Rabbi Chanoch Berman, a prominent figure in Israel's Orthodox Jewish community and son of the legendary Ponevezh Yeshiva leader, passed away Tuesday night at Mayanei Hayeshua Hospital in Bnei Brak following a prolonged illness.
Berman, who came from one of the most prestigious rabbinical families in Israel, was the son of Rabbi Mordechai Shlomo Berman and grandson of the influential Rabbi Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky, known as the "Steipler." His brother currently serves as the head of Ponevezh Yeshiva, one of Israel's most elite Torah academies.
Despite battling severe health challenges throughout his adult life, Berman was known for his scholarly work, including a renowned commentary on Talmudic law. He maintained a rigorous schedule of study and prayer even as his condition worsened in recent years, with his home becoming a gathering place for students and fellow scholars.
A graduate of the Ponevezh Yeshiva himself, Berman was recognized for his exceptional dedication to Torah study from an early age. He authored several works, most notably "Chanukat Shlomo," a comprehensive analysis of the Talmudic tractate Baba Kama.
He is survived by his wife, children, and grandchildren, all of whom continue in the family's tradition of Torah scholarship. His brothers, all prominent rabbis in their own right, include the current Ponevezh Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Peretz Berman, and Rabbis Moshe, Yitzchak Yehuda, and Yosef Berman.