The Angels Overcame the Mortals • The Mashpia (spiritual mentor), the Chassid

With great sorrow, the bitter news was received today—Wednesday, the 19th of Marheshvan—of the histalkus (passing away) of this tzaddik and chassid, one of the greatest students of our teacher, the Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, a Mashpia (spiritual mentor) of Torah to thousands who turned many away from sin, the Chassid, Rabbi Eliyahu Meirav zt"l (of blessed memory).

His Life's Journey: Rabbi Eliyahu was born on the 23rd of Kislev, 5711 (1950) in Alexandria, Egypt, to his father Amos (Kamus) Ben Zion and his mother, Mrs. Fortuna Maklouf. In 5714 (1954), he immigrated to the Holy Land with his family, arriving with nothing. Initially, he lived in Ramatayim, and later the Maklouf family moved to Hod HaSharon. After another period, they moved to Kibbutz Beit Alfa of the 'Hashomer Hatzair' movement in the north of the country. In the spirit of those days and given his surroundings, the young Eliyahu did not have the slightest concept of Judaism. In 5729 (1969), he enlisted in the Air Force and served as a fighter pilot. In 5732 (1972), during operations in the Sinai, he was critically injured, but miraculously woke up. Years later, Rabbi Eliyahu Meirav attributed the miracle of his survival to the day of the hilula (anniversary of passing) of the Or HaChaim HaKadosh, which fell on that day (from an interview with the "Hitchadshut" monthly magazine). In 5734 (1974), during the Yom Kippur War, he was called to reserve duty in the Air Force's electronic warfare unit, where he met Rabbi Yehuda Amit shlit"a and heard concepts of Judaism from him for the first time. After the war ended, he decided to return in teshuvah (repentance) and went to Yeshivat "Schar Sachir" in Netivot. During his studies at the Yeshiva, with the blessing of the Steipler Gaon, he married Rebbetzin Chana Herman a"h (may she rest in peace). After his marriage, he remained to study in the Yeshiva's Kollel in Netivot and was called by the personal attendant of the Baba Sali, Rabbi Eliyahu Alfasi zt"l, to serve as the Baba Sali's personal driver. After four years, with the blessing of the Baba Sali, he moved to live in the Baba Sali's house in the Unsdorf neighborhood of Jerusalem. He began studying at the "Ahavat Shalom" Kollel, where he met some of the great elders of Breslov who studied there, and he began to draw closer to Breslov and to our teacher, the Rav shlit"a. He recounted his first meeting with the Rav shlit"a on the Shuvu Banim website:

"It was at the Pomerantz house, down in the Shmuel HaNavi neighborhood; they said a great Rabbi had arrived. At the time, I didn't know about Chassidus, I didn't know about anything. From the moment I saw him, from that very second, my soul was bound to his, and I never left him, and I will never leave him. I saw that this was a completely different phenomenon; there is a completely different kind of light here clothed in a body, and it is simply a fearsome and awesome revelation of Godliness. It is something else entirely!!!"

With the establishment of the settlement of Emanuel in 5744 (1984), Rabbi Eliyahu moved to live in the city along with other Breslov Chassidim. Two years later, when Emanuel was declared a local council, he was elected to serve as the Mayor of Emanuel. During his tenure as Mayor, the "Kochav HaShomron" company, which built Emanuel among other places, collapsed. Rabbi Eliyahu was forced to deal with the consequences, and in those days, he received strong backing from Maran Rabbi Ovadia Yosef zt"l. After the second elections for the leadership of Emanuel in 5751 (1991), he was elected as Deputy Mayor. In 5755 (1995), following the instruction of our teacher, the Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, he returned to live in the Holy City of Jerusalem. From then until his illness, Rabbi Eliyahu Meirav was sent by the Rav shlit"a on many outreach missions across the country and the world. Thanks to the powerful gift of speech he was blessed with, he merited to return hundreds of Jews to their source and bring them closer to holiness.

In 5777 (2017), he fell ill for the first time, and in the merit of the blessing of the Rav shlit"a, his condition improved. After the Corona pandemic in 5781 (2021), the illness struck him again. During the past four years, despite suffering difficult and bitter afflictions, a constant smile was spread across his holy face, and from his sickbed, he continued to strengthen all of the Jewish people in every way possible. In 5784 (2024), together with a donor from America, he dedicated a Torah scroll to the Beit Midrash of our teacher, the Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a.

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In the past year, he visited the home of the Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, many times to receive encouragement, advice, and many blessings for a complete healing. In the past month, his condition worsened. Yesterday, Tuesday, the 18th of Marheshvan, the Rav shlit"a went to visit him at his sickbed; the Rav shlit"a recited the Shema with him.

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Today, the 19th of Marheshvan, the decree was sealed; the Erelim (angels) overcame the Metzukim (mortals), and the Chassid, Rabbi Eliyahu Meirav zt"l, was called to the Heavenly Yeshiva at the age of 74. Rabbi Eliyahu left behind children, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren—blessed, upright generations of Rabbis and lecturers, many of whom are engaged in holy work.

T.N.Z.B.H. (May his soul be bound in the bond of life)