04 Nov The Petirah of Rav Yaakov Busel ZT”L

This past Tuesday was the petirah of Rav Yaakov Busel zt”l, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Rabbeinu Yaakov Yosef of Edison, NJ. Rav Busel led the Edison Yeshiva together with his longtime shutaf, Rav Chaim Yosef Eichenstein. Rav Busel was the son of an Alter Mirrer, and was born in Shainghai as the Mirrer Yeshiva was fleeing the Nazis. After hsi family settled in East New York, Brooklyn, the Rosh Yeshiva learned in Yeshiva of Eastern Parkway as a young Bochur, and then went to learn in Lakewood’s BMG until he became the Rosh Yeshiva of Edison for around 40 years. Rav Busel’s first rebbetzin, Rasia a”h, was a daughter of Rav Boruch Sorotzkin, rosh yeshiva of Telshe Yeshiva in Cleveland. She passed away in 1998. Rav Busel was loved by generations of Edison talmidim, who cherished their kesher with the rosh yeshiva. An outstanding talmid chochom, Rav Busel devoted his life to harbotzas haTorah, always immersed in limud haTorah no matter what trials of tribulations presented themselves. He had a unique ability to connect with bochurim, and with softness and caring, he inspired them toward further aliyah in Torah and avodas Hashem. The Rosh Yeshiva leaves behind a wife (Rebbitzen Esther) and large Mishpacha of Talmidei Chachomim and incredible Marbitzei Torah – all spread out in many different Mosdos Hatorah in America. The Rosh Yeshiva was battling an illness for the past year, and contracted COVID-19 just before Rosh Hashanah. Tefilos were recited in Batei Midrashim around the world, and a name was added as a Zecus. Unfortunately, he was Niftar on Tuesday morning. Yehi zichro boruch