Rav Itamar Schwartz zt"l, whose Bilvavi Mishkan Evneh series guided tens of thousands of Jews around the world in their avodas Hashem, was niftar on Shabbos, 27 Cheshvan. He was 50.
Last Wednesday, the Rav suddenly collapsed after a severe stroke. Hatzalah members worked to resuscitate him at the scene for an extended time before rushing him to the hospital in critical condition. Across the Torah world, people davened for the refuah sheleimah of Itamar ben Tovah, but on Shabbos, surrounded by his family and closest talmidim, he returned his neshamah to its Maker.
Rav Itamar was born in Yerushalayim on 7 Sivan 5736 (1976) to Rav Dov and Mrs. Tovah Schwartz. His remarkable abilities and diligence were evident from a young age. He learned in leading yeshivos, where he became known as an iluy who learned day and night, with rare depth and clarity of thought.
He married the daughter of HaGaon Rav Chaim Moshe Aharon Saloscz zt"l of Mishkenos Sanhedria, author of Nitfei Moshe on Chumash and Shas, who served as a rav in Yerushalayim’s Katamon neighborhood.
Rav Itamar forged his derech in avodas Hashem and pnimiyus haTorah through deep study of the Rishonim and Acharonim, sifrei Chassidus and mussar. He lived in Modiin Illit, and despite his thousands of talmidim and admirers, he was known for his extraordinary humility, running from honor and attention.
He became widely known through Bilvavi Mishkan Evneh and his Da Es Menuchasecha series, which found a place in batei medrash, yeshivos and Jewish homes everywhere. The series began anonymously: his shiurim were recorded, transcribed and edited by talmidim. It deals with emunah, working on one’s middos, hisbonenus, and building a closer relationship with Hashem.
The Rav devoted his life to charting a clear, straight path in avodas Hashem for our generation, blending the depth of Litvish mussar with the inner dimension of Chassidus. Beyond his best-known series, he wrote dozens of sefarim on the Yamim Tovim, tefillah, the human soul, chinuch and more, which are learned eagerly across every segment of the community.
“It’s hard to believe what he accomplished in such a short life,” his talmidim say. “He was a guide for an entire generation searching for real closeness to Hashem.”
The levayah is taking place today, Sunday, from the Shamgar Funeral Home in Yerushalayim to the Moroccan section of Har HaMenuchos.
Yehi zichro baruch.
