Prominent Israeli rabbis, Admors and representatives of the Chief Rabbinate took part in the funeral services today for Rabbi Reuven Katz, Chief Rabbi of Petach Tikva and former vice-president of the Union of Orthodox Rabbis of the United States and Canada, who died here last night of a heart attack at the age of 83.
Born in Lithuania, Rabbi Katz served as rabbi and teacher in Poland and Lithuania where his pupils included Zalman Shazar, now President of Israel. He came to the United States in 1929 and served as rabbi of Bayonne, N.J. until 1931 when he was named to the post with the Union of Orthodox Rabbis. In 1932 he settled in Israel where he assumed the post of Chief Rabbi of Petach Tikva. He also headed the Grand Yeshiva of petach Tikva.
Rabbi Katz was the author of “Degel Reuven,” a three-volume commentary on the Talmud, and “Dudoei Reuven,” a five-volume commentary on the Torah. Surviving Rabbi Katz are two daughters and six sons, including Dr. Abraham I. Katsh, director of the Institute of Hebrew Studies at New York University, and Rabbi Michael Katz, professor of Talmud at Yeshiva University.
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