The Jewish world mourns the passing of Rabbi Mordechai Auerbach, one of Tel Aviv's most senior rabbinic figures and spiritual leader of the Abir Yaakov Sadigura community, who died Saturday night at age 84.
Rabbi Auerbach had been hospitalized at Ichilov Hospital over the past week with acute pneumonia. His condition deteriorated and he was transferred to intensive care as Jews worldwide prayed for his recovery.
The rabbi was the youngest son of the late Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, one of the generation's leading halachic authorities, and Rebbetzin Chaya Rivka. He served as head of Yeshivat Halichot Shlomo and president of the National Center for Family Purity.
Funeral arrangements will be announced.
From Shaarei Chesed to Leading Tel Aviv's Community
Born in Jerusalem's Shaarei Chesed neighborhood in 1942, Rabbi Auerbach studied at Ponevezh Yeshiva under the tutelage of Rabbi Baruch Dov Povarsky. He married the daughter of Rabbi Aharon Lamberger, granddaughter of the Kopyczynitz Rebbe.
After his marriage, he moved to Tel Aviv. Following the passing of the Avir Yaakov of Sadigura, who left no successor, the community's chassidic beit midrash found itself without spiritual leadership. Under the guidance of the Ruzhin rebbes, Rabbi Mordechai Auerbach was appointed to serve as rabbi of the Abir Yaakov Sadigura community in the city.
For decades, Rabbi Auerbach served as spiritual navigator and leader in central Tel Aviv. Around his beit midrash, a unique and distinguished community formed, comprising baalei teshuva alongside accomplished scholars and Torah students who regarded him as their rabbi and teacher.
The rabbi was known for his welcoming, respectful and inclusive approach. He taught that there should be no uniform standard for baalei teshuva, but rather one must "walk according to each person's spirit," while maintaining uncompromising adherence to every detail of the Shulchan Aruch. He encouraged baalei teshuva to continue earning their livelihoods in their professions while establishing fixed times for Torah study and becoming genuine Torah scholars.
Among his students and close followers were public figures, rabbis and cultural personalities whom he brought closer to Torah.
Rabbi Auerbach disseminated Torah through his daily classes and taught Shabbat lectures in his beit midrash. He headed Yeshivat Halichot Shlomo in Tel Aviv, named for his father. He also served as president and guiding force of the National Center for Family Purity organization, and of educational institutions in Jerusalem: the Ohel Rivka seminary for girls and the Chochmat Shlomo chassidic Talmud Torah.
He received large crowds from all walks of life who streamed to his Tel Aviv residence to consult with him on halachic matters, receive his blessing and benefit from his wise counsel.
Rabbi Auerbach is survived by sons and sons-in-law who disseminate Torah:
His son, Rabbi Aharon Auerbach, author of the Halichot Shlomo series (rulings of his grandfather Rabbi Shlomo Zalman), son-in-law of Rabbi Eliyahu Sternbuch, former chief rabbi of Antwerp.
His son, Rabbi Chaim Leib Auerbach, son-in-law of the Slonim Rebbe.
His son-in-law, Rabbi Avraham Natan Bornstein, rabbi of the Radomsk synagogue in Bnei Brak and head of Kollel Halichot Shlomo in Tel Aviv, son of the late Sochatchov-Radomsk Rebbe.
His son-in-law, Rabbi Yosef Meir Feldman, lecturer at Vizhnitz Yeshiva in Elad, son of Rabbi Zev Feldman, among the leading rabbis of London.
His brothers include the rabbinic scholars: the late Rabbi Shmuel, and Rabbis Avraham Dov, Azriel, Meir Simcha, Baruch and Yaakov.
His brothers-in-law include the scholars Rabbi Zalman Nechemia Goldberg of blessed memory, Rabbi Yehuda Treger of blessed memory, and Rabbi Yitzchak Yerucham Borodiansky.
