Author of Shiyarei Mitzvah, Who Welcomed Twins at Age 72 After Decades of Waiting, Passes Away at 87

Author of Shiyarei Mitzvah, Who Welcomed Twins at Age 72 After Decades of Waiting, Passes Away at 87

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Moshe Applebaum zt”l, author of the sefer Shiyarei Mitzvah and a member of the Ne’os Yosef kehillah in Bnei Brak, who passed away at the age of 87. Rav Applebaum was widely known not only for his lifelong devotion to Torah and mitzvos, but also for the extraordinary personal miracle of welcoming twin children at the age of 72 after decades of waiting to be blessed with offspring. Rav Applebaum, a native of Argentina, was born on January 8, 1939 (17 Teves 5699), to his parents, Reb and Mrs. Shmuel Applebaum. After settling in Eretz Yisroel, he spent many years as an expert sofer stam, earning a reputation for exceptional precision and dedication in writing sifrei Torah, tefillin, and mezuzos. Those who knew him described him as a sincere oveid Hashem whose entire life revolved around serving the Ribbono Shel Olam. His life story inspired countless people throughout the Torah world. After many decades during which he and his wife were not blessed with children, they experienced a remarkable salvation when they welcomed twins at Bnei Brak’s Mayanei Hayeshua Medical Center. Rav Applebaum was approximately 72 years old at the time, while his wife was about 54. The birth was considered an exceptionally rare event and brought tremendous joy. Family members and acquaintances remembered Rav Applebaum as an extraordinary individual whose humility and simplicity defined his character. They recalled him as someone who devoted every day of his life to Torah study, faithfully attending the beis medrash morning and night, and whose tefillos were offered with remarkable concentration and purity. The late tzaddik Rav Alter Dovid Chaim Stern zt”l was once quoted as saying that Rav Applebaum was likely one of the hidden tzaddikim of the generation. In addition to his work as a highly respected sofer stam, Rav Applebaum authored the sefer Shiyarei Mitzvah. As a member of the Ne’os Yosef community in Bnei Brak, he maintained a close connection with Rav Yaakov Edelstein zt”l and later with his son, Rav Mordechai Shmuel Edelstein. The levayah took place at the Ne’os Yosef beis medrash on Rechov Yoel in Bnei Brak. He was laid to rest at Yarkon Cemetery near Petach Tikvah. The family is sitting shivah at 13 Radak Street in Bnei Brak. Yehi zichro baruch. {Matzav.com}