The painful saga that shook the Jewish world is coming to its bitter end tonight: 58 days after R' Yitzchak Shmuel Elmakayes hy"d was murdered in a forest near Uman, Ukraine, one day before Rosh Hashanah, his levaya will take place tonight (Monday) in London. The killers have not been caught.
As we reported extensively in recent months, the niftar's body has been held since the murder by Ukrainian security forces and authorities. Investigators claimed they needed to complete their probe in order to solve the crime and apprehend those responsible. But the wait dragged on week after week, causing immense pain and anguish to the family and those close to them.
Because of the prolonged delay and the unbearable tzaar of the meis, gedolei harabbanim stepped in. Leading them was the renowned dayan, HaGaon Rav Chaim Yosef Dovid Weiss, gaavad of Satmar Antwerp, who issued a clear and unequivocal psak halacha that there is an urgent obligation to bring the niftar to kevurah as quickly as possible, in accordance with the halacha requiring an end to the bizayon hameis and the shortening of his suffering.
After complex and intensive efforts in various quarters, the family and askanim were informed that the authorities had released the body. The aron of the niftar z"l made its way by sea to London, where he is expected to be laid to rest in the coming hours.
The levaya will leave tonight (Monday) at 22:15 local time from the niftar's home at 35 Heathfield Gardens in London, proceeding to the cemetery of Kehillas Adas Yisrael in Cheshunt, where he will be brought to his final resting place.
Tehei nishmaso tzrurah bitzror hachaim.
