The Torah world lost a giant today, with the Petirah of Hagaon Harav Yaakov Edelstein Zatzal.

The rav, who served as mora d’asra of Ramat HaSharon, lost consciousness last Monday and was hospitalized in serious condition. He is a brother to Rosh Yeshivas Ponevezh, Hagaon Harav Gershon Edelstein Shlita.

From YWN: For close to nine decades, Rav Yaakov Edelstein devoted himself to growing in Torah; both the revealed portions and the world of Toras haNistar. He was a close mekurav of the Chazon Ish ZT”L who, in 1944, chose Rav Yaakov (and his brother Rav Gershon) to be amongst the first group of six bachurim which inaugurated the new Yeshivas Ponevezh in Bnei Brak. Later, upon the passing of their father HaGaon Rav Tzvi Yehuda Edelstein ZT”L in 1950, it was the Chazon Ish who crowned Rav Yaakov to succeed his father as Rav of Ramat HaSharon. Later, the Chazon Ish would send bachurim to learn in the Yeshiva of Ramat HaSharon Rav Yaakov would found and lead for more than thirty years.

Renowned for his spectacular memory and total recall of countless piskei halacha, Rav Yaakov served as the senior Dayan on the Beis Din of his close friend Rav Nissim Karelitz for many decades. Indeed, in a telling testament to Rav Edelstein’s proficiency in psak, the Brisker Rav ZT”L would send his son, the Brisker Rosh Yeshiva Rav Berel ZT”L, to travel to Ramat HaSharon to consult with Rav Yaakov in regard to questions concerning Shechita and Yoreh Deah.”

Baruch Dayan Ha’emes.