By COLlive reporter
Rabbi Meir Tzvi Gruzman, a renowned Torah scholar who has educated hundreds of Lubavitch chassidim, passed away on Sunday, 17 Teves 5777.
He was 82.
Born in the Soviet Union to a Chassidic family, his parents were able to immigrate to Eretz Yisroel when he was 14 years old. His father founded the Chabad shul in Ramat Gan.
In his youth, he was sent to Yeshiva Achei Tmimim in Tel Aviv where he first met his mashpia Rabbi Shlomo Chaim Kesselman and become one of his closest students.
When Rabbi Kesselman moved to teach in Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim in Lod, Rabbi Gruzman followed him. The two would spend hours learning and discussing deep concepts in Chassidus.
It was soon after, even before his marriage to his wife Chaya, that Rabbi Gruzman was recognized for his vast knowledge and was hired to teach in the Lod Yeshiva.
He later served at the helm of Yeshiva Beis Haram in Nachlas Har Chabad in Kiryat Malachi and at the Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim in Holon.
His most prominent role was teaching in Chabad’s central Tomchei Tmimim Yeshiva in the village of Kfar Chabad for many decades. He raised generations of Chassidim, many of which became Roshei Yeshiva and Mashpiim themselves.
At a Yechidus, he once asked the Rebbe whether he should be encouraging his students to invest effort to daven with intention and concentration, since it might affect their commitment to learning.
“Tomchei Tmimim without ‘internal work’ cannot be,” the Rebbe responded, but recognized that it can be a conflict. Nevertheless, the Rebbe said: “When one feels that its needed, that is when they can lengthen the davening.”
Rabbi Gruzman was an honored participant in the Global Yarchei Kallah, the annual summit of Chabad’s rabbis and scholars held in the summer at Camp Gan Israel in Parksville, NY.
He authored “Imrei Tzvi,” a collection of his teachings and classes on Gemara Shabbos, and his writings often appeared in Torah journals around the world.
His passing is particularly devastating for the Kfar Chabad Yeshiva which lost 3 senior figures in the past two years: Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Yaakov Katz, Mashgiach Rabbi Moshe Neparstak and now Rabbi Gruzman.
Rabbis, students and many residents of Kfar Chabad attended Rabbi Gruzman’s funeral, remembering him for his genius, but also his kind and unassuming manner in which he treated anyone he interacted with.
He is survived by his wife Mrs. Chaya Gruzman, children Rabbi Yitzchok Gruzman – Rishon Letzion; Rabbi Shmuel Gruzman – Migdal, Israel; Rabbi Sholom Ber Gruzman – Vienna, Austria; Rabbi Yosef Yisroel Gruzman – Kfar Chabad; Rabbi Schneur Zalman Gruzman – Tzfas; Rabbi Moshe Gruzman – Rishon Letzion; Mrs. Shoshana Zajac – Brazil, and Mrs. Yafa Reichman – Modiin, Israel; grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Baruch dayan haemes.
I had the merit to learn in Kfar Chabad with Rabbi Gruzman a real Tzadik and humble man with amazing Midus Toivos. I cry on his lost just looking at him gave you Chizuk. may we be Zoiche to Moshiach NOW !!
He look like the alter rebbe
Truly a giant!
Stam, I think you’re confusing him with his son – he was never in Chulon.
Chulon alum.
Everything #1 said is true. We will miss him terribly.
Baruch Dayan Emet
He is also survived by two daughters
Shoshana zaiontz and yafa reichman
One of the most unassuming scholars-a stellar example of what bitul means. His genius never got to him and he was kind and soft spoken.
His davening b’avodah in the wee hours of the morning is something we can only dream to achieve.