Remembering Rabbi Natan Bokobza: The Life and Legacy of a Giant of Chesed

The 10th of Nisan, marks the yahrzeit of Rabbi Natan Bokobza. The rabbi — a giant of kindness — passed away after a short and difficult illness at only 42 years old. Despite his brief life, he managed to accomplish countless acts of extraordinary chesed. 

1. His Early Life and Public Work

Rabbi Natan Bukobza lived in Netivot. After his marriage, he learned in kollel and later served as a teacher in the Talmud Torah “Torah Lishmah” in Ofakim, while constantly engaging in public Torah and chesed activities. Beginning in the year 2000 (5760), he devoted himself entirely to this work until his passing on Shabbat HaGadol, the 10th of Nisan, 5777.

2. A Scholar and a Community Leader

The rabbi was ordained with certification to serve as a city rabbi. He became known as a beloved and sought-after preacher. His lectures focused on Torah, halacha, faith, and spiritual strengthening, drawing large audiences.

3. Praised by Rav Mordechai Eliyahu

When Rabbi Bokobza’s youngest son was born, he requested that the Rishon LeTzion, Rav Mordechai Eliyahu, serve as sandak. Rav Eliyahu immediately agreed, saying: “One who does so much for the Jewish People is worthy that I travel all the way to Netivot to be sandak for his son, for he is a genius of chesed.”

At another time, when asked to deliver a lecture for the large bein-hazmanim yeshiva the rabbi organized, Rav Eliyahu again agreed without hesitation, calling Rabbi Bokobza “the man of chesed of this generation.”

4. A True Giant of Kindness

Rabbi Bokobza established two major charitable organizations dedicated to Torah institutions and chesed: Torah classes, free-loan funds, aid for the needy, constructing mikva’ot, and more.

His activities included:

• Evening kollelim and daytime seasonal kollelim

• Massive food and clothing distributions

• Kimcha D’Pischa programs

• Bein-hazmanim yeshivot

• Support for ba’alei teshuva

• Soup kitchens

• Summer camps

• Large community events

• Two active batei midrash

• Free-loan gemachim for grooms, new mothers, and many others

Over the years, the scope of his operations grew to hundreds of thousands of shekels per month, which he personally raised.

5. Supporting Institutions Nationwide

Beyond what he founded, Rabbi Bokobza helped build, rehabilitate, and support institutions across Israel — funding food packages, children’s outings, special-needs classrooms, synagogues, mikva’ot, soup kitchens, and rescue organizations.

6. His Blessings and Spiritual Strength

Rabbi Bokobza was known for the power of his blessings and spiritual insight. Thousands viewed him as a guide and father figure. Many attest to his brilliant analytical mind, sensitivity, warmth, and wisdom across many fields. When asked about the power of his blessings, he said: “My words are accepted because they come from the power of chesed.”

7. A Story of Pure Kindness

Mrs. Michal Rosenbaum of Petach Tikvah recounts: “My first husband was gravely ill, and the rabbi supported us constantly. When my husband underwent a difficult treatment in Germany, Rabbi Bokobza traveled there to encourage us.”

She continues: “One day, I needed to leave the house but could not leave my husband alone. Suddenly, there were knocks on the door — the rabbi had arrived unexpectedly, like an angel. When I explained the situation, he said humbly: ‘I came to be with your husband. I’ll stay with him until you return.’ He stayed for an hour and a half, uplifting my husband — as he uplifted everyone around him.”

She concludes: “Whoever knew the rabbi knew that an hour and a half was enormous by his schedule — and yet he did it with pure simplicity and joy. When I once asked him, ‘How do you live like this?’ He answered: ‘I live only to help the Jewish people.’”

8. The Miraculous Kimcha D’Pischa Distribution

During his final Kimcha D’Pischa distribution (in 5765), a family approached him: their relative lay in the hospital, declared beyond recovery. Rabbi Bokobza performed a pidyon nefesh and dedicated the entire massive food distribution — thousands of packages — to the man’s recovery.

He then instructed the family to go to the hospital and wake the patient, telling him that he would rise at a specific hour. Though the doctors had given up hope, they followed his instructions.

Miraculously, at the exact time the rabbi specified, the man awoke — and was home by Pesach. That man still attends the annual memorial events and tells the story.

9. His Final Illness and Passing

In Nisan 5765, Rabbi Bokobza was diagnosed with cancer. He underwent treatments in Hadassah Ein Kerem and later in Germany. When treatments failed, he returned to Hadassah, where he passed away on Shabbat HaGadol, the 10th of Nisan, 5766.

His family notes that he passed away during two of his greatest life’s works — the bein-hazmanim yeshiva and the Kimcha D’Pischa distribution — both of which he had championed from their earliest days.

10. His Legacy

After his passing, the institutions he built were renamed “Me’orot Natan” in his memory. They continue to operate in Netivot under the leadership of his wife.