Rav Refoel Chaim Shlomo Heiman (Kislev 17, 5705 / 1944 - 79th Yahrzeit)
Rav Shlomo Heiman, Rosh Yeshiva of Bais Medrash Elyon, Torah Vodaas, was born in Paritsch, near Minsk, and entered the Yeshiva in Halusk at the age of twelve, where he learned under Rav Boruch Ber Leibowitz. He remained there until 1917, when he married Chaya Feiga Rudensky of Volozhin. That year, he was appointed by Rav Boruch Ber to serve as Rosh Yeshiva in Knesses Bais Yitzchok. When anti-Semitic harassment forced him to leave the area, the Chofetz Chaim asked Rav Shlomo to teach in his Yeshiva. When World War I ended, Rav Elchonon Wasserman asked Rav Shlomo to be a Rosh Yeshiva in Baranovitch. In 1927 Rav Chaim Ozer Grodzenski invited Rav Shlomo to be Rosh Yeshiva of the Ramailles Yeshiva in Vilna, a position he held for almost eight years. In 1935, with Rav Chaim Ozer’s approval, Rav Shlomo accepted an invitation to head Yeshiva Torah Vodaas. Thus he was spared, through hashgocha protis, the horrors of World War II. Since he arrived in America a few years before the onset of the Holocaust, he was able to aid in the rescue of Bnei Torah and Rabbonim.
