The Rosh Yeshivah, Hagaon Harav Baruch Mordechai Ezrachi, Zt”l

By Hamodia Staff

The Torah world was plunged into mourning early Thursday, upon learning of the petirah of the Rosh Yeshivah, Hagaon Harav Baruch Mordechai Ezrachi, zt”l, in Yerushalayim, at the age of 94.

Harav Ezrachi had been hospitalized in Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital for the last few months. His condition had begun to improve, but on Thursday morning it took a sudden turn for the worse and he was niftar.

Harav Baruch Mordechai was born in Adar 5689/1929, in Yerushalayim, to Harav Yisrael and Rebbetzin Hinda Ezrachi.

As a bachur, he learned in Yeshivas Chevron in Yerushalayim, and when he came of age, he married the daughter of the Mashgiach of the yeshivah, Hagaon Harav Meir Chodosh, zt”l.

Reb Baruch Mordechai began to deliver shiurim in the yeshivah, and would also travel to Yeshivas Knesses Chizkiyahu in Kfar Chassidim.

In 5737/1977, Harav Baruch Mordechai, already recognized as one of the generation’s leading Torah educators, announced he was establishing a new yeshivah dedicated to the ways of Slabodka. He served as Rosh Yeshivah and asked his father-in-law, Harav Meir Chodosh, zt”l, to serve as Mashgiach. From that moment on, scores of talmidim flocked to the new yeshivah every year. Today they serve as Torah leaders all over the globe. The yeshivah was named Ateres Yisrael, after his father, zt”l.

Yeshivas Ateres Yisrael was, for decades, a central feature of the Bayit Vegan neighborhood in Yerushalayim. Several years ago, the managers of Modi’in Illit invited the Rosh Yeshivah to bring it to that city, offering it a spacious campus where its thousands of bachurim and avreichim could learn in comfort.

Another initiative that Reb Baruch Mordechai was famed for was the Bnei Torah movement, which he created in 5736/1976. Its goal was to attract youngsters from secular high schools and place them in the chareidi yeshivah world. Over the years, thousands of students have joined the movement in the merit of the Rosh Yeshivah’s enthusiasm.

He also wrote the many volumes of Birkas Mordechai on the Shas and the Torah.

Harav Ezrachi served as a senior member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Degel HaTorah in Eretz Yisrael, and was also a member of the Nesius of Mifal HaShas and other Torah organizations.

His wife, Rebbetzin Shulamis Ezrachi, a”h, passed away several years ago.

Harav Baruch Mordechai is survived by, lhbch”l, his only son, Harav Ben Zion, shlita, who serves as a Rosh Yeshivah in Yeshivas Ateres Yisrael; his daughters who are married to Harav Ariel Vilanski, Rosh Yeshivah in Eish HaTalmud; Harav Yehoshua Kanel, Mashgiach of Yeshivah Ketanah Ateres Yisrael; Harav Yeshayahu Glassman, Ram in Yeshivas Ateres Yisrael; and Harav Aharon Weiner, Rosh Yeshivah of Chochmas Shlomo, as well as many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His brother is Harav Yitzchak Ezrachi, shlita, a Rosh Yeshivah in Yeshivas Mir-Yerushalayim.

The levayah will be held Friday morning at 9 a.m., from his home in Bayit Vegan to Har Hazeisim in Yerushalayim, where he will be buried near his Rebbetzin, a”h.

Yehi zichro baruch.