Manchester, England – Rabbi Yerachamiel Cofnas, z”l, one of the last remaining talmidim of the Chofetz Chaim in Radin, passed away on the first day of Shavuos, at the age of 96 in Manchester England.
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Rav Cofnas was born in 1914, and studied in the Yeshiva in Radin during his teen-age years. The Chofetz Chaim passed away in 1933, when Rav Cofnas was 19 years old. At the time, Rav Cofnas’ name was Tzofnas, and was later changed to Cofnas.
He was a serious Talmid Chachom, the imprint of his Rebbe, the Chofetz Chaim, lasting throughout his life. The impact of his Rebbe affected him in numerous ways, he was not only caeful in Shmiras HaLashon throughout his life, but he taught the importance of this area of Avodas Hashem to others.
He devoted himself to Klal Yisroel and served as a Rav in the large shul in Birmingham. It was a prestigious post, as the Birmingham Jewish community was one of the largest in England. Rav Cofnas was also the Rav of a shul in Liverpool, and spent the last few years of his life in Manchester. Even at an older age, he attended the daf yomi shiur. His memory was extremely sharp even at the end of his life.
His son Mordechai Leib, now a Rav in Liverpool, is married the daughter of Rav Moshe Schwab zt”l, the late mashgiach of the Gateshead Yeshiva.
bdh
Baruch dayan emes. We are losing this generationh faster than we are replacing them. The chofetz chaim was certainly among the gadoylim of his time and perhaps among recent times.
how many known talmidim are still alive KIH
B’H here in the US we still have Lhebodal Lachaim a Chushiva Talmid of the Chofits Chaim, Rav Yechiel Nisselbaum Shlita who was Zoicha to learn by the Chofets Chaim in Radin and to be Meshamesh him. He has a lot of personal stories that happened with him and the Chofets Chaim. May he be granted many more years in the best of health and to continu spreading the teachings of his holy Rebbe AMVS
Rabbi Cofnas Z’L was a man who was greatly respected by everyone. It’s a sad loss for the community. BD”E.
where is the chofetz chaim buried? i would like to daven at his kever. if anyone knows please post a comment. thank you
Rav Cofnas was not just an ordinary talmid, he was very close to the chofetz chaim. It is well known that during the chofetz chaims final years he had a private minyan at home for only his ten closest talmidim rav Cofnas zatzal was one of the ten! May he be a meilitz yosher for us all!
The c c wife is baruid in queens
Reply to #6 . In Radin Belarus.
Would someone kindly post some more details of Talmidim in the NY area. I would like to merit speaking to a Talmid.
He had a very charming and pleasant manner; just to hear him say a Kaddish would inspire the listeners. Until a couple of years ago, he would stand for the whole Chazoras Hashas on Yomim Noraim. He moved to Manchester in his retirement to learn with Chavrusos, and he attended the Daf Yomi shiur of Rav Simcha Bamberger, where he will be sorely missed. His health deteriorated in recent months, and he had a short spell in hospital, but returned to the Beenstock old-age home, where a rota of local people was set up to provide 24-hour help.
Yehi zichrono boruch.
jj (#6):
Chafetz Chaim, Rebbe Yisrael Meyer (Kagan) Poupko, is buried in Radun’, Voranava district, Hrodna Voblast, in Belarus.
My nighbor is a talmid!
Rabbi Cofnas was 98 when he was niftar on first day of Yom Tov in the Beenstock Care home here in Manchester. he was a close Talmid of the Chofetz Chaim Zatzal and his fahter o”h was also. He would retell a story of his first visit to the Chofetz Chaim when he was only 6 years old. He had a unbelievable memory, recounting stories and divrei torah perfectly even in his last years. he was taken into hospital three weeks ago on shabbos because of a stomach problem, he came home just over a week later and was cared for by members of the community 24 hours a day, the person who arranged this Reb Yisroel Halpern (sruly) was the only one with him at the end at about 2:30 on first night Yom Tov, when all of klal Yisroel were sitting and learning this precious Neshomo returned to Shomayim.
At the Levayo today his son explained to the huge crowd the type of life his father came from and the mesirus nefesh both his parents had when living in the torah desolate city of Birmingham, serving as the Rov of the Kehillah there for 50 Years.
Yeh Zichro Boruch.
When I was a student in Liverpool university, I can say that Rabbi Cofnas was a true mentch and a friend. BD”H
My Ruv is a student of Ruv Chajkin who was a talmid of the Chofetz Chaim
My zaide is who lives in the 5 towns was one of those 10. There was also a special shiur. He is also one of the few who received Smicha directly from the Chofetz Chaim.
הוא היה תלמיד חכם גדול ואיש חסד יקר וחביב. על כל אחד לאמץ מידה אחת ממידותיו
יש סדרת ספרים על החפץ חיים בה מספרים תלמידיו -ובתוכם הרב קופנס- סיפורים חיים על רבם של ישראל
יהי זכרו ברוך
He didn’t change his name. Cofnas is original European spelling and is prounounced Tzofnas like Lipszyc is prounced Lipshutz and Sanc is pronounced Santz (Sanz). he probably got tired of correcting people and allowed them to change the pronouciation of his name to Kofnas.
What a magnificent portrait and beautiful testimonies to this great neshamah, z”l. Where is the original portrait? Can one view it somewhere other than the internet?
Too bad to lose such people