Rabbi Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz died Monday at Shaarei Tzedek Hospital in Jerusalem at the age of 97.
Rabbi Lefkowitz was the head of the Ponevezh Yeshiva Letzirim (yeshiva for younger men) and a member of the Council of Torah Sages (Moetzet Gedolei HaTorah) of Degel HaTorah.
He was a student of Rabbi Shlomo Heiman and the Chazon Ish. He published Chiddushei Rabbi Shlomo, the teachings of Rav Shlomo Heiman.
The rabbi was hospitalized on Shabbat in critical condition after he lost consciousness during the third Sabbath meal, Seuda Shlishit.
Rabbi Lefkowitz was considered one of the greatest sages of his generation by the Lithuanian hareidi-religious stream. Two weeks ago he was hospitalized at Ma'aynei HaYeshua hospital in Bnei Brak but was released after he felt better.
The Chairman of the National Union party, MK Yaakov Katz, expressed grief Monday upon learning of the loss.