The resting place of Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky (1928–2022), universally revered as the Sar HaTorah (The Prince of Torah), is one of the most visited and prominent contemporary gravesites in the Jewish world. Located in the heart of Israel, it has rapidly become a central focal point for prayer, reflection, and pilgrimage.

1. Location: The Shomrei Shabbos Cemetery

Rav Chaim is buried in the Shomrei Shabbos Cemetery (also known as the Zichron Meir Cemetery) in Bnei Brak, the predominantly ultra-Orthodox city near Tel Aviv where he lived and studied his entire adult life.

• Alongside the Steipler: He is buried directly adjacent to his illustrious father, Rabbi Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky (the Steipler Gaon).

• Proximity to the Chonizon: His grave is also situated right next to the resting place of his maternal uncle, Rabbi Avraham Yeshaya Karelitz (the Chazon Ish), the supreme architect of post-war Israeli Haredi society.

2. The Historic Burial

Rav Chaim passed away on March 18, 2022 (15 Adar II 5782) at the age of 94. His funeral, held two days later on March 20, was a historic event:

• One of Israel's Largest Funerals: An estimated 500,000 to 750,000 people flooded the streets of Bnei Brak to accompany his coffin from his modest apartment on Rashbam Street to the cemetery.

• State-Level Security: The funeral necessitated a massive national security operation. Major highways leading into central Israel were entirely shut down, and the military was placed on standby to assist with crowd control and medical emergencies.

3. Structure and Pilgrimage Site

Unlike some ancient or historic rabbinic graves that feature an Ohel (a small covered building), Rav Chaim's grave is an open-air plot, keeping with the strict custom of the cemetery and the humble traditions of the Lithuanian rabbinic elite.

• Massive Daily Influx: Because Rav Chaim spent decades receiving tens of thousands of visitors in his home to offer quick, sharp blessings (often just acronyms like Buha for "Blessing and Success"), his grave has naturally inherited that role. Thousands of people visit weekly to pray, recite Psalms (Tehillim), and ask for salvation in times of distress.

• The Tombstone (Matzeiva): The headstone features a characteristically humble inscription, avoiding grandiose titles and focusing heavily on his absolute devotion to Torah study. It identifies him simply by his lineage, noting his father, the Steipler, and his devotion to the community.

• Special Occasions: The gravesite experiences overwhelming crowds on his Yahrzeit (15th of Adar), on the eves of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, and during Yemei Ratzon (times of divine favor), when special prayer setups, barriers for gender separation, and safety staff are deployed to accommodate the public.

4. Visitor Etiquette and Access

The Shomrei Shabbos Cemetery is a highly traditional, active sacred space. If you plan to visit the grave:

• Location Access: The cemetery is situated on Chazon Ish Street in Bnei Brak. The plot containing the Chazon Ish, the Steipler, and Rav Chaim is easily located toward the center-front section of the cemetery, marked by highly visible pathways and heavy foot traffic.

• Modesty and Decorum: Absolute adherence to strict, traditional Jewish modesty standards (tzniut) is required for both men and women entering the cemetery grounds.

• The Custom of Shard Placement: Visitors frequently follow the time-honored tradition of placing a small stone or pebble on top of the headstone as a physical sign of respect, indicating that the deceased has been visited and remembered.

You can watch an aerial perspective of the massive gathering at the Rabbi Kanievsky Funeral Procession to visualize the sheer scale of the crowds that accompanied him from his home to this final resting place.