Rav Betzalel Rakow zt"l
הרב בצלאל בן יום טוב ליפמן ראקאוו זצ"ל
Tammuz 20 , 5763
Rav Betzalel Rakow zt"l
Rav Betzalel Rakow was born in 5687/1927 in Frankfurt. His father was Rav Yom Tov Lipman, who descended from the Tosfos Yom Tov.
Even as a child he was graced with noble character and outstanding middos.
His father, Rav Yom Tov Lipman, studied in Volozhin under Rav Isser Zalman of Slutsk.
His father, Rav Yom Tov, was Rosh Yeshiva in Frankfurt. After Kristallnacht he managed to flee Germany with his family via Antwerp to England. Arriving in London threadbare and penniless, Rav Yom Tov went to the Bais Medrash before he had even arranged a place to sleep.
Years later, Rav Betzalel would recall that during the war he was too frightened to be able to fall asleep at night, but as he tossed and turned in bed he would review his learning from that day.
In London, he attended the Yeshiva Toras Emes of Rav Moshe Schneider, along with Rav Moshe Sternbuch and Rav Tuvia Weiss. He totally immersed himself in Torah study and accumulated a wealth of knowledge. By the age of eighteen, he knew Sidrei Noshim and Nezikin by heart. He became close to Rav Elya Lopian and Rav Yechezkel Abramski.
At that point he went on to the Gateshead Kollel where he learned under Rav Eliyohu Dessler, becoming his talmid muvhok.
Rav Betzalel married the daughter of the Rav of Gateshead, Rav Naftali Shakovitzky. After his marriage he continued his studies, focusing mainly on Seder Kodshim.
Later, Rav Betzalel was asked to serve as Rosh Yeshiva of Etz Chaim in Montreux, Switzerland, where he had a great influence on the talmidim. He developed a close relationship with Rav Yechiel Weinberg and the Brisker Rov.
With the petira of his father-in-law, Rav Rakow was asked to take over as Rav of Gateshead, a post he held for the next four decades. As head of one of the Diaspora’s most famous and illustrious Torah Kehillos, his influence spread through Europe and halachic questions reached him from around the world.
Rav Betzalel was the Gateshead community’s central figure and his authority extended to every aspect of life in both ruchniyus and in gashmiyus.
His door was always open, and many approached with their she’eilos and for advice.
Rav Betzalel agreed to be head of the European Agudas Yisrael in order to increase achdus among England’s chareidi communities. Every year he would appear at the Agudah convention in Bournemouth, delivering shiurei Torah and mussar talks to the delegates, and transmitting his great Ahavas Hashem and Ahavas Yisrael.
He is the brother of Rav Bentzion Rakow, Rosh Yeshivas Chayei Olom.
Rav Betzalel was niftar on the 20th of Tammuz 5763/2003. He was seventy-six.
After huge levayos in both Gateshead and London, his mitta was flown to Eretz Yisrael, where he was buried on Har HaMenuchos, near Rav Chaim Kreiswirth, zt”l, the late Rav of Antwerp.
Rav Betzalel is the mechaber of Birkas Yom Tov.
Zecher tzaddik livrachah.
www.hamodia.com/features/day-history-20-tammuzjuly-18/