Rabbi David Shlomo Batzri, a prominent kabbalist, died at the age of 85 on Friday after collapsing in his home in Bnei Brak.
Rabbi Batzri was the founder of Yeshivat Hashalom in Jerusalem, which he headed for many years. The yeshiva, located on Tachkemoni Street in the Mekor Baruch neighborhood, is a prominent center for the study of kabbalah.
Shas leader Deri mourns Rabbi Batzri
Shas leader Rabbi Arye Deri mourned Rabbi Batzri, describing him as “a humble and righteous soul who dedicated his life to Torah, prayer, and the Jewish people.”
Deri also said that Batzri had stood by Shas’ side through “all the difficult times,” including Operation Roaring Lion, and strengthened Deri through faith and prayer.
“For decades, I was privileged to share a close and profound friendship with him, frequently visiting his yeshiva and drawing inspiration from his teachings and counsel,” Deri said.
According to the Columbus Jewish News, medical teams called to Rabbi Batzri’s residence performed prolonged resuscitation efforts before transferring him in critical condition to Sheba Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
He was buried on Friday afternoon, in advance of the Sukkot holiday, at Sanhedria Cemetery next to his wife, Rebbetzin Tzipora, who died on the eve of Pessah this year. Due to the timing of the holiday, the rabbi’s funeral procession departed at 2 p.m., and the shiva – seven-day mourning period – was reduced to only two hours.
According to the Hebrew-language ultra-Orthodox website Haredim 10, large crowds attended his funeral, including leading rabbinic figures who delivered tearful eulogies. Among them were Sephardic Chief Rabbi Rabbi David Yosef; founder and dean of the Or Chaim Yeshiva, Rabbi Reuven Elbaz; head of the historic Yeshivat Nahar Shalom, Rabbi Benyahu Shmueli; and the well-known kabbalist Rabbi Yaakov Ades.
The rabbi had been in poor health for several years.