Death
He died on 24 June 1982 (3 Tammuz 5742) in Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, at the age of 64. He was survived by his wife, Rischel, eight children, fifteen grandchildren, and his sister, Sarah Schwartzman. His funeral processions in Lakewood and Jerusalem were attended by tens of thousands. He was buried near his father, Rabbi Aharon Kotler, and his grandfather, Rabbi Isser Zalman Meltzer, on Har HaMenuchos.
Rabbi Kotler served as rosh yeshiva for nineteen years, seven months, and one day, exactly the same amount of time as did his father. This extraordinary coincidence was noted throughout the Torah world and seen as a sign that he had been a worthy son and successor who carried on his father's mission.
He was succeeded as rosh yeshiva by a quartet of Gedolei Torah: his son, Rabbi Malkiel Kotler; his son-in-law, Rabbi Dovid Schustal; Rabbi Yerucham Olshin; and Rabbi Yisroel Neuman. The latter two are married to other grandchildren of Rabbi Aharon Kotler.
Read more about this topic: Shneur Kotler
Famous quotes containing the word death:
“No man may him hide
From Death hollow-eyed,”
—John Skelton (1460?–1529)
“A rat crept softly through the vegetation
Dragging its slimy belly on the bank
While I was fishing in the dull canal
On a winter evening round behind the gashouse
Musing upon the king my brother’s wreck
And on the king my father’s death before him.”
—T.S. (Thomas Stearns)
“The death of a dear friend, wife, brother, lover, which seemed nothing but privation, somewhat later assumes the aspect of a guide or genius; for it commonly operates revolutions in our way of life, terminates an epoch of infancy or of youth which was waiting to be closed, breaks up a wonted occupation, or a household, or style of living, and allows for the formation of new ones more friendly to the growth of character.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)