Our family suffered a tremendous loss with the recent petirah of our dear son-in-law, the unforgettable avreich, R’ Shimon Frank z”l.

From a young age, R’ Shimon zl exhibited an unusual desire to continuously grow and accomplish in all areas of avodas Hashem.

In his short life time (he passed away at 26 years old after an aggressive illness), he achieved a rare measure of shleimus.

His Bain Adom Lchaveiro was impeccable, constantly thinking of others. With his powerful zest for life, together with a well honed 'knack' for making other people feel good, he brought happiness and good cheer to all those around him, in Yeshiva and without.

His much cultivated respect for his parents was incredible. There was nothing he would not do for them.

He put much thought and attention into his davening, and so many other mitzvos halevavos, with unusual purity and dedication.

His life's passion was by far limud haTorah. He simply loved to learn. He invested huge kochos into iyun Hatorah his entire life, learning in depth many portions of Torah with great clarity. Besides giving many chaburos in Yeshiva, he merited to write an acclaimed sefer Shemuos Shimon on Bava Metzia, Kesubos & Nedorim.

Simultaneously, R' Shimon had an unstoppable desire to complete Shas. He actually devised a comprehensive plan on how to accomplish that goal and in the shortest time possible. As his final illness progressed, his constant refrain to the people close to him was - "I want to live, I need to finish Shas". Indeed, during the last months of his life, despite the unremitting pain and agony he was in, he spent almost every waking moment in and out of the hospital glued to his gemorah, conquering daf after daf with a heightened sense of urgency and mission.

From a young age he also raised 'chazarah' up on a pedestal. He meticulously reviewed everything he learnt numerous times. There were some mesectos he reviewed tens of times. A few weeks before his petira, a seudas siyum was held in his apartment attended by many of his friends and rebbeim upon his completion of meseches Bava Basra for yet another time. At that bittersweet siyum, amidst the throes of his final illness, R' Shimon haltingly expressed the 'pain' that he has from the fact that there are so many budding young lomdim whom could really develop into much greater talmidei chachamim, if only they would invest more into 'chazarah'. R' Shimon then went on to issue a personal appeal to everyone in the room to make a kabbalah for daily chazara (not for his zechus but for their own benefit). This in a poignant way was his final tzavah to the world - invest wisely your time and energy into chazarah, for it is the only key to true success in limud Hatorah!

Despite all his natural talents, and his many accomplishments, R' Shimon was a truly humble person, מעורב בין הבריות to a fault, and always putting the spotlight on others.

With his short but well lived life, R' Shimon Frank z"l was like a sparkling meteorite blazing through the night time sky, providing extraordinary luminance and inspiration for his family, his friends, and all those who knew him, for ever and ever.

Alas, R' Shimon, an only child to his chosheve parents, did not merit to have children. His close friends have decided to perpetuate his spiritually rich legacy by comishining a Sefer Torah to be written in his memory.

Please contribute to this Sefer Torah campaign l’ilui nishmaso, and may it be a true source of nechoma for our entire family.