On the last night of Hanukkah, as the flames banished the darkness, Rav Chaim Druckman’s soul was called back to its Creator. The soul of his mentor, Rav Tzvi Yehuda Hakohen Kook zts"l, was there to greet his disciple, with pride at a soul who had completed its mission on earth. Had Rav Druckman remained in this world another minute, it would have been filled with action. Even while he was ill, his sharp mind was always working, turning worlds. Every minute of his life was dedicated to Am Yisrael.
Rav Druckman was the founder and Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Ohr Etzion in Mercaz Shapira and taught endless numbers of Torah classes. But he did not just teach Torah, he lived the Torah. He was a walking Torah, a lover of the Jewish people, a lover of Israel. His entire being was love.
His love of the Land was extraordinary, filled with passion and dedication.
His love of every Jew was that of a father, filled with care, concern, as well as faith of the inherent goodness that lies within each soul.
He rose to action- as one of the first shlichim to the U.S. in the 1950’s creating numerous educational and Torah initiatives, later as the leader of the Bnei Akiva movement, as a Knesset member, and as the mover and shaker of religious Zionism. His accomplishments were widely acknowledged during his lifetime, and he was awarded the Israel Prize and the Jerusalem Prize. All were received with utmost humility.
Rav Druckman was a devout activist. He was a fighter. He was a leader and a visionary. He would take his students out of the study hall to act on behalf of Am Yisrael. He sent them to fight in the army, as a representation of Torah values. He relocated to Yamit to protest the expulsion of Jews from their land. He took his students to support and fight for Gush Katif. He took them on Jerusalem day to dance in the streets to celebrate the miracle of the Jewish State. He lived Torah. He breathed life, passion, and mission in every Jew to raise the flag of Israel.
Having fled the Nazis as a young child, nearly losing his life, Rav Druckman understood with his very being that the State of Israel was not just a place of refuge. Rather, the declaration of the Jewish state was the beginning of the process of Redemption of the Jewish people. He took the darkness and transformed it into light. He singlehandedly raised a generation of refined religious Zionists who contribute passionately to building the land of Israel. His former students can be found impacting every part of Israeli society spanning from elite army positions and politicians to the spheres of hi-tech, medicine, education and Rabbinic judges.
Rav Druckman worked tirelessly his entire life to bring the complete redemption by adding light, slowly slowly, one day at a time, one action at a time. This was his life mission, the mission of a tzaddik, to bring the nation of Israel to its full potential. He served in the Israeli Knesset for over fourteen years, making an impact in the most tangible sense. One could get a glimpse of the extraordinary scope of his influence by the diverse list of personalities who eulogized him -the Israeli president, prime minister, and rabbis of both Ashkenazic and Sephardic backgrounds. But that wasn’t all. Every student and family member felt his warmth and care just the same. Everyone was dear to Rav Druckman. Big and small. Everyone was worthy of his time and of his warmth.
On a personal note, I merited to gain a glimpse of Rav Chaim Druckman’s refined character when I married one of his devout yeshiva students. My husband, Rabbi Ezra Friedman, came to Israel at age 17. Without a word of Hebrew, he landed in Yeshivat Ohr Etzion, not knowing what a huge impact it would have on his life and his future. His connection with his Rebbe, Rav Druckman, was more than that of a Rebbe and talmid (student), it was of a father and son. His pure joy and pride, his concern and care could be felt at every given moment. You could call him at any hour of the day and he would be overjoyed to hear from you. We merited to remain in the yeshiva community for five years, gaining values and wisdom which guide us to this day.
Rav Druckman would tell his students who were moving on from yeshiva life that “one never leaves yeshiva”. His words held a deeper truth for those who knew their true meaning. The values of Torah, the Land of Israel and the Jewish people would be their guiding light everywhere and always- in the army, university, community, and workplace.
As Rav Druckman’s soul ascended to the next world, it left behind an immense void that is impossible to fill. We are faced with the responsibility to complete his mission to bring the Nation of Israel to the next level. We must add light- through good character, endless love of our fellow Jew, and by taking action for the Jewish people and the Land of Israel. May we be inspired by the legacy of a true tzaddik and be comforted by adding light.
Ronit Friedman, artist and art therapist (MA) resides with her husband and four children in Maale Adumim. Her husband, a devoted talmid of Rav Chaim Druckman, is a community Rabbi and runs OU Kosher in Israel.