On the first of Adar [17th of February 1904], I was informed that my father was sick. I traveled to Brisk to see him and found him very weak. Only when it was time for prayer he gained strength. The same happened when on the eve of Sabbath, Torah portion Truma [contribution], his strength was revived and he honored the Sabbath -- the prayer of Sabbath, three meals of Sabbath, ‘double bread’ in each meal, praying in public, reading the Torah and prayers while standing.

From then on his illness became worse until the bitter Monday when he passed away. Even that morning he prayed with ecstasy the prayer of shakhrit [morning prayer] and prayed shmone-esre standing up, with his praying shawl and tefillin , like on any other day. Afterwards he spoke words of wisdom and scholarship and preached some Torah teachings and ethics. When midday was over, he desired to pray Minkha [afternoon prayer] and to put on his tefillin of our Rabbi Tam. These tefillin are put by specially holy and pure people]

At three o’clock when he was about to put on his tefillin and was sitting on the bed he fell back feebly. Everybody thought he was dying and they started reciting the verses that are customary to be recited with lit candles. He woke up once more to the voices of weeping and put on the tefillin , prayed Minkha facing the wall – as the custom is, and then knelt and turned again to the people and did not stop talking. I could not hear what he said. Others, who stood facing him said he was reciting barkhu nafshi [bless my soul] up to vela’avodato ad erev [and to worship him until evening], and his soul left his body in holiness and purity, Monday the 6th of Adar 5664 [22nd of February 1904].