Heavy mourning has descended upon the Bobover court as thousands of chassidim accompanied the venerable Reb Moshe Meir Einhorn z”l to his final resting place on Erev Shabbos.
A survivor of the dor de’ah and the devoted gabbai of Bobov’s Shaarei Tzion kehillah for fifty years, he passed away peacefully at the age of 100.
Reb Moshe Meir was born on Erev Sukkos 5686 in the town of Kashanov. His father was among the prominent Bobover chassidim in the area. As a child he merited to bask in the presence of the Bobover Rebbe, the Kedushas Tzion, during the period when the Rebbe resided in the town of Tchebin.
When he reached bar mitzvah age, on Erev Sukkos 5699, he traveled to don tefillin with his rebbe, the Kedushas Tzion. In doing so, he became the last living Jew known to have had the privilege of putting on tefillin with the Kedushas Tzion himself.
During the terrible years of the Holocaust, he endured six brutal years in concentration camps. Even under those horrific conditions he maintained his dignity and served Hashem with great mesirus nefesh.
After the war, he arrived in Switzerland, where he served as a shochet under the guidance of the renowned gaon, the Chelkas Yaakov of Zurich. A few years later he immigrated to the United States, where he bound himself with deep devotion to his rebbe, the Bobover Rebbe, the Divrei Shlomo. Even during those early years he already served as gabbai in the Bobover shtiebel in Boro Park, at a time when the Rebbe was still living in Crown Heights.
In 5730 he was officially appointed by the Divrei Shlomo of Bobov to serve as the gabbai of the Bobover Shaarei Tzion kehillah. He carried out that role with extraordinary dedication and unwavering loyalty for fifty consecutive years.
His strong connection to the Bobover court continued under the leadership of the Rebbe, Rav Naftali Tzvi of Bobov, and later with the current Bobover Rebbe, who showed him special warmth and affection.
Reb Moshe Meir maintained his energetic and disciplined chassidic routine almost until the very end of his life. Among other practices, he continued attending the Rebbe’s regular Shacharis minyan until only a few years ago, even after he had already passed the age of ninety.
Every Shabbos, during the tish of Rava D’Ravin, it was he who began the niggun of “Baruch Kel Elyon.” Each Erev Shabbos he would enter the Rebbe’s chamber to deliver the community’s rent payments.
Those who knew him described him as a chassid from an earlier generation, a Jew who embodied sincere avodas Hashem, integrity in business, and a warm countenance toward every person.
Only a few months ago, his wife passed away after nearly eighty years of marriage that began shortly after the war.
The levayah departed on Friday afternoon from the plaza of the Bobover Beis Medrash in Boro Park. The Bobover Dayan delivered a hesped on behalf of the chassidim, followed by members of the family.
At the head of the procession was the Bobover Rebbe, as well as other prominent rabbonim.
Reb Moshe Meir was laid to rest in the Bobover cemetery, in the section near the ohel of the Rebbes of the Bobover dynasty.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com}
Rav Avrohom Pinzel visited the home of the Ponovezh rosh yeshiva, Rav Berel Povarsky, as a representative of the administrators of the talmudei Torah in Eretz Yisroel. He came seeking words of guidance and encouragement that could be conveyed to the tens of thousands of tinokos shel beis rabban during this time of war.
The following is the full dialogue from the visit:
Rabbi Pinzel: How is the rosh yeshiva feeling?
Rosh Yeshiva: Boruch Hashem.
Rabbi Pinzel: What does the rosh yeshiva say about the situation?
Rosh Yeshiva: Hashem will help.
Rabbi Pinzel: Is there reason to worry? People are under great pressure and are asking what they should strengthen themselves in.
Rosh Yeshiva: To strengthen themselves in Torah and yiras Shomayim.
Rabbi Pinzel: Perhaps the rosh yeshiva could say something to the children of Klal Yisroel about their role during this time.
Rosh Yeshiva: Listen—Hakadosh Boruch Hu loves the children of Yisroel more than anyone else, the tinokos shel beis rabban. Hakadosh Boruch Hu said that as long as they exist, He is with them. He is their Father.
Rabbi Pinzel: And then what? What should they do?
Rosh Yeshiva: If Hakadosh Boruch Hu is their Father, a father does not ask for anything. When something is taken in the house it is not theft, because the father is happy that his son has it. So if Hakadosh Boruch Hu is our Avinu Malkeinu—He is our Father and also our King, as it says tenah lanu melech l’shofteinu—the king is also a judge. Therefore, the best situation, during the Aseres Yemei Teshuvah and during times when there is judgment, is when the judge is a king. A king can sit on a throne of mercy. A judge cannot sit on a throne of mercy; he can only carry out the strict law. But a king sits on a throne of mercy. That is why during the Aseres Yemei Teshuvah we ask Hakadosh Boruch Hu, Avinu Malkeinu—You are our Father and our King, and You are also our Judge. When the king judges, he can sit on the throne of mercy. We ask Kel Melech yosheiv al kisei rachamim, that He should have mercy on us and give us everything we ask for.
Rabbi Pinzel: So now, during such a time of war, what does the rosh yeshiva say to the children in the cheder, the children of Klal Yisroel?
Rosh Yeshiva: Just think about what your Father wants, and do what He says. Then you will have success. He will give you everything—just as He promised that if you listen to His voice, He will listen to yours.
Rabbi Pinzel: With Hashem’s help, it will be fulfilled that “Layehudim haysa orah v’simcha v’sasson vikar.”
The rosh yeshiva: Exactly.
Rabbi Pinzel: There is a well-known midrash that the children of Klal Yisroel sat and learned with Mordechai during the decree of Haman. Hakadosh Boruch Hu asked the angels, “What is the sound of sheep that I hear?” And they answered, “These are not sheep—these are the young of Your nation, the House of Yisroel.” Immediately Hakadosh Boruch Hu was filled with mercy. He broke the seals and tore up the letters, and “Layehudim haysa orah v’simcha v’sasson vikar,” and everything was reversed.
Rosh Yeshiva: That’s it.
Rabbi Pinzel: So this year as well, with Hashem’s help.
Rosh Yeshiva: With Hashem’s help.
Rabbi Pinzel: But the children of Yisroel should say a lot of Tehillim, correct?
Rosh Yeshiva: Yes.
{Matzav.com}
