Stamford, CT – The Torah world was thrown into grief Monday evening with the petirah of Harav Eliyahu Simcha Schustal, one of the founding Roshei Yeshivah of Beis Binyomin in Stamford, following a short illness. He was 89.
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The levayah is scheduled to take place in Beis Medrash Govoha in Lakewood at 9:00 Tuesday morning, followed by a levayah in the yeshivah in Stamford at approximately 1:00. The aron will be taken to the cargo area in John F. Kennedy International Airport ahead of the 7:00 p.m. flight to Eretz Yisrael.
Kevurah is tentatively scheduled to take place on Har Hazeisim in Yerushalayim on Wednesday.
Rav Schustal was known for his ability to totally immerse himself in a sugya for days on end, and for his warm tefillos that kept talmidim coming back to Stamford for Yamim Noraim for years after they left the yeshivah.
A grandson told Hamodia that Rav Schustal “was a gevaldige yarei Shamayim, with his dveikus in Hashem.”
“But his main thing was his gadlus in Torah,” the grandson said.
Rav Schustal was known for his fiery hasmadah while learning, even when discussing a sugya with a chavrusa in the street. Rebbetzin Schustal told her grandson that she had a telltale sign to know when to expect her husband.
“I knew that they were coming home when I would hear the kolos outside,” she said.
Rav Schustal’s common refrain to his family was to strive for “gadlus in Torah – but the way we used to understand [the term].”
Rav Schustal leaves behind an illustrious family of four generations, including some who are world-renowned Roshei Yeshivah.
Rav Schustal was mechaber the two-volume Chemed Simcha on sugyos hashas. The sefer encompasses the entire shas, even the mesechtos not traditionally learned in the yeshivos.
A special Jew. Always let others go first.
He also served as Nasi of Reb Meir Baal Hanes charity fund (being the son-in-law of the Matersdorfe Rav).
What a loss for all of klal yisroel.
Baruch Dayan Emes!
Rav Simcha was one of the founders of the Monsey Kehilla 50 years ago and his presence helped shape that little town into a Torah giant. He is credited with the famous Psak of “Shev v’Al Taaseh” in Bais Medrash Elyon refusing to bow to politics in splitting of the Yeshiva. His Geonos was matched by his Ahavas Yisroel evident then & now. Yehi Zichro Baruch!
I was a talmid of the Rosh Hayeshiva Zt”l many years ago and while I may have forgotten the shiurim that he gave but there are things and moments that I will never forget. His beautiful tefilis on the Yomim Noiroim for one and his love for his talmidim and how we loved every Shabbos in yeshiva when he came to speak to us during seuda shlishis and how he would instill in us the love for learning and the yearning to strive to reach madreigos in kedusha and middos tovos etc.
It’s a sad day for the oilam hatorah. May he be a meilitz yoisher for all of klal yisroel.
So many gedolim are niftar its time to do tsheuvah
Baruch dayan a’emet. Another Torah giant that leaves us, so many in this past couple years!! So sad for all klal Israel. May we know of no more sorrow from among our talmidei rachamim.
Boruch Dayan Hoemes.
A scion of the illustrious dynasty of the Matersdorfer Rov zy”a and a great Gaon & Tzaddik with a beautiful family himself.
He will be sorely missed.
Eli:
Meshuselach was the oldest known person in the world and he passed away a week before the Mabul. So many Gedolim being Niftar within less than a year is definely a sign. Besides, the biggest Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Noson Tzvi Finkel zatzal, was 67 / 68 years old upon his passing.