MARCH 24 • 2022 | 61

Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, the 
powerful leader of Israel’s haredi 
Orthodox community who was 
known as the “Prince of Torah,
” 
has died.
Kanievsky was 94 and died 
after collapsing at his home in 
Bnei Brak, the center of haredi life 
in Israel where he was regarded 
with reverence.
The son of a major rabbi with 
familial connections to numer-
ous famed rabbinic dynasties, 
Kanievsky seemed to be destined 
for a position of power from a 
young age. But the scholarly rabbi 
rose to new heights during the 
coronavirus pandemic as Israel’s 
government struggled to contend 
with numerous outbreaks in the 
haredi Orthodox community. 
Kanievsky, whose words were 
mediated through his grandsons, 
became a key leader in persuad-
ing haredi Orthodox Israelis to 
comply with government lock-
downs.
“They see him as a holy man,
” 
Eli Paley, the chairman of the 
Haredi Institute for Public Affairs, 
a Jerusalem-based research group, 
told the New York Times. “They see 
their existence as relying on Rabbi 
Chaim and his Torah learning.
”
Born in Poland in 1928 into 
a family of well-known rabbis, 
Kanievsky began studying as 
a young boy in Bnei Brak at 
the yeshiva of his uncle, Rabbi 
Avraham Yeshaya Karelitz, then 
one of the most important Jewish 
legal authorities in Israel.
Kanievsky, who spent most of 
his life in Bnei Brak, departed 
from yeshiva life only briefly, 
when he served in the Israeli 
army during the country’s war 
of independence. He became a 
major authority on all matters 
of Jewish law, authoring several 

books of Jewish legal writings.
“He’s isolated from everyone, 
from social life, just him and the 
Talmud,
” Sara Zalcberg, a pro-
fessor at Tel Aviv University who 
studies Israeli haredim, said of 
Kanievsky, who was known to 
seclude himself in his study with 
his Talmud for most of the day.
For years, Kanievsky would 
answer dozens, if not hundreds, 
of Jewish legal questions via small 
postcards on which he would 
inscribe his answers in tiny hand-
writing.
He would also receive visitors 
in his home who would seek 
his guidance on areas of Jewish 
law and with questions about all 
aspects of their lives.
After the 2017 death of 
Rabbi Aharon Leib Shteinman, 
Kanievsky became the preemi-
nent leader of Israel’s non-Hasid-
ic haredi Orthodox community, 
taking on a more political role 
in addition to his status as an 
authority on matters of Jewish 
law.
In October 2020, Kanievsky 
tested positive for COVID-19 
but recovered and resumed pub-
lic life. After vaccines became 
available, Kanievsky broke with 
some in his community by urg-
ing widespread vaccination. He 
received death threats in late 
2021 after opining that children 
should be vaccinated against the 
virus.
Kanievsky was largely con-
sidered a moderate on matters 
of Jewish law, according to 
Zalcberg; in 2016, for example, 
he ruled that medical marijuana 
was kosher for Passover. 
Kanievsky’s wife and the moth-
er of his eight children, Batsheva, 
died in 2011. He was to be buried 
March 20. 

Haredi Orthodox Rabbi 
Known as ‘Prince of 
Torah,’ Dies at 94

SHIRA HANAU JTA

and family. Her legacy of per-
severance and leadership will 
endure through the achievements 
of her survivors.
Mrs. Ruben was the beloved 
wife of the late Charles Ruben; 
cherished mother of the late 
Ellyce (Dr. Stephen) Field, 
Dr. Nancy (J.T.) Turner and 
Dr. Douglas (Arlene) Ruben; 
proud grandmother of Jordan 
(Marjorie) Field, Andrew Field, 
Dr. Garrett (Nayomi) Field, 
Michael (Rochelle) Ruben, 
Jennifer (Adam) Zillins and 
Jeffrey Macciomei; great-grand-
mother of Logan Field, Dylan 
Field, Sophia Field, Dalia Field, 
Brayden Ruben, Frank Zillins 
and Isaac Zillins; devoted daugh-
ter of the late Morton and the late 
Hilda Freedman; sister of the late 
Joseph Freedman.
Interment was at Oakview 
Cemetery. Contributions may 
be made to Congregation B’nai 
Moshe, 6800 Drake Road, West 
Bloomfield, MI 48322, bnai-
moshe.org. Arrangements by Ira 
Kaufman Chapel.

ROSALYN RUBIN, 
94, of West 
Bloomfield, died, 
March 15, 2022. 
She is survived by 
her daughters and 
sons-in-law, Linda and Elliott 
Gorov, Julie and Dr. Michael 
Savin; sons and daughters-in-law, 
Bruce and Dorothy Rubin, Dr. 
William and Karen Rubin; lov-
ing grandchildren, Carrie (Eric) 
Bourget, Jamie (Jeff) VanderWal, 
Dr. Emily (Gabe) Plaza, Hannah 
Rubin, Nathan Rubin (fian-
cée, Fallon), Marshall (Andra) 
Rubin, Spencer (Tiara) Rubin, 
Ethan Rubin (fiancée, Jaime), Dr. 
Jeffrey Savin, Kimberly Savin; 
great-grandchildren, Charlie and 
George Bourget, Alexandra and 
Samantha VanderWal, Brenton 
and Elaira Rubin, Raya and 
Zoey Plaza; brother, Dr. Irving 
Friedman; sister-in-law, Annette 
Friedman; devoted caregiver, 
Juanita; many loving nieces, 

nephews, other family members 
and friends. 
Mrs. Rubin was beloved wife 
of the late Morris Rubin; the 
sister-in-law of the late Honey 
Friedman; sister of the late Dr. 
Lee Friedman; sister-in-law of the 
late Ralph and Yetta Epstein, and 
Harold and Ann Bogrow. 
Interment took place at 
Oakview Cemetery in Royal 
Oak. Contributions may be made 
to Jewish Senior Life, Hospice 
of Michigan, the Crohn’s and 
Colitis Foundation or a charity 
of one’s choice. Arrangements by 
Dorfman Chapel

DR. ALLEN WEISS, 
94, of Bloomfield 
Hills, died March 15, 
2022. 
He is survived 
by his daughter, 
Cathy Sparling; sons and daugh-
ters-in-law, Steve Weiss and 
Karen Ring, and Scott Weiss and 
Marci Bakst; grandchildren, Ben 
and Abby Sparling, Adam and 
Rebecca Sparling, Alexandra and 
Shane Jarmin, Monica Weiss, 
Jake Weiss, Mitch Weiss and his 
fiancee, Jaime Falco, Brad Weiss, 
Danny Weiss and Eric Weiss; six 
great-grandchildren; loving com-
panion, Estelle Robinson. 
Dr. Weiss was the beloved 
husband for 60 years of the 
late Marilyn Weiss; the loving 
brother of the late Shirley Finkel, 
the late Seymour Weiss, the late 
Jack Weiss and the late Herbert 
Weiss; the devoted son of the late 
Samuel Weiss and the late Lilly 
Weiss. 
Interment was at Clover Hill 
Park Cemetery. Contributions 
may be made to University of 
Michigan School of Dentistry, 
Oral Surgery Fund-363537, 
3003 S. State St., Suite 9000, 
Ann Arbor, MI 48109; or The 
Ros1ders, 1721 Eastern Ave., 
Suite 19, Sacramento, CA 95864, 
theros1ders.org. Arrangements 
by Ira Kaufman Chapel.

