Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky Cause Of Death: How Did Shmaryahu Yosef Chaim Kanievsky Die?

Chaim Kanievsky, an Israeli Haredi rabbi and posek, has died at age 94, after he collapsed at his home in Bnei Brak on March 18, 2022.

Born on January 8, 1928, Kanievsky was considered a leading authority in Haredi Jewish society.

Condolences poured in, including from Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, who called him a “true public leader” who lived modestly but led tens of thousands through “wisdom, reason and a rare level of knowledge.”

Israel’s conservative and insular ultra-Orthodox communities are deeply devoted to their leading rabbis, seeking their advice on everything from politics to the most mundane aspects of daily life.

In the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, Kanievsky called for religious schools to remain open in defiance of public health authorities and reportedly said the best way to combat the virus was to refrain from gossip, practice humility and help others.

He later relented, however, and urged people to take precautions as the virus swept through his hometown of Bnei Brak, home to a large ultra-Orthodox community. He himself contracted the virus in October 2020.

The widespread flouting of coronavirus restrictions by the ultra-Orthodox deepened longstanding tensions between their community and more secular Israelis.

The ultra-Orthodox, also known as the Haredim, pride themselves on preserving Jewish learning and tradition through centuries of persecution.

Critics say they are out of touch with modern life and resent their domination of Israel’s religious establishment.