YWN regrets to inform you of the sudden petira of HaGaon HaTzaddik Rav Mordechai Auerbach ZT”L, Rav and Av Beis Din of Kehillas Abir Yaakov in Tel Aviv, Rosh Yeshivas Halichos Shlomo and Nasi of the National Center for Taharas HaMishpacha. He was 84.
Rav Auerbach was niftar at Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv after his condition deteriorated sharply in recent days. He had been hospitalized with severe pneumonia and was receiving treatment in the intensive care unit.
As his condition worsened, widespread tefillos were held for Rav Mordechai ben Chaya Rivka. Special gatherings for tefillah were also held on his behalf, including at the kever of his father, the renowned posek HaGaon HaRav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach ZT”L.
Rav Auerbach was born on 3 Adar 5702 in Jerusalem’s Shaarei Chesed neighborhood to HaGaon HaRav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach ZT”L, the legendary posek and Rosh Yeshivas Kol Torah. His grandfather was HaGaon HaRav Chaim Yehuda Leib Auerbach ZT”L, Rosh Yeshivas Shaar Hashamayim.
His mother, Rebbetzin Chaya Rivka A”H, was the daughter of HaRav Chaim Aryeh Leib Ruchamkin ZT”L, who was widely known in Yerushalayim as Reb Leib Melamed.
Raised in a home steeped in Torah and yiras Shamayim, Rav Mordechai devoted himself to Torah learning from his youth and became known for his hasmadah and depth.
Following his marriage to the daughter of HaGaon HaRav Aharon Lemberger ZT”L, a granddaughter of the Kopitchnitzer Rebbe ZT”L, Rav Auerbach settled in Tel Aviv.
With the guidance and bracha of the Rebbes of the Ruzhin dynasty, he was appointed Rav of Kehillas Abir Yaakov of Sadigura in Tel Aviv, a position he would hold for decades.
His beis medrash on Olifant Street became a well-known address for Jews from across the spectrum. Thousands of people, including talmidei chachamim, young people and Jews seeking spiritual guidance, came to him over the years for advice, brachos and chizuk.
Rav Auerbach was particularly renowned for his ahavas Yisroel and his ability to connect warmly with Jews from widely different backgrounds. Through his gentle manner and words of encouragement, he drew countless Jews closer to Torah and Yiddishkeit.
He delivered daily shiurim in iyun and halacha, while on Shabbos many would come to hear his divrei Torah following davening. He also received people on a daily basis, answering she’eilos in halacha and providing guidance and support to those who turned to him.
Alongside his leadership of the kehillah, Rav Auerbach served as Rosh Yeshivas Halichos Shlomo in Tel Aviv and as Nasi and spiritual guide of the National Center for Taharas HaMishpacha. In that capacity, he devoted tremendous effort to strengthening taharas hamishpacha and supporting the construction of mikvaos throughout Eretz Yisrael.
He also served as Nasi of several mosdos chinuch, including the Ohel Rivka Seminary for girls in Yerushalayim and the Chassidish Chochmas Shlomo cheder in Yerushalayim.
Rav Auerbach leaves behind a distinguished family continuing his legacy of Torah and avodas Hashem.
His sons include HaGaon HaRav Aharon Auerbach, son-in-law of HaGaon HaRav Eliyahu Sternbuch ZT”L, Raavad of Antwerp, and HaGaon HaRav Chaim Leib Auerbach, a son-in-law of the Slonimer Rebbe.
His sons-in-law include HaGaon HaRav Avraham Nosson Bornstein, Rav of the Radomsk shul in Bnei Brak, and HaGaon HaRav Yosef Meir Feldman, one of the rabbanim of Yeshivas Toras Chaim Vizhnitz in Elad.
Rav Auerbach was a brother of leading gedolei Torah, including HaGaon HaRav Shmuel Auerbach ZT”L; HaGaon HaRav Avraham Dov Auerbach ZT”L, Gaavad of Teveria; and HaGaon HaRav Baruch Auerbach ZT”L.
His surviving brothers include HaGaon HaRav Azriel Auerbach, one of the leading poskim in Yerushalayim; HaGaon HaRav Meir Simcha Auerbach, Rav of Kehillas Derech Simcha in Beitar Illit; and HaGaon HaRav Yaakov Auerbach of Yerushalayim’s Ezras Torah neighborhood. His brother-in-law is HaGaon HaRav Yitzchak Yerucham Bordiansky, Mashgiach of Yeshivas Kol Torah.
The levayah will take place at 10:00 PM, leaving from Rav Auerbach’s beis medrash, Abir Yaakov, at 17 Olifant Street in Tel Aviv. At midnight, it will continue from the Shamgar Beis Halevayos in Yerushalayim to Har HaMenuchos, where he will be brought to kevurah.
Yehi Zichro Baruch.
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