Mourning in the Torah World: Rabbi Baruch Shmuel Deutsch Passes Away at 82
Rabbi Deutsch, former head of Kol Torah Yeshiva and a close disciple of Rabbi Elazar Menachem Shach, leaves behind decades of Torah leadership, thousands of students, and an enduring legacy in the Lithuanian and Jerusalem Torah communities.
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The global Torah world is in deep mourning following the passing of Rabbi Baruch Shmuel HaKohen Deutsch, a towering Torah leader, at the age of 82. For decades, Rabbi Deutsch served as Rosh Yeshiva of Kol Torah in Jerusalem, head of the spiritual committee of Degel HaTorah and the Yated Ne’eman newspaper, and later as a leading figure in the Jerusalem Faction (Peleg Yerushalmi).
Born in 1943 (5703) to Rabbi Binyamin Ze’ev Deutsch, the legendary administrator of Ponovezh Yeshiva and a confidant of the Ponovezher Rav, Rabbi Deutsch grew up immersed in Torah scholarship. He studied in Ponovezh from elementary school through the yeshiva gedolah, where he was recognized as one of its most outstanding students, later continuing at Brisk Yeshiva under the same reputation of brilliance and diligence.
During his studies, he developed a deep and lifelong connection with Rabbi Elazar Menachem Shach, who entrusted him with central roles in the Lithuanian Torah world. Rabbi Deutsch married the daughter of Rabbi Shmuel Kibelovitz, a prominent Jerusalem rabbi, and began teaching at the Tchebin Yeshiva, where he forged a close friendship with Rabbi Avraham Genichovsky.
In 1982, he joined Kol Torah Yeshiva, dedicating over 40 years to teaching Torah there. Rabbi Shach also appointed him to leadership roles in Yated Ne’eman and Degel HaTorah, and later he served as president of the large Talmud Torah HaMasorah in Jerusalem, personally examining students weekly.
Following Rabbi Shach’s passing, Rabbi Deutsch was offered a seat on the Council of Torah Sages but declined, preferring to focus on teaching rather than public affairs. Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyashiv later persuaded him to continue in leadership roles, which he maintained until eventually joining the Jerusalem Faction.
Five years ago, Rabbi Deutsch’s health declined severely, yet he continued to inspire his students until his final days. In recent years, he resided in Bnei Brak and was frequently hospitalized in the past month. He passed away less than a year after the death of his younger brother, Rabbi Asher Deutsch, leader of the Jerusalem Faction.
The funeral will depart later today from Jerusalem. May his soul be bound in the bond of life.