BDE: Harav Yitzchok Paler ZT"L Rosh Yeshivas Mekor Chaim of Lakewood

There will be a live stream Hookup of the levaya HERE
It is with great shock and sadness to reports the sudden passing of Rav Yitzchok Paler zt”l, Rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Mekor Chaim in Lakewood, NJ. He was 67 years old. Rav Paler was a son of Harav Binyomin Paler zt’l, the previous Rosh Yeshiva.

Rav Paler suffered a massive heart attack earlier tonight and was niftar a short while later. The Levaya is scheduled tentatively for 1:00 pm Monday October 22 at the Yeshiva  160 Locust street in Lakewood with the kvurah taking place in Eretz Yisrael at Har Hamenuchos. The ramp from RT 70 to Locust St will be closed 12pm to 5pm
 The yeshiva relocated from Boro Park to Lakewood 6 years ago.

From Matzav- Rav Yitzchok was a son of Rav Binyomin Paler zt”l, who was one of the closest talmidim of Rav Yitzchok Zev Soloveitchik, the Brisker Rov. During World War II, Rav Binyomin joined the Mirrer Yeshiva and escaped the horrors of the Holocaust in Europe by finding refuge with the yeshiva in Shanghai. After the war, Rav Binyomin joined his chaver, Rav Leib Malin, from the Mir, in establishing Yeshivas Bais Hatalmud in Brooklyn. The next year, he was appointed as a maggid shiur at Yeshivas Chasan Sofer, the yeshiva headed by his father-in-law, Rav Shmuel Ehrenfeld, the Mattersdorfer Rov. Rav Binyomin eventually became the rosh yeshiva there.


In 1965, Rav Binyomin opened his own yeshiva, Yeshiva Mekor Chaim. The name of the yeshiva was given by Rav Moshe Feinstein zt”l to demonstrate that Rav Binyomin was continuing the mesorah established by Rav Chaim Brisker. In 1976, a mesivta was opened.

Following Rav Binyomin’s petirah, Rav Paler was succeeded by his three sons, Rav Yitzchok zt”l, and ybl”c Rav Zechariah and Rav Simcha Bunim.

In 2012, after being located in Brooklyn for almost 50 years, Mekor Chaim relocated to Lakewood, where it settled on Locust Street. Rav Yitzchok likewise moved to Lakewood, where he lived on Charming Way.

Rav Yitzchok led Yeshiva Mekor Chaim together with his brothers in an outstanding display of unity and chavershaft.

Rav Yitzchok was a tremendous masmid, a talmid chochom of note, and a rosh yeshiva whose hadracha was sought by his talmidim. His ne’imus and aidelkeit were so unique, and his soft-spoken nature was inspiring to behold.

Rav Yitzchok spent his life between the koslei bais hamedrash, studying under his father’s tutelage and later raising generations of bnei Torah in the mesorah of his father and his father’s rabbeim.

Rav Yitzchok’s passing has plunged his many talmidim and the greater American olam haTorah into mourning.

Rav Yitzchok is survived by his wife, Rebbetzin Yocheved Paler, and their beautiful family of bnei and bnos Torah following in his ways.

Levayah details will be posted when they are finalized.