Jerusalem – Rabbi Yehoshua Neuwirth, posek and noted author of the compendium of the laws of Shabbat, ‘Shemirat Shabbat Kehilchatah’, passed away at the age of 85 in Jerusalem Monday night.
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ARUTZ SHEVA 7 (http://bit.ly/15TJmUj) reports that thousands attended Rabbi Neuwirth’s funeral which began at his home in Bayit Vegan late Tuesday morning.
Crowds gathered to pay their respects as the procession passed through the yeshiva Rabbi Neuwirth founded, Netivot Hochma, before ultimately reaching the Mount of Olives where he was buried.
The rabbi had been hospitalized, and his condition had worsened in recent days.
Rabbi Neuwirth was one the most well-known students of the late Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, and his book Shemirat Shabbat Kehilchatah revolutionized the study of Shabbat for observant Jews.
Rabbi Neuwirth also served as halacha expert for Shaarei Tzedek Hospital.
Baruch Dayan Emes
To call him an “author” is one of the biggest understatements imaginable, although his seminal sefer on hilchos Shabbos paved the way for halachic sefarim in modern idiom and for widespread knowledge and observation of hilchos Shabbos.
His tremendous Torah knowledge was matched only by his anivus.
I was shocked by his death. Most of us have no idea what a loss this entails for klal Yisrael, and especially for those involved in piskei halacha, including Shabbos and refuah.
It is said that Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach ztl used to keep the sefer of his prize talmid on his Shabbos table, look inside, read a halacha or two, ask those present if indeed the halacha is as Rav Neuwirth ztl wrote, and then conclude, “Yes, he is correct!”
Used to his Safer to help learn semicha….
Boruch Dayan HaEmes.
My Father ZT”L once said to kanai who was criticizing the Sefer Shmirs Shabbos, that it has a Hascomoh Min Hashamayim.b/c very few Sefarim have been reprinted so many times during the Mechaber’s lifetime. this was back in the late sixties!
His anivus and midos tovos inspired all that had the zechus to know him.
Zol er zein a melitz yosher for Klal Yisroel.
BDE. I review his sefer constantly.
Rav Neuvirth taught in Bais Yaakov Yerushalayim. Chinuch Habanos was important to him. What a loss to klal yisroel
BD”E a true loss for Klal Yisrael in these turbulent times!
He also helped thousands with a very big gemach he ran. B’DE.
85 is not that old in today’s world, but it is elderly.
A truly remarkable sefer. I consult it weekly or more. I am saddened to hear about his passing. A truly great intellect and Talmud Chachom, the world is at a loss when such Talmidie Hachomim pass. I recall reading that he was a survivor of the Shoah, and actually started writing his famous Sefer while in a concentration camp. I am not sure about the details, but think of that… this book was written in the fires of literal Gehinnom…and emerged to become one of the most influential books for Shemirat Shabbos. Me keamcha Yisrael!