BDE: Harav Yaakov Zechariah, Zt”l, Rosh Yeshivat Lev Eliyahu

Yerushalayim’s Torah community is grieving the loss of the revered Rosh Yeshiva Harav Yaakov Zechariah, zt”l, head of Lev Eliyahu and other yeshivos, who was niftar Shabbos night at the age of 70 after suffering a severe stroke earlier this month.

At the request of leading rabbanim, the name “Refael” was added during his illness, and heartfelt tefillos were offered worldwide for the recovery of Refael Yaakov ben Naima. Sadly, his condition declined, and he was niftar at 2:00 a.m. on Shabbos at Shaarei Tzedek Hospital, according to B’chadrei Charedim.

The levayah was held Motzoei Shabbos at 9:30 p.m., beginning at the Lev Eliyahu Yeshiva on Rabbi Patel Street in Ramat Shlomo, continuing to the Sanhedria cemetery, where he will be laid to rest alongside his teachers, Hagaon Harav BenZion Abba Shaul and Hagaon Harav Yehudah Tzadkah, zt”l.

Born in Eretz Yisrael, Rav Zechariah learned in Yeshivat Porat Yosef, where he became a distinguished talmid of Rav Ben Zion Abba Shaul and Rav Tzadka. He often spoke with deep reverence about his rebbe’s Torah and mussar, and Rav Abba Shaul said decades ago that Rav Zechariah had “grasped our derech and is fit to teach it to others.”

Encouraged by his mentors, Rav Zechariah founded Yeshivat Lev Eliyahu in 2002 for younger bachurim, later establishing the flagship yeshiva in Ramat Shlomo in 1977, along with Yeshivat Derech HaTorah. Lev Eliyahu quickly became renowned for its unique blend of Sephardi and Litvishe learning, emphasizing both “omek hapshat” in the Maharsha and Maharam Shif, and the lomdus of the Chazon Ish and the Brisker Rav.

Under his leadership, generations of talmidim were raised in Torah, yiras Shamayim, and middos tovos. Former students described him as a man of immense humility, whose passion for learning and devotion to avodas Hashem inspired all who knew him.