Rav Reuven Yosef Gershonowitz Tzaddik Of Ofakim Rosh Yeshiva Of Yeshivat HaNegev

Born in Lapitsh in the Minsk area of the Ukraine, he was taken by his father to the yeshiva katana in Lida at the age of 10. He continued his learning at Kamenitz in 1931, under Rav Baruch Ber. In 1936, Rav Reuven joined his family in Eretz Yisrael; he became a talmid of the Lomza Yeshiva in Petach Tikva. In 1946, he began giving chaburos in the yeshiva. In 1965, he became rosh yeshiva of Chemdas Shmuel in a moshav called Chemed. At first he kept his position at Lomza yeshiva, giving two shiurim be’iyun on two different masechtos every Monday, but the Lomza yeshiva closed a short while thereafter. In 1976, Rav Reuven was called upon to serve as rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Hanegev in Netivot.