In the Sanhedria Cemetery in Jerusalem this morning, Rabbi Dr. Zerach Warhaftig, one of the historic leaders of the modern Religious Zionist movement and a signer of Israel's Declaration of Independence, was buried after he passed away last night at the age of 96.
The National Religious Party's official mourning announcement eulogized him as follows: "Leader of Religious Zionism, man of great achievements, whose life was dedicated to Torah, the Nation of Israel and the Land of Israel; saved thousands of Holocaust refugees and brought them to the Land of Israel; a member of [pre-State governing bodies] Vaad HaLeumi (National Board) and Provisional State Council; representative of Religious Zionism in the Knesset from its first day until 1977; served as Religious Affairs Minister [for many years], author of many books on Jewish Law and Torah thoughts; Israel Prize winner for life achievements."
Warhaftig studied law in the University of Warsaw, served as a Jewish Agency official in Poland, escaped to Lithuania with his wife Naomi when World War II broke out, and from there supervised the rescue of many Jews. His most notable project during that period was the transfer of thousands of Jews, including the entire Mirrer Yeshiva, via Russia to Japan and China, and afterwards to what later became Israel. Holland and Japan provided him with the necessary visas. Warhaftig himself settled in Jerusalem in 1947.
Over 1,000 people attended the funeral, including many Knesset Members and rank-and-file of the National Religious Party. Eulogizers were Bar Ilan University President Prof. Moshe Kaveh; the deceased's three sons, including Rabbi Itamar Warhaftig of Bar Ilan University and Rabbi Yaakov Warhaftig of Har Nof; a granddaughter of the deceased; Bnei Akiva Yeshivot head Rabbi Chaim Druckman; and NRP leader Effie Eitam. They all noted his total devotion to Torah study. Chief Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau said late last night, "Zerach was the among the last of the generation of those who established the State. He was a great bridge between the Holocaust and the Rebirth, a Torah scholar… His contribution to the establishment of infrastructure for religious life in Israel was critical..."
The National Religious Party's official mourning announcement eulogized him as follows: "Leader of Religious Zionism, man of great achievements, whose life was dedicated to Torah, the Nation of Israel and the Land of Israel; saved thousands of Holocaust refugees and brought them to the Land of Israel; a member of [pre-State governing bodies] Vaad HaLeumi (National Board) and Provisional State Council; representative of Religious Zionism in the Knesset from its first day until 1977; served as Religious Affairs Minister [for many years], author of many books on Jewish Law and Torah thoughts; Israel Prize winner for life achievements."
Warhaftig studied law in the University of Warsaw, served as a Jewish Agency official in Poland, escaped to Lithuania with his wife Naomi when World War II broke out, and from there supervised the rescue of many Jews. His most notable project during that period was the transfer of thousands of Jews, including the entire Mirrer Yeshiva, via Russia to Japan and China, and afterwards to what later became Israel. Holland and Japan provided him with the necessary visas. Warhaftig himself settled in Jerusalem in 1947.
Over 1,000 people attended the funeral, including many Knesset Members and rank-and-file of the National Religious Party. Eulogizers were Bar Ilan University President Prof. Moshe Kaveh; the deceased's three sons, including Rabbi Itamar Warhaftig of Bar Ilan University and Rabbi Yaakov Warhaftig of Har Nof; a granddaughter of the deceased; Bnei Akiva Yeshivot head Rabbi Chaim Druckman; and NRP leader Effie Eitam. They all noted his total devotion to Torah study. Chief Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau said late last night, "Zerach was the among the last of the generation of those who established the State. He was a great bridge between the Holocaust and the Rebirth, a Torah scholar… His contribution to the establishment of infrastructure for religious life in Israel was critical..."