Prominent Rabbi Dies at 70 After Losing Sons in Tragic Fire

Rabbi Yehuda Leib Trowitz, a respected rabbi from Bnei Brak, passed away at the age of 70 on the second day of the Sukkot holiday. Born in Jerusalem in 1957, he was the son of Rabbi Shmuel Trowitz, a prominent rabbi and head of the 'Kenesset Meir' yeshiva, and the grandson of Rabbi Yaakov Moshe Korlansky. Rabbi Trowitz studied at the Hebron Yeshiva in Jerusalem and was known to be close to many leading rabbis of his generation.

He was a pioneer in establishing "between semesters" study programs for yeshiva students over 45 years ago, a practice now common throughout Israel. For a period, he resided in Ofakim, where he was associated with Rabbi Chaim Kamin and was credited with bringing many Jews closer to religious observance.

Eighteen years ago, while living in Ofakim, Rabbi Trowitz suffered a devastating tragedy when his two sons perished in a fire that engulfed their sukkah on Hoshana Rabbah. He reportedly endured significant physical suffering, and his health declined further after the loss of his children. He passed away in a nursing home in Bnei Brak on Rosh Hashanah. Funeral arrangements will be announced later.