No passing of a loved one comes without overwhelming grief. That pain is intensified however, when it comes as a complete shock. Such was the case with the passing of Rosh Kollel, talmid chacham and beloved father Rav Yaakov Elcharar.
Rav Elcharar was last seen healthy on Simchas Torah, happily clapping and singing as part of the festivities. Shortly after dismantling his family sukkah, the Rav collapsed and suddenly died of cardiac arrest. It came as a total shock to his wife and two daughters, as well as his many talmidim.
Rav Elcharar was born in Morocco, and in his youth left for Eretz Yisroel in search of a deeper level of Torah learning and mitzvos. The Rav was the great-grandson of Rabbi Makhlouf Elcharar, one of the most famous Moroccan tzaddikim. Rav Yaakov learned in the Ohr Baruch Yeshiva of Bayit V’Gan and was one of the most beloved talmidim of his rebbi Rav Gavriel Toledano. He then went on to marry his wife, Rebbetzin Esther Elcharar.
For several years the couple were not blessed with children. After 12 years of waiting, they had a daughter. Another 9 years of waiting later, they had a second daughter. Rav Elcharar’s long-awaited daughters were his absolute pride and joy. The teenaged girls wept freely over their father’s body at his levaya this Sunday.
Rav Elcharar was the Rosh Kollel of Yeshivas Maalos Dovid in Ramot Gimmel for many years and was known to greet his students warmly, even when he was immersed deeply in his learning. His talmidim and community are deeply shocked by his passing.
Rebbetzin Elcharar worked in a store but is now unemployed due to Israel’s coronavirus lockdown. Concerns have been raised as to her ability to raise and marry off her children in the absence of the Rav. An emergency fund has been opened to help the family survive after this unimaginable tragedy.
