Renowned Defender of Ancient Graves: Rabbi Dovid Shmidel Passes Away at 92
A fierce protector of ancient graves and the sanctity of the deceased, Rabbi Shmidel passed away in Bnei Brak at the age of 92, leaving a legacy of uncompromising spiritual activism.
The Haredi world is in mourning following the passing of Gaon Rabbi Dovid Michael Shmidel zt"l, the tireless leader of the struggle to protect Jewish graves and the sanctity of the deceased. Rabbi Shmidel, the longtime chairman of the "Asra Kadisha" organization, passed away this afternoon at the age of 92 after collapsing in his home.
A Life Defined by Spiritual Warfare
Rabbi Shmidel was widely regarded as the "Father of the Battles" for his 70-year crusade against the desecration of ancient burial sites and unauthorized autopsies. Born in Vienna in 1934, he immigrated to Israel at age five and became a devoted disciple of the Chazon Ish, whose uncompromising worldview shaped his life’s mission.
His public activism began in 1956 when he was dispatched by the Rabbi of Brisk to fight against excavations at the Tomb of Maimonides (the Rambam) in Tiberias. From that point forward, he became the face of the Orthodox struggle for Kevod HaMet (honor of the dead).
Leader of Atra Kadisha
In the 1970s, Rabbi Shmidel assumed leadership of Asra Kadisha, turning it into a powerful international barrier against the destruction of Jewish cemeteries. Under his guidance:
A Renowned Scholar and Editor
Despite his public-facing role in fiery demonstrations, Rabbi Shmidel was first and foremost a profound Torah scholar.
He served as the head of the "Mesivta De-Rabbi Yochanan" Kollel for decades.
He was a key editorial partner in the prestigious Shabtai Frankel edition of the Rambam, one of the most significant Torah publications of the modern era.
Rabbi Shmidel had been sick recently. Emergency medical teams performed prolonged resuscitation efforts at his home on Rashi Street in Bnei Brak on Monday, but were unable to save him.
He is survived by a large family following in his path and thousands of students who viewed him as the final guardian of Israel’s sacred burial grounds. Details regarding his funeral procession are expected to be released later today.