The Angels Have Vanquished the Righteous Ones • Rabbi Eliyahu Meirav zt”l

WITH GREAT SORROW, WE RECEIVED THE BITTER NEWS TODAY, WEDNESDAY 19 MARCHESHVAN, OF THE PASSING OF THE TZADDIK AND CHASID, RABBI ELIYAHU MEIRAV ZTVK”L, AMONG THE GREAT STUDENTS OF MOREINU HARAV ELIEZER BERLAND SHLIT”A, A TEACHER OF TORAH TO THOUSANDS AND MULTITUDES, AND BRINGING MANY BACK IN REPENTANCE.

THE STORY OF HIS LIFE

Rabbi Eliyahu was born on 23 Kislev 5711 (1950) in Alexandria, Egypt to his father Amos (Kamus) Ben Tzion and his mother Fortuna Makluf.  In the year 5714 (1954), his family came to the Holy Land with nothing, settling initially in Ramatayim, and afterwards, they moved to Hod HaSharon.  After another period of time, they moved to Kibbutz Beit Alfa of the “Hashomer Hatzair” movement in northern Israel.  In that environment and era, young Eliyahu didn’t have the slightest conception of Judaism.

In the year 5729 (1969), he enlisted in the Israeli Air Force, and served as a combat pilot.  In the year 5732, during an operation in Sinai, he was critically injured but miraculously regained consciousness.  Later on, Rabbi Eliyahu attributed his rescue to the yahrzeit of the holy Oh HaChaim, which occurred on the same day (as he recounted in an interview for Hitchadshut magazine).

In 5734, during the Yom Kippur War, he was called on to serve in the reserves in the electronic warfare department of the Air Force.  There he met Rabbi Yehuda Amit shlit”a and heard from him ideas in Judaism.  After the war, he decided to return to religious observance and to go to the “Sachar Sachir” Yeshiva in Netivot.  During his studies in the yeshiva, with the blessing of the Steipler, he married Rabbanit Chana Herman a”h.  After his wedding, he continued learning in the Kollel of the Yeshiva in Netivot, and was asked by the assistant of the Baba Sali, Rabbi Eliyahu Alfasi zt”l, to serve as the personal driver of the Baba Sali.  After four years, with the blessing of the Baba Sali, he moved to live in the Baba Sali’s home in the Unsdorf neighborhood of Jerusalem and joined the “Ahavat Shalom” Kollel.  There, he met several of Breslov’s greats and elders who learned in the Kollel, and he began to draw close to Breslov and to Moreinu HaRav shlit”a.  He once shared the story of his first meeting with the Rav shlit”a to the Shuvu Banim website:

“This was in Beit Pomerantz in the Shmuel HaNavi neighborhood below.  They said that some great rabbi was coming.  Then, I didn’t know about Chasidut, I didn’t know anything.  From the moment that I saw him, from that second, my soul was bound to his soul, and I haven’t left him, nor will I ever leave him.  I saw that there is a totally different phenomenon here.  There is a completely different type of light that is dressed in a body, and he is simply an awe-inspiring and incomprehensible revelation of Godliness.  This is something else completely!!”

With the establishment of the community of Immanuel in 5744 (1984), Rabbi Eliyahu moved to live in the city together with other Breslov Chasidim.  Two years afterwards, when Immanuel was declared a local council, he was elected as its head.  During his tenure as head of the municipality, the “Kokav HaShomron” company, which had built Immanuel, collapsed.  Rabbi Eliyahu was forced to deal with the aftermath.  During those times, he received strong support from Maran Rabbi Ovadia Yosef ztvk”l.  After the second municipal elections in 5751, he was elected as deputy mayor.  In 5795 (1995), following the instruction of Moreinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit”a, he returned to live in Jerusalem, the holy city.

From then until his illness, Rabbi Eliyahu Meirav was sent by Moreinu HaRav shlit”a on numerous missions across Israel and the world.  In the merit of his strong oratory skills that he was blessed with, he merited to return hundreds of Jews to their roots and to draw them close to holiness.

In the year 5777 (2017), he was diagnosed with cancer, and the in the merit of the blessing of Moreinu HaRav shlit”a, his situation improved after the COVID-19 pandemic in 5881.  The cancer returned, and over the last four years, despite the terrible suffering, his holy face was always adorned with a radiant smile.  Even from his sickbed, he continued to inspire and strengthen Am Yisrael in every possible way.  In the year 5784 (2024), together with a donor from America, he dedicated a Torah scroll to the Beit Midrash of Moreinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit”a.

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During the last year, he would often visit the home of Moreinu HaRav shlit”a to received chizzuk, counsel, and many blessings for a full recovery.  During the last month, his condition worsened, and last night, on Tuesday 18 Marcheshvan, Moreinu HaRav shlit”a came to visit him on his sickbed.  The Rav shlit”a read with him Kriat Shema.

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Today, 19 Marcheshvan, the decree was decreed, the angels vanquished the righteous ones, and the Chasid Rabbi Eliyahu Meirav ztvk”l was called to the Yeshiva on High.  He was 74 years old at his passing.

Rabbi Eliyahu left after him sons, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren, upright and blessed generations, many of whom are rabbis, lecturers, and many who are involved in the holy work.

ת.נ.צ.ב.ה.

MAY HIS SOUL BE BOUND IN THE BOND OF LIFE