Thousands Attend Levayah of Rav Dovid Shmidl zt”l, Who Requested Hespedim “Only in Yiddish”

Thousands gathered Monday night in Bnei Brak and Yerushalayim for the levayah of Rav Dovid Shmidl zt”l, longtime head of Kollel Komemiyus and chairman of Asra Kadisha, who passed away at the age of 92.

The levayah procession began from the plaza outside Kollel Chazon Ish in Bnei Brak, where massive crowds assembled alongside gedolim and elder rabbonim of the city.

Among those participating in the levayah were Rav Dov Landau, Rav Meir Tzvi Bergman, Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, Rav Chaim Feinstein, and other prominent gedolim who came to pay their final respects to a man who spent decades fighting for the honor of the deceased and safeguarding ancient Jewish burial sites throughout Eretz Yisroel.

In his tzavaah, Rav Shmidl specifically requested that all hespedim delivered after his passing be spoken exclusively in Yiddish, reflecting the atmosphere he cherished throughout his life.

During the levayah, emotional hespedim were delivered by Rav Meir Greineman, Rav Chaim Feinstein, Rav Sariel Rosenberg, Rav Moshe Menachem Lubin, and Rav Moshe Boyer, who also recited chapters of Tehillim with tremendous emotion and awakening.

Rav Shmidl’s son-in-law, Reb Chizkiyahu Yeshaya Turchin, who is currently overseas, participated in the hespedim via telephone.

Following the procession in Bnei Brak, the levayah continued to Yerushalayim, where additional thousands accompanied Rav Shmidl from Kikar HaShabbos to his final resting place on Har Hazeisim.

Rav Shmidl was widely recognized as one of the foremost activists on behalf of kevuras Yisroel and spent decades leading efforts through Asra Kadisha to protect Jewish graves and ancient cemeteries from desecration. Alongside his public activism, he was known as a devoted talmid chochom who headed Kollel Komemiyus and maintained close relationships with many of the leading gedolim of several generations.

PHOTOS BY SHUKI LERER:

{Matzav.com}