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The Torah world is mourning the petirah of Rav Yosef Sholom Halevi Weinfeld zt”l, a distinguished mechaber seforim whose lifelong work opened the door for countless Yidden to access and understand foundational sifrei kodesh. He was niftar Thursday night at the age of 82.

Rav Weinfeld zt”l was widely recognized for his acclaimed “Yesod Malchus” commentary, as well as for his leadership of the historic “Eshkol” publishing house, which for generations has played a central role in the dissemination of Torah literature.

He was born on ט”ו אייר תש”ד (1944) to his father, Rav Yaakov Shaul Weinfeld zt”l, author of Mishnas Yaakov and founder of the Eshkol publishing house, and his mother, Mrs. Rachel Goldberg a”h, daughter of Rav Tzvi Hirsch Goldberg zt”l.

In his younger years, he learned under the Vizhnitzer Rebbe, the Yeshuos Moshe zt”l, from whom he later received warm haskamos on his seforim.

After the petirah of his father in תשמ”ט (1989), the publishing enterprise was divided among the brothers. His brother, Rav Shmuel Yehuda Halevi Weinfeld, went on to establish the Shai L’Mora publishing house, while Rav Yosef Sholom zt”l continued at the helm of Eshkol, where he significantly broadened its scope and impact.

Under his guidance, Eshkol produced a vast array of seforim, many featuring clear and structured explanations that greatly assisted lomdim in their limud and tefillah.

His most well-known contribution, the Yesod Malchus system, offered a unique word-by-word explanation printed alongside the original text, allowing readers to immediately grasp the meaning without needing to search through multiple mekoros. This approach provided both clarity in understanding and ease of use, making it especially valuable for a wide range of learners.

Over time, this commentary was published on many central sifrei kodesh, including Tehillim, siddurim, machzorim, Chumash, Nach, and zemiros of Shabbos, and was widely regarded as an innovative and practical format that enhanced accessibility to Torah.

Among the many seforim distributed by Eshkol are the well-known siddur Tefillas Kol Peh, and menukad editions of the Shishah Sidrei Mishnah, all of which found their way into kehillos around the world.

The levaya took place on Friday in Yerushalayim, and he was brought to kevurah on Har HaZeisim.

Yehi zichro boruch.

The Chabad community is in mourning following the petirah of Rav Yechiel Yerachmiel Nafrestek zt”l, one of the elder chassidim and longtime residents of Kfar Chabad, who passed away Monday morning at the age of 93.

A beloved and respected figure, Rav Nafrestek zt”l was among the earliest settlers of Kfar Chabad and played a central role in building the community from its earliest days. He was widely known for his decades of devoted service as the secretary of the famed Beis Rivkah seminary.

He was born on the 12th of Tammuz 1933 in the town of Siedlce, Poland, to his father, Rav Reuven Dovber Nafrestek zt”l, a talmid of Yeshivas Tomchei Temimim in Warsaw, and his mother, Rebbetzin Chaya Gittel a”h.

With the outbreak of World War II, the family fled to Russia, where under the harsh conditions of Soviet rule, he learned Torah in secret together with his brother, with true mesirus nefesh. During those difficult years of war and starvation, his mother passed away from hunger, leaving the family bereaved.

After the war, as Polish nationals, the family received permission to leave and joined the famed “Great Escape” of Chabad chassidim. They made their way to the displaced persons camp in Pocking, Germany, then to Paris, before ultimately coming to Eretz Yisroel, where they were among the founding residents who established Kfar Chabad in 1949.

In his youth, he learned in the yeshivos of Tomchei Temimim in Pocking, Paris, Tel Aviv, and Lod. After his marriage, he settled in Kfar Chabad and began his lifelong role as secretary of the Beis Rivkah seminary, a position he fulfilled with dedication for many decades.

Rav Nafrestek zt”l was known as a deeply connected chossid to the Lubavitcher Rebbe. He was actively involved in the Rebbe’s mivtzoim, especially tefillin, which he carried out with enthusiasm and devotion well into his later years.

Just six months ago, his older brother, Rav Yisroel Aharon Nafrestek zt”l, one of the elder residents of the village, was niftar. The two brothers, who endured the hardships of the war together and later helped build Chabad institutions in Eretz Yisroel, stood as a living symbol of a remarkable generation.

He leaves behind a distinguished family following the path of Torah and chassidus.

His sons: Rav Shmuel Yaakov, Rav Shlomo Dovid, Rav Yisroel, and Rav Yosef Yitzchok.

His daughters: Mrs. Bloy, Mrs. Halperin, Mrs. Nafrestek, and Mrs. Weinberg.

The levaya was held at his home at 19 Toras Shmuel Street in Kfar Chabad, and at the Shamgar Funeral Home en route to Har HaZeisim in Yerushalayim.

Tehei nishmaso tzerurah b’tzror hachaim.

Three chareidi teenagers who became stranded overnight on the cliffs of Nachal Darga were safely rescued Monday morning in a coordinated aerial operation involving emergency and rescue forces.

The rescue was carried out by an airborne team from the Lehava unit, working together with a police helicopter from the aerial division, after the teens were stuck for hours on a steep and dangerous slope at a location known as Point 12 in the Darga cliffs.

The boys had set out on a Chol Hamoed hike despite the ongoing war and found themselves unable to continue along the route, leaving them stranded in difficult terrain throughout the night.

Rescuers executed a complex extraction under challenging conditions, with the helicopter hovering low to the ground in a maneuver known as “hovering,” allowing the team to lift the teens into the aircraft.

Once the rescue was completed, the helicopter transported them to a designated evacuation point, where medical personnel were waiting. The teens were found to be in good condition and did not require hospitalization, leaving the scene on their own.

Police said the incident was first reported at 1:30 a.m., when it was learned that three youths were stuck along the southern slope of Nachal Darga with no ability to proceed. A small team of volunteers from the Megillos Dead Sea Rescue Unit established contact with the teens and pinpointed their location. It was then decided that the rescue would be carried out at first light.

At daybreak, a police helicopter was dispatched to locate and extract the teens, while an additional support team from the unit’s technical rescue division was positioned at the Nachal Darga landing zone as backup.

The operation was conducted in coordination with multiple agencies, including the IDF’s height rescue division, the Israel Police air unit, the Lehava unit, regional fire and rescue services from the Binyamin station, United Hatzalah, and volunteers from the regional rescue unit.