter for kevurah in the Chareidim section.
Rav Weissfish leaves behind a distinguished family of sons and daughters, sons-in-law and numerous descendants who continue along the path he established. Among his sons is Rav Yehuda Weissfish, chairman of Ichud Bnei HaYeshivos.
Yehi zichro baruch.
{Matzav.com}
