Brooklyn, NY – Charedi rabbi and noted posek Rabbi Chaim Yisroel Belsky passed away this evening at the age of 78 at Maimonides Hospital in Borough Park.

Rav Belsky zatzal, was a remarkable Talmid Chochom and Tzaddik that served as a Rosh Yeshiva in Torah v’Daas, a Posek in the largest kashrus agency in the world, and the Rav of Camp Agudah for many years passed away this evening.

Rav Belsky studied in yeshiva Torah VaDaas, under Rav Moshe Feinstein zatzal, and in Beis Medrash Elyon in Monsey.

He received Smicha from Torah VaDaas in 1962 and then went on to receive shimush from the Gadol haDor, Rav Moshe Feinstein zatzal.

He received Smicha from Rav Moshe in 1965.  His grandfather, Reb Binyomin Wilhelm, was one of the founders of Yeshiva Torah VaDaas in Williamsburg.  Later the Yeshiva moved to Flatbush.

His recall of every Tosfos in Shas was well known.  His ability to rule in numerous areas of halacha was uncanny.  His proficiency and familiarity with Kol HaTorah kullah was veritably unmatched.  Aside from his vast knowledge in all these areas, he was also a mohel.

Rav Belsky developed a close bond with campers in Camp Agudah.  He not only gave deep shiurim in Gemorah and Halacha, but had a vast knowledge in mili d’alma, wordly matters.

He had a solid grasp of astronomy, botany, and biology and would often lead campers in trips where he identified for them every tree, plant, insect and star charts.

In his work as one of the two Poskim in the Orthodox Union he had a deep grasp of the manufacturing process, never refraining from climbing or getting his hands dirty to investigate manufacturing processes.

Below Video: Rabbi Belsky paying a Shivah call to Gabriel Sassoon who lost 7 of his kids in a tragic house fire in 2015.

On one occasion, a man had passed away in far Rockaway without leaving a child.  His only brother was retarded, and the man’s wife faced a difficult halachic question.  Could her brother-in-law perform ‘Chalitza’ or was he considered a halachic shoteh making him ineligible?

The last time this question arose was in the early 1960’s with Rav Moshe Feinstein.  Rav Belsky came down to the shiva home and spent three hours with the deceased man’s family.

Rav belsky consoled and comforted the parents while simultaneously determining the status of the brother.  The nichum aveilim was so comforting to the parents that they thanked the Rabbi who had brought them this “wonderful holy Rabbi.”

Rav Belsky’s care and concern for Klal Yisroel was manifest in the time that he had spent consoling and comforting all people that came to him with their problems.  His mastery of Halacha was legendary.  His ability to calculate complex mathematical calculations that pertained to halacha was also well known.

Three years ago Rav Belsky develoed a life-threatening illness which almost took his life.  Miraculously, he recovered to the extent that he was able to resume activities in Yeshiva, in the OU and at Camp Agudah.

About two months ago he arranged a Get for an Agunah whose husband had violated the trust of numerous young people.  Rav Belsky’s remarkable personality was instrumental in arranging for this woman’s freedom.

The Agunah expressed remarkable emotion to this author in how instrumental Rav Belsky was in freeing her.

Rav Belsky’s imprint on Torah Judaism in the past half century will certainly have an impact for generations to come.  Nafla Ateres Rosheinu.

As reported by Vos Iz Neias