Rav Eliyohu Boruch Kamai zt"l
הרב אליהו ברוך בן אברהם קמאי זצ"ל
Tammuz 12 , 5677
Known As: Mirrer Rosh Yeshiva
Father's Name: Avrohom Kamai
Relatives: Rav Avrohom Tzvi Hirsch Kamai
Rav Eliyohu Boruch Kamai zt"l
Rav Eliyohu Boruch Kamai was born in 5600/1840. His father, Rav Avrohom, was a grandson of Rav Avrohom, the brother of the Vilna Gaon.
At two years of age, he lost his father, and his mother married Rav Chaim Zev Yaffe, a descendant of Rav Mordechai Yaffe, the Levush. Rav Chaim Zev raised the boy as his own child.
When Rav Eliyohu Boruch was ten years old, his step-grandfather Rav Tzvi, Rav in Shkod, was niftar. Rav Chaim Zev was named Rav in his stead, and the family moved to Shkod.
At the age of seventeen, Rav Eliyohu Boruch married and settled in Shkod.
In 5628/1868, Rav Chaim Zev was niftar, and Rav Eliyohu Boruch was named his successor as Rav.
In 5638/1878, Rav Eliyohu Boruch visited Brisk, where he met Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik, who, after talking with him in learning, attested that Rav Eliyohu Boruch was one of the Torah giants of the generation.
At that time, the kehilla of Karlin asked Rav Yosef Dov to suggest a suitable Rav for them, and he suggested Rav Eliyohu Boruch. He was Rav in Karlin for seven years.
Later, Rav Eliyohu Boruch served as Rav in Weckshna for three years, and then in Tchnovtzi until 5659/1899, when he was appointed Ra”m in Mir, alongside Rav Eliyohu Dovid Rabinowitz Te’umim, the Aderes, who was Rav in the city.
In 5661/1901, the Aderes moved to Eretz Yisrael and Rav Eliyohu Boruch then became Rav of Mir, where he stayed for the rest of his life.
Rav Eliyohu Boruch was niftar on the 12th of Tammuz 5677/1917, at the age of seventy-seven. He was then in Minsk, where he had gone for the summer, and he was buried in Minsk. Many thousands participated in the levaya, among them the Gedolei HaDor.
Zecher tzaddik livrachah.
www.hamodia.com/features/day-history-12-tammuzjuly-10/