Rabbi Reuven Tzvi Beloy, Eldest Dushinsky Hasid, Dies at 99 in Jerusalem

Rabbi Reuven Tzvi Beloy, the eldest Hasid of the Dushinsky community and a devoted disciple of the Maharitza Dushinsky, passed away in Jerusalem at the age of 99. Born nearly a century ago in the Austrian town of Tzehalim to Rabbi Yechiel Beloy, a prominent community leader, he immigrated to Israel in 1940 with his family, arriving just before his bar mitzvah. During the voyage, he was included in the prayer quorum by Rabbi Aharon Rata, the Shomer Emunim leader.

Settling in Jerusalem, Rabbi Beloy and his brothers studied at the yeshiva of the Maharitza Dushinsky, becoming one of the last remaining students of this revered rabbi, founder of the Dushinsky Hasidic community. He served as the rabbi’s personal attendant and was entrusted with safeguarding the rabbi’s home during the 1948 War of Independence, even testifying to a break-in at the residence near the Jordanian border. He also helped transport the Passover utensils to the rabbi’s temporary lodging amid shelling.

Rabbi Beloy married the daughter of Rabbi Aharon Kinstlicher, son of the Gaavad of Saben, and remained closely connected to the Dushinsky leadership throughout his life. He founded "R.T. Beloy Ltd.", a well-known Jerusalem office supplies store that served many religious institutions for decades. Known for his integrity, generosity, and dedication to Torah study, he supported yeshivas financially and was a member of the Beit Yosef Tzvi Dushinsky yeshiva board.

In 2015, he suffered a severe illness but remained spiritually connected, receiving visits from the current Dushinsky Rebbe. He is survived by his son Rabbi Aharon Beloy, who manages the Rebbe’s guesthouse in London, and his daughter, who runs the family store. His funeral took place on Tuesday, August 22, 2023, from the Dushinsky Beit Yosef Tzvi yeshiva in Jerusalem to Har HaMenuchot cemetery, where he was buried beside his grandfather, the Gaavad of Saben. May his soul be bound in the bond of life.