Community Magazine August 2012

The Hazon Ish’s Prediction On March 25, 1930, Rav Yosef Shalom married his wife Rebbitzen Shayna Haya Levine, the daughter of the venerated sadik of Jerusalem Rabbi Aryeh Levine z.s.l. , and together they raised a large family of 12 children. Two died at a young age during the turmoil that preceded the establishment of the State of Israel. The other 10 children all followed their parents’ path of spiritual greatness. The most famous of Rav Elyashiv’s children was his daughter, the legendary Rebbitzen Batsheva Esther Kanievsky a.h. , the wife of the gadol hador Rabbi Haim Kanievsky shelita . Until her passing last year, Rebbetzin Kanievsky touched the lives of thousands of women worldwide with her advice, blessings and comfort. It is documented that when the shidduch (marriage proposal) between Haim Kanievsky and Batsheva Esther Elyashiv was being discussed, some minor complications arose that were stalling the process. The great Hazon Ish z.s.l. (Rav Avraham Yeshaya Karelitz, an uncle of Rav Haim) applied pressure on Rav Elyashiv to finalize the arrangement. Rav Elyashiv asked the Hazon Ish why he was so adamant that the shidduch be followed through, and he explained that he was confident that great Torah leaders would emerge from those who marry the daughters of the great Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv! In 1938, Rav Elyashiv received his rabbinic ordination from Rav Zelig Reuven Bengis of the Edah Hacharedit of Jerusalem. Two years later, he joined the Ohel Torah kollel in Jerusalem’s Rehavia neighborhood. He also assumed the position as rabbi of the Tiferet Bahurim synagogue in Meah Shearim, where he delivered a daily shiur in Talmud for nearly 70 years. In 1950, he was appointed by Rabbi Yitzhak Herzog, the first Ashkenazic Chief Rabbi of the State of Israel, as a judge on Jerusalem’s regional Bet Din . Shortly thereafter, he was appointed as a member of the Chief Rabbinical Court of the Israeli rabbinate. He served in that prestigious position until 1974. Photo courtesy 'Hashakdan' Photo courtesy 'Hashakdan' Photo courtesy 'Posek Hador' Photo courtesy 'Posek Hador' Photo courtesy 'Posek Hador' 42 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE