We regret to inform you of the Petirah of HaGaon HaRav Hillel Zaks ZT”L, Rosh Yeshivas Knesses HaGedola in Kiryat Sefer (Chevron), who was Niftar today at the age of 85.
The Rosh Yeshiva collapsed earlier in the week in his home and was transported to Mayanei HaYeshua Hospital in Bnei Brak in serious condition. Since
Hagon HaRav Hillel Zaks was a grandson of the Chofetz Chaim. He was born in Radin to his father Hagon Rav Menachem Mendle Zaks Z”L, and his mother Feiga, the daughter of the Chofetz Chaim. The family eventually fled the war and ended up in America. Rav Zaks learned under Hagon HaRav Moshe Feinstein, Hagon HaRav Reuven Grazovtsky, and finally in Lakewood – under his Rebbe, Hagoen HaRav Aharon Kotler. He learned bichavrusa with Hagon HaRav Shneuer Kotler and with Hagon HaRav Shmuel Kamintzky Shlita.
He married Rebbitzen Ahuva Esther, the daughter of the Rosh Yeshiva of Chevrom Yeshiva, Hagon HaRav Moshe Chevroni. He later started his Yeshiva Knesses HaGedolah, which grew into the famous Yeshiva it now is, where he tought thousands of Talmidim over the years.
The levaya will being at 5:00PM from Yeshivas Knesses HaGedolah in Modi’in Illit.
[Via YWN]
Reb Hillel Zatza”l started the first Cheder in Lakewood together with R’ Leib Rutkin zt”l, they hired the first Rebbe and took turns picking the boys up in the morning. When R’ Hillel went before the Town judge to create a new congregation for the school, the judge said Lakewood already has a hebrew day school already, is it a different type of congregation like a sefard congregation, rather than ashkenaz, he replied yes, and therefore the first legal name of the cheder was Congregation Anshei Sefard.
Didn’t he also learn in his father’s kollel in yeshiva Chofetz Chaim on 89th street and Riverside Drive in Manhatan in the early 50’s?