A Pillar of Halacha: World Mourns Passing of Rav Yitzchok Abadi zt”l, Towering Posek of Lakewood
The Torah world is in mourning following the passing of Rav Yitzchok Abadi zt”l, a legendary 92-year-old posek who was personally appointed by Rav Aharon Kotler and leaves behind a global legacy of students and halachic truth.
From Tiberias to the World Stage
Born in Venezuela on March 12, 1933, Rav Abadi’s family moved to Eretz Yisrael when he was just two years old, settling in the holy city of Tiberias. His brilliance was evident from his youth, as he studied under the local giants of Tiberias before being recruited to the prestigious Yishuv HaChadash in Tel Aviv.
Rav Abadi’s journey eventually led him to Yeshivas Chevron in Yerushalayim, but it was his relationship with the Chazon Ish that defined his early years. Recognizing his extraordinary potential, the Chazon Ish personally directed Rav Abadi’s path, sending him first to Montreux, Switzerland, and then, at age 19, across the ocean to the newly founded Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, New Jersey.
The Appointed Posek of Lakewood
Under the direct tutelage of Rav Aharon Kotler, Rav Abadi became a scholar of legendary diligence. His mastery was so complete that Rav Aharon Kotler himself appointed Rav Abadi as the official posek (halachic decisior) for both the yeshiva and the growing Lakewood community. It was a position of immense trust, one that Rav Abadi held with a combination of deep humility and intellectual courage.
In 1980, he established Kollel Ohel Torah, a workshop dedicated to producing the next generation of dayanim (judges) and rabbis. In 1993, he moved this kollel to Har Nof, Yerushalayim, before returning to Lakewood in 2009. His students now serve as the leading halachic authorities in Jewish communities across the globe.
A Legacy of Halachic Truth
Rav Abadi was known for his rigorous dedication to the truth, even when his conclusions were unconventional. He was famous for his rulings on modern challenges, including:
He leaves behind a prestigious family of scholars, including his sons who continue his legacy through educational platforms. Rav Abadi was a direct link to the Torah giants of a previous era, carrying the mesorah (tradition) of Slabodka and Chevron into the 21st century.
The levaya (funeral) took place Tuesday morning at the Sons of Israel Holocaust Memorial Chapel in Lakewood. He will be brought to Eretz Yisrael for burial.