Beloved Rabbi Chaim Yermak Passes After Seven Years of Paralysis in Bnei Brak

The Ramat Elchanan neighborhood in Bnei Brak mourns the passing of Rabbi Chaim Simcha Cohen Yermak, a revered Torah scholar and community figure, who died at age 64 after a prolonged illness. Rabbi Yermak, son of Rabbi Shlomo Cohen Yermak, was known for his humility, devotion to Torah study, and selfless dedication to others, including efforts to save Jewish children. His funeral took place on Wednesday, the 23rd of Menachem Av, and he was buried in Elad.

Rabbi Yermak was the son-in-law of Rabbi Alter Yitzchak Drashovitz, founder of the Zichron Yitzchak kollels in Bnei Brak, and connected to prominent rabbinic figures such as Rabbi Yaakov Kanievsky and Rabbi Avraham Kotler. His health declined sharply about seven years ago after a severe stroke left him partially paralyzed and dependent on others. Additional complications included a heart procedure and diabetic wounds, resulting in frequent hospitalizations.

Despite his suffering, Rabbi Yermak remained involved in his family’s life, helping arrange two of his children’s weddings from his sickbed. However, he passed before seeing his youngest daughter, 17, wed. The family now faces significant financial hardship, with monthly medical expenses exceeding 20,000 shekels and upcoming wedding costs. The widow and four orphaned children remain in the family home on Rav Sonnenfeld Street, struggling without a breadwinner.

Friends and community members are calling on the public to support the family urgently, helping to cover medical bills and enable the upcoming wedding. The family is sitting shiva at their home in Bnei Brak’s Ramat Elchanan neighborhood. Rabbi Yermak’s legacy as a humble scholar and devoted family man is deeply felt in the community.