Rabbi Aron Amzalak, 85, OBM

Rabbi Aron Amzalak, a beloved community leader who served as Rabbi to the Machzika Hatorah/Nefesh community in Sydney, Australia, for over 50 years, passed away on Tuesday, 22 Iyar, 5785.

He was 85.

He was known as a man dedicated with every fiber of his being to Torah and Mitzvos, who led and loved his family and his community with absolute devotion, and a true Eved Hashem, a trusted servant who had endless emunah, faith, and trust in Hashem.

He had the incredible distinction of serving the Machzika Hatorah/Nefesh community at Roscoe Street for over 50 years. Until very recently, he would lain, lead the service, share dvar Torahs, and often all of the above, in the Shul.

He was a senior mashgiach for the KA, trusted by all, respected and liked by the establishments he supervised with the utmost care and precision.

He looked after the Glenayr Avenue Mikva for many years with great devotion, and taught at Moriah, most famously as a Bar mitzvah teacher to generations of students.

His pride in his family was without end. He honored the Yartzeits of his parents, parents-in-law and brothers, and remembered and celebrated the birthdays of his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren with pride. On the birth of each one he would bask in the joy of being called up to the Torah and everyone singing mazel tov for yet another Amzalak great-grandchild, the latest one just a few weeks ago. He would proudly recount the achievements of his family, on shlichus and in business. He would often mention how all of his children are involved in communal work, as are his grandchildren, kein yirbu.

He had a love for learning and teaching Torah, for davening with a minyan, sharing yomtov with family and community, any opportunity to do a mitzvah, observe a halacha. Always learning, attending shiurim, excited to share a new Torah thought.

His shofar blowing is legendary, and even last Rosh Hashana, despite his deteriorating health, he blew strong and loud.

Rav Amzalak was a man of his word and kept to the highest standards of honesty and integrity. If he pledged a donation at the Torah on Shabbos, it would be promptly paid Sunday morning right after Shacahris. If he committed to be somewhere, he would be there on time. It pained him greatly when his health didn’t allow him to come to shul, and he would always make sure someone would replace him.

Like his namesake Aharon Hakohen, ohev sholom verodef sholom, he loved peace and pursued peace. He would be concerned that no one be offended or their honor slighted.

He was famous for his love of gematria, using the numerical value of the Hebrew letters to make connections between ideas. For every parsha and every family simcha he would have a gematria at the ready. It is significant that his passing is today, the 22 day of Iyar. The 22 letters of the alef beit are paying tribute to their friend Rabbi Amzalak. It is also the 37th day of the Omer, Zayin Lamed, standing for Zichrono Livracha, may his memory be a blessing.

He is survived by his wife Judy, and children, Aviva Itkin – Sydney, Australia, Gaby Amzalak – Melbourne, Australia, Miriam Moskovitz – Kharkov, Ukraine, Benny Amzalak – Sydney, Australia, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He is also survived by his sisters Fortuna Schachna (Melbourne, Australia) and Mary Levy (Israel).

Click here to watch the levaya live.

Baruch Dayan Ha’emes – R’ Aron Ben R’ Yitzchak.