BDE: Hagoen Rav Pesach Miller, z”l, Chmelnicker Rov

By Y. S. Gold

We are saddened to report on the petirah of Hagoen Rav Pesach Miller, z”l, the Chmelnicker Rov of Boro Park, a giant talmid chochom and masmid who leaves behind beautiful Torah generations. He was 74 years old, and passed away after an illness.

The niftar was one of the most prominent talmidim and chassidim of the Bobover Ruv zt"l. He was a product of that first generation of postwar children who learned in Bobov, and it was in this generation that the Ruv saw the future of Bobov in America.

The Bobover Ruv loved his talmid deeply, and the story is told that on Purim, he would distribute wine to those talmidim who accomplished in Torah during the previous year. After giving bottles of wine to other talmidim, he exclaimed, “far Peisach darf men a fas, for Pesach we need a barrel!”

He was a talmid of the Bobover Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Moshe Duvid Steinwurtzel, and was known in his youth for his brilliant mind. Rav Steinwurtzel used to invite his rebbi, Rav Gedalya Schorr, to test his talmidim, and he would say that if Pesach is present, he can rest assured that every question will be answered. At the age of sixteen, he was already delivering shiurim to the bachurim in the Bobover yeshiva.

In 1970, when the Bobover Ruv traveled to Eretz Yisroel, he took along Rav Pesach when visiting the gedolim of the holy land, saying, “this is my moreh hora’ah!”

He received shimush, and spoke in learning, with many gedolim of the previous generation, and they were deeply impressed with his incredible breadth of knowledge in Torah. Many have said that he is among the greatest talmidei chachomim of this generation. He authored a number of popular seforim filled with deep chiddushim on all sections of Shulchan aruch, among them was the Sifrei Noam Haleivi which features in-depth chidushim in all 4 chelkei Shilchon Urich, Pischei Halevi on Hilchos Mezuzah, and many many more mind-boggling tshuvas and halacha chiddushim.

Rav Pesach married the daughter of, ybl”ch, Reb Itche Rosengarten, and together they established an extremely chashuve Torah home, with a number of prominent talmdei chachomim and Rabbonim among their children.  

Rav Pesach was one of the most prominent Rabbonim and poskim in the Bobov-45 chassidus, and was deeply respected by the Rebbe and the entire kehillah. 

Just like he was known for his tremendous accomplishment in Torah, he was also known for his giant heart… his incredible avodah in which he would invest many hours and great intensity.

Sadly, he was diagnosed with an illness in recent months, and was niftar early Thursday morning.   

The Levaye will take place 11:15am at the Chmelnik Shul 649 Dahill Rd, and kevurah will be on the old beis hachaim in Teveria.

Yehi zichro baruch.