YWN [Aneinu] Baruch Dayan HaEmmes: HaGaon HaRav Refoel Shmuelevitz ZATZAL, One Of The Roshei Yeshiva In Mir Yerushalayim

YWN regrets to inform you of the Petira of HaGaon HaRav Refoel Shmuelevitz ZT”L, 78, one of the Mir Yerushalayim Roshei Yeshiva. Earlier today, a false notification was made by officials in Shaare Zedek Hospital in Yerushalayim. Tefillos intensified at Batei Midrashim around the world, until his Petira just a few moments ago. The Torah giant was rushed to the hospital a number of days ago after his condition deteriorated. Rav Refoel Shmulevitz was diagnosed with ALS approximately four years ago, and was given two to four years to live. He lost the ability to talk clearly and was confined to a wheelchair. Not long after, YWN reported that a new experimental treatment for MS (multiple sclerosis) and ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) was giving Rav Rafael Shmulevitz hope. The rav’s family was summoned to his bedside on Monday morning 8 Shevat as his condition took a turn for the worse. Rav Refoel was born in 1937 in Poland to his parents a son of Hagon HaRav Chaim Shmulevitz ZATZAL, the Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Mir Yerushalayim and his mother Rebbitzen Chana Leah (Finkel). She was the daughter of Hagon HaRav Eliezer Yehuda Finkel, who was the Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Mir. He was a grandson of the Alter of Nevardok and the Alter of Slabodka. In 1962, Rav Refoel married the daughter of Hagon HaRav Avrohom Farbshtein, the Rosh Yeshiva of Chevron. He initially served as a R”M in Chevron Yeshiva, until his father was Niftar, at which point he served as one of the Roshei Yeshiva in the Mir. Rav Refoel was one of the most brilliant Torah minds of the generation. His sons are Rav Yaakov, a Rosh Yeshiva in the Mir, Rav Bentzion, Rav Eliezer, Rav Nosson Tzvi and Rav Yechezkel. His daughters are married to Rav Avrohom Segal, Rav Yosef Pines, Rav Shmuel Wolf, Rav Avrohom Shapira. His brothers are Hagon HaRav Avrohom Tzvi, and Hagon HaRav Meir. His brothers in law are Hagon HaRav Yitzchok Ezrachi and Hagon HaRav Yisroel Meir Weiss. The Levaya is scheduled for Tuesday morning at 11:30AM at the Mir Yerushalayim. (YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem) - See more at: http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/boruch-dayan-emmes/376710/baruch-dayan-haemmes-hagaon-harav-refoel-shmuelevitz-zatzal-one-of-the-roshei-yeshiva-in-mir-yerushalayim.html#sthash.yCAGccKZ.dpuf