The editor of the classic Daat Mikra Bible series, Yehuda Kil, passed away in Jerusalem this morning at the age of 95.
Israel Prize-winner Kil was a founder of religious Zionist education, and was a leading figure and name in State-run religious schools for decades.
The Daat Mikra series, the famous light-purple books published by Mossad HaRav Kook, covers the entire Bible. It features scholarly introductions to each of the books, with textual and content comparisons between the various books.
The commentary itself, written by Kil and other leading scholars, combines use of the words of the Sages and classic commentaries with linguistic, archaeological, textual and other research – producing a high-level, informative and easy-to-read explanation.
Daat Mikra volumes are a basic component of the typical religious home library in many circles, and are studied in schools and yeshivot throughout the world.
Yehuda Kil was born in Lithuania in 1916, made Aliyah at the age of 20, and studied Bible, the Land of Israel and history in Hebrew University in Jerusalem. In the 40’s, he became the national secretary of Bnei Akiva, which he helped lead together with Rabbi Moshe Tzvi Neriah and Prof. Dov Rappel. From 1967 until 1977, he headed the Religious Education Department of the Ministry of Edcuation.
He is survived by many children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His funeral will be held this afternoon at the Shamgar Cemetery in Jerusalem.