By: Dvir Amar – A7.com
Rabbi Chaim Druckman, one of the leading religious Zionist rabbis in Israel, passed away Sunday evening, after he was hospitalized with the coronavirus. He was 90 years old.
Members of Rabbi Druckman’s family and public figures arrived at the hospital to visit the rabbi during his last days. Finance Minister-designate MK Bezalel Smotrich said upon leaving the hospital earlier this month: “The people of Israel owe a great deal to our teacher and rabbi, Rabbi Druckman. The rabbi’s condition is not good, the rabbi is unconscious. I am very grateful to the medical staff here at Hadassah and the intensive care department and call on the public to tear open the gates of heaven through prayers for the recovery of Rabbi Chaim Meir ben Milkah. And G-d does not tire of the prayers of the masses.”
Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu said: “I pray from the bottom of my heart, along with many of the people of Israel, for the recovery of Rabbi Chaim Meir ben Milkah Druckman. Oh Lord, please heal him.”
Rabbi Druckman had previously been diagnosed with the coronavirus in February and recovered from the disease then. He has been hospitalized several times in the past year.
Rabbi Druckman felt unwell on Friday, December 9, and subsequently tested positive for the coronavirus. He was treated at home for several days, during which he was in serious but stable condition. The rabbi was taken to Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center in Jerusalem after his condition deteriorated the following Wednesday morning.
The management of Hadassah Ein Kerem announced the passing of the Rabbi:
“The rabbi was hospitalized in Hadassah Ein Kerem in very serious condition and was treated with devotion by the internal intensive care unit team for the past 10 days, but we were forced to pronounce him dead this evening.
The Hadassah Medical Center partakes in the grief of the family at this difficult time and the grief of the general public.”
Rabbi Chaim Druckman was the Rosh Yeshiva of the Or Etzion Yeshiva and its daughter institutions and head of the Center for Bnei Akiva Yeshivot, and was one of the most politically influential rabbis in the religious Zionist community, whose every quote on political matters generated headlines in the media.
Although the Religious Zionist Party has a rabbinical council which advises it on religious matters, Rabbi Druckman was considered the highest authority on the council, and the party’s important meetings were held at his home. Many credited his influence with playing a significant part in the party’s success in the elections for the 25th Knesset in November.
Political moves made behind the scenes also passed through his house. Under pressure from associates of then-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, MK Mansour Abbas came to a meeting at the rabbi’s home in Mercaz Shapira regarding the option of establishing a narrow right-wing government with the outside support of the Ra’am party. Discussions on conversion and kashrut laws were also held at his home.
Rabbi Druckman, a Holocaust survivor who studied at the Kfar Haroeh Yeshiva and the Merkaz HaRav Yeshiva, is one of the greatest alumni of the school of Rabbi Zvi Yehuda HaCohen Kook. In addition to his rabbinical duties, he also held public positions, beginning with several terms as an MK and ending with the position of head of the conversion system in the Prime Minister’s Office. He was married to Sarah Druckman and father of nine and grandfather to hundreds of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Thousands of his students serve in the rabbinate and in key positions in Israeli society. Even at the age of 90, Rabbi Druckman continued his educational and public activities.
According to the biography “Hineni” (Here I am), written by Eliashiv Reichner, the story of Rabbi Druckman at the public level in the last few decades is largely the story of religious Zionism, and he was there at every crucial juncture. He was the head of the Or Etzion Yeshiva in Mercaz Shapira, as well as the head of the yeshiva high school and the military preparation school that operate alongside it. At the same time, he served as chairman of the head of the Center for Bnei Akiva Yeshivot, as a member of the national board of Bnei Akiva and as the rabbi of the movement, and also served as chairman of the umbrella organization of Hesder yeshivas.
Public figures have also come out with praise for the great rabbi and his life’s work.
Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi David Lau, paid tribute to Rabbi Druckman.
“Together with the entire House of Israel, I mourn the passing of Rabbi Chaim Druckman zt’l, a great man who for ninety years, taught, educated and brought Jews closer to faith in the Creator.
“And out of the love of the great Torah, he loved every Jew, every inch of the Land of Israel, and every letter of the Torah of Israel, and educated [his students] who will continue to learn, and continue to see the great light shining before their eyes. We mourn those who are gone and are no longer with us,” he said.
Incoming Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, also expressed deep sorrow over the Rabbi’s death.
“A great light of love for Israel has gone out today. A farewell to Rabbi Chaim Druckman. My heart aches deeply along with his dear family and with many, many fellow Jews. The State of Israel has lost a great spiritual leader, and I have lost a personal friend whom I respected very much.
As someone who personally experienced the horrors of the Holocaust as a child, Rabbi Druckman dedicated himself to building the nation upon his arrival in Israel,” he wrote.
“The compass of his path was the benefit of the Jewish people. Educating the youth, settlement of the Land, social action, growth of the religious Zionist world, and supporting Jewish youths serving in the IDF were at the forefront of his life mission.”
“His extensive activity as a member of the Knesset reflected his being not only a representative of the sector he represented, but a loyal messenger of the general public at large.
“A major interface between the rabbi and me was in the field of conversion. As head of the conversion system in the Prime Minister’s Office, he took, as was his holy custom, a heartfelt approach that helped thousands of new immigrants join the ranks of our nation.
“The fire that burned in Rabbi Druckman has not been extinguished and its sparks lie deep in the hearts of thousands of his students.
“His path will continue for generations – in the spirit of the words of his teacher and rabbi, Rabbi Kook ZT”L: ‘Be light, be holy, be just, live life that’s worthy of your name, of Israel.'”
