The Ark of G-d Has Been Taken Captive • The Passing of the Elder of the Council of Torah Sages, the Great Gaon Rabbi Shimon Baadani zt"l — Lines of His Portrait and His Connection to Shuvu Banim and Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a

A great mourning has spread throughout all the communities of the Jewish people with the painful news of the passing to the Heavenly Treasuries of the elder of the Council of Torah Sages, the great gaon Rabbi Shimon Baadani zt"l.

Presented here are a few lines about his noble character, and about his special connection with Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a and with the Shuvu Banim community:

Rabbi Shimon Baadani was born to his parents, R’ David and Mrs. Chavivah a"h, in the city of Hadera in the year 5688 (1928). He served as Rosh Kollel of “Torah V’Chaim” in the Torah city of Bnei Brak.

In recent months his condition declined again and again. Through the merit of the many prayers of the Jewish people, and also through the merit of his prayers and the visit of Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, his condition stabilized. However, this past week he was hospitalized again with severe pneumonia. And despite the many prayers of the Jewish people, “the heavenly ones overcame the mighty,” and this morning he returned his soul to its Maker in purity, at the age of 94.

The connection of Rabbi Shimon Baadani with the Shuvu Banim community—and in particular with his beloved friend, who should be separated for long and good life, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a—is known to all. Precisely during the years of intense persecution, he consistently stood in the breach and spoke out firmly against the slanderers. More than once he expressed his view—the view of true Torah—that Moshe is truth and his Torah is truth, and that there is no substance to the humiliations with which they pursue The Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a.

Below is a brief overview of the documented meetings from recent years between Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a and his beloved friend, the elder of the Council of Torah Sages, Rabbi Shimon Baadani zt"l.

The first visit at the Shuvu Banim yeshivah, on the night of 7 Nissan 5777:

https://www.shuvubanimint.com/%d7%94%d7%a8%d7%91-%d7%91%d7%a8%d7%9c%d7%a0%d7%93-%d7%94%d7%a8%d7%91-%d7%91%d7%a2%d7%93%d7%a0%d7%99-%d7%99%d7%a9%d7%99%d7%91%d7%aa-%d7%a9%d7%95%d7%91%d7%95-%d7%91%d7%a0%d7%99%d7%9d/ A visit at the hotel near Hadassah Ein Kerem in Jerusalem, Iyar 5777: https://www.shuvubanimint.com/%d7%94%d7%a8%d7%91-%d7%91%d7%a8%d7%9c%d7%a0%d7%93-%d7%94%d7%a8%d7%91-%d7%91%d7%a2%d7%93%d7%a0%d7%99-%d7%91%d7%99%d7%a7%d7%95%d7%a8-%d7%94%d7%99%d7%a1%d7%98%d7%95%d7%a8%d7%99/

24 Shevat 5779—inside the holy inner room; and upon his departure he spoke out strongly against the slanderers and those who oppose:

https://www.shuvubanimint.com/%D7%95%D7%95%D7%90%D7%95-%D7%A9%D7%99%D7%97%D7%94-%D7%9E%D7%A8%D7%92%D7%A9%D7%AA-%D7%91%D7%91%D7%99%D7%A7%D7%95%D7%A8%D7%95-%D7%A9%D7%9C-%D7%94%D7%A8%D7%91-%D7%91%D7%A2%D7%93%D7%A0%D7%99-%D7%A9%D7%9C/

10 Iyar 5779—a joint shiur in our Beis Midrash:

https://www.shuvubanimint.com/%d7%94%d7%a8%d7%91-%d7%91%d7%a2%d7%93%d7%a0%d7%99-%d7%9e%d7%91%d7%a7%d7%a8-%d7%91%d7%a9%d7%99%d7%a2%d7%95%d7%a8%d7%95-%d7%a9%d7%9c-%d7%94%d7%a8%d7%91-%d7%91%d7%a8%d7%9c%d7%a0%d7%93/ 20 Av 5779—at the Sheva Berachos for the grandson of Rabbi Aharon Raz, may he live: https://www.shuvubanimint.com/%d7%94%d7%a8%d7%91-%d7%91%d7%a2%d7%93%d7%a0%d7%99-%d7%94%d7%a8%d7%91-%d7%91%d7%a8%d7%9c%d7%a0%d7%93-%d7%a9%d7%91%d7%a2-%d7%91%d7%a8%d7%9b%d7%95%d7%aa-%d7%90%d7%94%d7%a8%d7%95%d7%9f-%d7%a8%d7%96/ The final visit—14 Adar I, Purim Katan 5783—inside the holy inner room, with a most fascinating video:

There were many additional meetings, but they are not in the Shuvu Banim archive, or they were not documented and published. May these words of Torah be for the elevation of the pure and refined soul of the elder of the Council of Torah Sages, Rabbi Shimon Baadani—may the memory of the righteous and holy be a blessing, zy"a. May his soul be bound in the bond of life.