BDE: Harav Rachamim Mazuz, zt“l, Posek of Kisei Rachamim

It is with sadness that we report the petirah of Harav Rachamim Eliyahu Mazuz, zt“l, senior posek of Yeshivas Kisei Rachamim in Bnei Brak, nasi of the Machon Harav Matzliach sefarim institute. He passed away after an extended illness at Mayanei HaYeshuah Hospital in Bnei Brak.

Rav Rachamim was born on the 17th of Kislev, 5709, in Tunisia, into the illustrious Maazuz family. He was the younger brother of the previous Rosh Yeshivah of Kisei Rachamim, Harav Meir Mazuz, zt“l, and the brother of the current Rosh Heshivah, Harav Tzamach Mazuz, shlit”a. His father was Harav Matzliach Mazuz, zt“l, the author of the Ish Matzliach, Hy”d, who was murdered in Tunisia.

From his earliest youth, the Rav displayed extraordinary gifts in halachah. His father would pose complex shailos to him for analysis, recognizing in him a singular mastery of the works of the Acharonim and shailos v’teshuvos sefarim.

Following the murder of his father, Rav Rachamim was the first of the family to leave Tunisia for Eretz Yisrael, acting on a dream his mother a”h, had received. After a delay of approximately two and a half months in a transit camp in France and roughly a week’s voyage by sea through Greece, the family arrived in Eretz Yisrael.

Rav Rachamim devoted his life to a singular mission: preserving, editing, and disseminating the writings of his father. He served as nasi of Machon Harav Matzliach, the institute established under the auspices of Yeshivas Kisei Rachamim for the publication of his father’s works, including the Shu”t Ish Matzliach and the sefer Matzmiach Yeshuah.

According to B’Chadrei Charedim, Rav Rachamim became widely known among the broader public especially through his haga’os on the Ish Matzliach’s perush on the Mishnah Berurah. Earlier in his career, he also edited with great erudition the sefer VaYomer Yitzchak of his rebbe, Rav Yitzchak Bachunik, and the sefer Mishpat Kasuv of Rav Yisrael Zeitoun.

For more than forty years, Rav Rachamim led the kollel of Yeshivas Kiseh Rachamim. He also delivered shiurim to outstanding yeshivah talmidim.

His style in halachic writing earned him extraordinary recognition. Harav David Yosef, shlit”a, the Rishon LeTzion, testified: “I am thoroughly familiar with the style of my great father, Rav Ovadiah Yosef, zt“l – but the only one whose writings I read and confuse with those of my father is Harav Rachamim Mazuz.”

Last Cheshvan, as his medical condition deteriorated, the names Chaim and Shalom were added to his name following consultation with his brother, Rosh Yeshivah Harav Tzamach Mazuz, shlit”a, and his son-in-law, Harav Eliyahu Binyamin Madar. At that time, Harav David Yosef issued a public call to Klal Yisrael: “The public in Eretz Yisrael does not sufficiently know who this great gaon is — he is a towering giant in Torah, a wondrous genius whom our generation has not sufficiently recognized. He is a talmid chacham who protects the generation, and it is fitting that we all daven for his complete recovery.”

Rav Rachamim is survived by his wife, Rabbanit Tamar, as well as by sons, sons-in-law, and grandchildren who continue his unique legacy.

The levayah will be held Wednesday from Bnei Brak and proceed to Yerushalayim, where kevurah will be held on Har HaZeisim, in the chelkah of his father.

Yehi zichro baruch.