BDE: R’ Yehuda Tzvi (Heshy) Fruchter, z”l

YS Gold

It is with deep sadness that we report on the petirah of Rav Hershel Fruchter, z”l, a talmid chochom who dedicated his entire life to limud haTorah with mesirus nefesh. He was 58 years of age.

The niftar was the son of, ybl”ch, Rav Yaakov Fruchter of Torah Umesorah, and the longtime editor of the Olameinu magazine for children.

Since his high school days, the niftar battled life-threatening illness. With great chasdei Hashem, he defied all odds, and dedicated his life to learning Torah with great intensity.

Generations of Stoliner talmidim recall this ba’al yisurim hunched over his gemorohand Shulchan aruch, plumbing the depths of sugyos together with his chaverim in the beis medrash. His dedication was legendary, and he was a living example of what it means to learn Torah with mesirus nefesh, pushing himself to his limits constantly.

While the doctors assured him that he would never have children, Rav Heshy shlepped himself around to kivrei tzaddikim, being mispalel for children. He was zoche to beautiful Torah generations who will continue his legacy.

He was confined to his sickbed in recent months and returned his soul to his Creator over Shabbos, ascending to the Yeshiva shel Ma’alah.

The levaya will take place this morning at 10:00 at Yeshiva Karlin Stolin, the place where he spent so many years immersed in the toil of Torah.

Yehi zichro baruch.