Memory Lane: Rav Eliezer Eichler

Last week profiled Rav Avigdor Regenbogen, a leader of the Chortkover chassidim in Boro Park. This week, we fast-forward by a couple of decades to a leader of chassidim from another Ruziner dynasty: Rav Eliezer Eichler, Boyaner rov of Boro Park. 

Yerushalayim Shel Ma’alah

Rav Eliezer was born in 1935 in the Yerushalayim of yore, into legendary families who comprised the nucleus of pious Yerushalmi families: His father was Rav Moshe Pinchas, a ga’on and chossid, who was the son of Rav Tzvi Aryeh Eichler. His mother was Sarah, the daughter of Rav Chaim Yitzchok Paksher, another legendary Yerushalmi family. 

He was sent to learn in Talmud Torah Shomrei Hachomos in the 1940’s, and despite the terrible poverty and hunger, he threw himself into Torah with tremendous toil and intensity. While his friends played outside, he learned one masechta after another, and immediately he would run to be tested by the gedolim of Yerushalayim, who were astounded at his clarity and his mastery. 

For all his years, he would recall with great fondness his years of Torah mitoch hadchak when he cast away any earthly consideration for pure ahavas haTorah. He then entered the Slonimer Yeshva, which was then headed by the Slonimer Rebbe, Rav Shalom Noach Berezovsky, author of Nesivos Sholom. The bachur endeared himself upon the Rebbe and Rosh Yeshiva—so much so, that he paired him up with his son, ybl”ch, the current Slonimer Rebbe, with whom he learned b’chavrusa with deep intensity for many years. 

Molding Hearts of the Young 

Rav Leizer married into the famed Cheshin family, and the energetic yungerman became known to the gedolim of Yerushalayim. He was especially close to the Tchebiner Rov, to Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, and he edited the first halacha seforim of  ybl”ch Hag’aon Rav Moshe Shternbuch, shlit”a. 

At the same time, he became known for a unique ability to connect with the youth—and instill in them a love for Torah and avodah. He began his career in Yeshivas Hamasmidim—where he still has many who consider themselves his talmidim until this day. But soon, he was asked by the Roshei Yeshiva of Ruzin to join the faculty—where he transformed the caliber of the bacurim. 

A few years later, he was called by the Tosher Rebbe zt”l to serve as the Rosh Yeshiva in Tosh-Montreal. He served in this position for a number of years. 

Finally, upon his ascension to the post of his holy forefathers, the current Boyaner Rebbe, shlit”a, asked Rav Leizer to serve as the rov of the Kehillah in America—to which he acquiesced. His tenure of these last decades was a golden era; in which he gave day and night for the well-being of the Boyaner chassidim—spiritually and materially. Alongside this, he served as the Rosh Yeshiva of the Boyaner Mesivta in Boro park, where continued his lifelong pursuit in molding the hearts of the youth toward Torah and Yiras Shomayim. 

He also stood at the helm of the Talmud Torah Tiferes Mordechai Shlomo -Boyan, and was concerned for the wellbeing of every one of its talmidim, testing them and inquiring about them. He was also a distinguished presence at functions all around Boro Park. 

A crown jewel of his tenure at the helm of the kehillah was the completion of the grand kloiz which stands in the center of Boro Park as a center of 

Torah and tefillah—a year’s long effort whose culmination brought him much pride. 

In later years, Rav Eliezer fell ill. Incredibly, despite his weakened state, he kept on with his hasmodoh, his harbotzas Torah, and his Klal leadership—and his dedication to every individual. His passing left a tremendous void among the Boyaner chassidim whom he led and uplifted for three decades with selflessness and devotion. 

Special thanks to the Yeshiva Tiferes Yisroel-Ruzin archives for their assistance with this article.