Rav Ephraim Dov Landau Shlita Hospitalized After Fall

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman

In a concerning development, HaGaon HaRav Dov Landau, the esteemed 95-year-old Rosh Yeshivah, was admitted to Mayanei HaYeshua Hospital early Thursday morning after experiencing a fall at his home overnight.

The beloved Torah sage, serves as a spiritual beacon to tens of thousands, was unable to attend the morning Shacharis services at the yeshivah due to significant pain resulting from the incident. Medical staff promptly conducted comprehensive tests and X-rays upon his arrival at the hospital.

Though family members have reassured the community that HaRav Landau’s condition is stable, he remains under careful medical observation. His household has issued a heartfelt request for prayers from Klal Yisrael during this challenging time.

The greater Jewish community is urged to include Efraim Dov ben Devorah in their tefillos for a complete and swift refuah sheleimah. What follows is an overview of Rav Landau’s life so that readers can get a better sense of his gadlus.

Rav Landau was born on April 5, 1930, in Zgierz, Poland, a city just north of Lodz, Poland. Today, he is one of the most respected leaders of the Lithuanian Jewish community, serving as the Rosh Yeshiva of the famous Slabodka Yeshiva in Bnei Brak, along with Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch his co-Rosh Yeshiva.

Early Life and Journey to Israel

Born to Devorah and Tuvia Yosef Landau, young R’ Ephraim Dov came from distinguished roots. His grandfather was the Admor Rav Elimelech Menachem Mendel Landa of Strikov, a highly respected Chassidish Rebbe.  HaRav Elimelech Menachem Mendel, one of the greatest admorim of Poland before the Holocaust. When HaRav Elimelech began to lead his Chassidus, a huge circle of chassidim gathered around him. During HaRav Elimelech’s time, 150 botei medrash of Strikover chassidim were scattered throughout Poland, and many chassidim from other chassidus also followed and revered him. With his passing on the 19th of Shvat, 5696 (1936), he was replaced by his son the rav of Kinov, who led the group until he perished al kiddush Hashem in 5704 (1944).

When Ephraim was just five years old, his family made the important decision to move to Eretz Yisroel. Along with his parents and sister Zehava, they began their journey in early 1935. During this trip, his sister Rivka was born.

The family settled in Rechovot, where Ephraim continued his Torah education. After studying at the New Settlement Yeshiva for about a year and a half, he moved to the prestigious Ponevezh Yeshiva. He was accepted after sharing his excitement about a visit to the yeshiva during the holiday of Shavuos. At Ponevezh, he studied alongside Rav Yaakov Edelstein and considered himself a student of several great Rebbeim, including Rav David Povreski and Rav Shmuel Rozovsky.

The Influence of the Chazon Ish

Although Rav Landau met the  Chazon Ish (Rav Avraham Yeshaya Karelitz) fewer than 10 times, he considers the Chazon Ish his Rebbe Muvhak. He embraced the Chazon Ish’s methods of studying Torah and followed his psakim. This connection would later play an important role in his personal life as well.

A Marriage Born from Tragedy and Hope

Rav Landau married Adina Sher, the granddaughter of Rav Yitzchok Isaac Sher, who was the renowned head of the Slabodka Yeshiva. Rav Yitzchok Isaac Sher (1875-1952) was one of the greatest Torah scholars of his generation. He was famous for his deep Mussar teachings and his work “Leket Sichot Mussar” (Collection of Ethical Talks), which is still studied in yeshivas today.

Rav Sher was known for combining the intellectual approach of Lithuanian Torah study with character development. He taught his students that becoming great in Torah learning must go hand-in-hand with becoming a better person. His influence spread far beyond Slabodka, as many of his students went on to establish major yeshivas around the world.

Adina’s story is both heartbreaking and inspiring. She was the daughter of Rav Yosef Sher, who was tragically murdered in the Kovno Ghetto during the Holocaust. When she was just a small child, before the Nazis conquered Lithuania, her parents made the difficult decision to hide her in a monastery to save her life. She remained there throughout the war.

After the war ended and the terrible news of her parents’ murder was confirmed, Adina’s uncle, Rav Mordechai Shulman, and his wife, Rebbetzin Chaya Miriam, took her from the monastery. Rav Shulman served as an interim Rosh Yeshiva in the Chofetz Chaim Yeshiva, in Williamsburg, between the passing of Rav Dovid Leibowitz zt”l and Rav Henoch Leibowitz zt”l who was recover from illness.  She grew up in their loving home and eventually moved with them when they moved to Bnei Brak. The match between Rav Landau and Adina was actually suggested by the Chazon Ish himself, bringing together two important Torah families.

Leadership at Slabodka Yeshiva

The Slabodka Yeshiva in Bnei Brak has a rich history. It was established as a continuation of the famous Slabodka Yeshiva of Lithuania, which was founded in the late 19th century. When World War II threatened Jewish life in Europe, the yeshiva was reestablished in Bnei Brak, Israel, where it has grown into one of the most prestigious Torah institutions in the world.

After his marriage, Rav Landau was appointed as a teacher in the yeshiva. Over time, many students were drawn to his deep knowledge and teaching style. In the early 1980s, he was appointed as a head of the yeshiva, serving alongside Rav Baruch Rosenberg, Rav Amram Zaks, and Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch.

The Slabodka Yeshiva is known for its unique approach that balances deep analytical Torah study with ethical character development – continuing the legacy of Rav Yitzchok Isaac Sher. Under Rav Landau’s leadership, the yeshiva has maintained this tradition while educating thousands of students who have gone on to become important rabbis and community leaders themselves.

Beliefs and Positions

Rav Landau believes that the best way to study Torah is through deep analysis rather than just trying to cover as much material as possible. This approach reflects the traditional Lithuanian style of learning.

He also respects modern medicine and tells everyone who asks him about health issues to follow their doctor’s advice. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he took a strict position, ruling that wearing masks was required by Jewish law and criticizing those who wanted to open yeshivas against health guidelines.

In recent years, Rav Landau has taken strong positions on several issues important to the Charedi (ultra-Orthodox) community. He has spoken against certain protest movements, opposed military draft efforts, and expressed concerns about changes to traditional religious education.

His Seforim

• Minchas Davar, on the Minchas Chinuch
• Leket Shiurim on the tractates studied in the yeshiva (with other Roshei Yeshiva of Slabodka)
• Collections of novellae on all tractates of the Shas
• Chidushei Rabbi Dov Landau on the Shas tractates Bava Kamma, Bava Metzia, Bava Batra, Shabbat, Eruvin, Yevamot, Ketubot, Nedarim, Gittin, Kiddushin, Sanhedrin, Makkot, Shevuos, and on Seder Zeraim
• Gilyonos Rabbi Dov Landau – containing notes copied from his handwriting on Rishonim and Acharonim: Ramban, Rashba, Ritva, Rambam, Tur, Shulchan Aruch, Minchat Chinuch, Chazon Ish, and others, on the tractates Shabbat, Eruvin, Yevamot, Ketubot, Nedarim, Gittin, and Kiddushin. The book was published in a limited edition
• Siach Davar – correspondence in Chiddushei Torah  with Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky zt”l in two volumes

Family

Rav Landau and his wife Adina have built a family deeply connected to Torah education. Their son, Rav Yosi Avraham Yeshayahu, leads the Slabodka Kollel in Brachfeld and is a grandson of Rav Aharon Kotler zt”l through his father Rav Dov Schwartzman. He teaches at the Slabodka Yeshiva. Their daughters have married into prominent rabbinic families, continuing the legacy of Torah leadership.

Today, after the passing of several Gedolei Torah, Rav Ephraim Dov Landau is considered one of the leading Gedolim of the Lithuanian Charedi community in Eretz Yisroel.

The author can be reached at [email protected]