Rav Refael Posen zt"l

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Rav Refael Posen zt"l

It is with great sorrow that we inform you of the passing of Rav Refael Binyamin Posen zt”l, the Yeshiva’s legendary chazzan for the Yamim Nora’im for the past fifty years. In addition to his role as ba’al tefilla in the Yeshiva, Rav Posen was also an instructor in the Yeshiva’s Machon Hora’ah, where he taught courses in Targum Onkelos and Tanach. Rav Posen was an extraordinary person who formed deep bonds with his students.

Rabbanit Posen can be reached by telephone at: 02-628-7872 or 052-566-5857.

Two weeks ago, on Motza’ei Shabbat Parashat Vayakhel, we had the zechut of hosting a melave malka in honor of Rav Posen. The following is a summary of that evening:

On Motza’ei Shabbat, Parshat Vayakhel, the Yeshiva hosted a special Melave Malka in honor of Rav Dr. Refael Binyamin Posen upon the publication of the Sefer Vayikra volume of his Parshegen series on Targum Onkelos and in recognition of his serving as shaliach tzibbur in the Yeshiva on the Yamim Nora’im for over fifty years. Despite the fact that he is suffering from a difficult illness, Rav Posen continues his efforts to complete his important projects.

Many alumni from years past joined Rav Posen’s family and friends for this special evening. The evening included the Yeshiva’s special niggunim from years past, sung by a choir of Yeshiva alumni and accompanied by Rav Posen. Afterwards, Rav Posen and his sons sang a number of the niggunim of the Yamim Nora’im that he introduced to the Yeshiva.

Due to his illness – which Rav Posen does not conceal, and which he describes in his introduction to the Parshegen volume on Sefer Vayikra – his dvar Torah focused on the diverse stages in his life. He noted his studies in Yeshivat HaYishuv HaChadash, his days learning in Kerem B’Yavneh (with the blessing of the Steipler Gaon), and his later studies in Yeshivat Slobodka in Bnei Brak. He mentioned the years that he served as the principal of Kfar Eliyahu (now Ulpanat Baharan in Gedera), as well as his years teaching in Bar Ilan University. Among those present at the melave malka were many friends from all of these periods in Rav Posen’s life.

Speakers at the melave malka included the Rosh HaYeshiva, Rav Mordechai Greenberg, Rav Posen’s friend from the time of their studies in Yishuv HaChadash, as well as Rav Sinai Adler and Rav Yeshayahu Hadari, who taught in Kerem B’Yavneh when Rav Posen was a student. Dayan Yitzchak Dov Berger, Rav Posen’s friend from Yeshivat Slobodka, came from England in order to participate in this special evening. Dayan Berger described the deep friendship that developed between him and Rav Posen at Yeshivat Slobodka: “I am the Galicianer who met Rafi the Mizrachnik at Slobodka. We were both the odd ones out there, different from the Bnei Brak atmosphere of the yeshiva – and that was precisely the reason that we were drawn to one another and that our friendship has lasted until today.”

Other speakers included Rav Dr. Meir Rafeld, Rav Posen’s colleague from Bar Ilan, and Itiel Sofer, one of the students in the Yeshiva’s Machon Hora’ah, who described Rav Posen’s devotion to his students. Indeed, Rav Posen made great efforts to deliver his lectures even while suffering from his illness.

All present expressed amazement at the fact that Rav Posen’s multifaceted personality successfully combines many different worlds while remaining faithful to all.

The remarkable persona of Rav Posen zt”l will continue to accompany us in the years to come, in particular when we sing his special niggunim on the Yamim Nora’im.

Tehei nishmato tzerura betzrur hachaim.