The Belzer community is mourning the sudden petirah of Rav Aryeh Mordechai Frankel z”l, a longtime and beloved mechanech in Bnei Brak who devoted more than four decades to educating young children and was among the earliest volunteers and founders of the renowned chesed organization Ezrah Lemarpeh. He was 73.
Reb Aryeh Mordechai was born on 4 Adar 5714 to his father, Reb Yehuda Frankel z”l, and his mother, Mrs. Tzila Frankel a”h.
After establishing his home with his wife, he devoted his life to chinuch, serving for more than 40 years as a rebbi for young children. Over the decades, hundreds of children received their earliest foundations in alef-beis and Chumash from him.
For many years, he was also responsible for the cherished “Naye Yingele” ceremony held for three-year-old boys upon their formal entrance into cheder at the Belzer cheder at 5 Belz Street in Bnei Brak. Through his warmth and dedication, he helped make those first moments of chinuch memorable for generations of children and their families.
His commitment to helping others extended well beyond the classroom. Reb Aryeh Mordechai was among the first volunteers and founders of Ezrah Lemarpeh, the organization that would eventually grow into one of Israel’s best-known chesed organizations.
In the organization’s earliest days, when Ezrah Lemarpeh was still operating on a small scale out of a private home, Reb Aryeh Mordechai would sit there each day and assist people who came to borrow medical equipment. Long before the organization became what it is today, he was among those quietly doing the work on the ground.
Approximately a decade ago, Reb Aryeh Mordechai suffered a stroke but subsequently recovered. Despite the difficulties he endured, he continued coming every day with extraordinary mesirus nefesh to the central Belzer bais medrash at 5 Rebbe of Belz Street, where he had davened throughout the years.
For many years, he also took upon himself the simple but meaningful responsibility of preparing tea for the mispallelim and lomdim in the bais medrash, ensuring that those who came to daven and learn would have something warm to drink.
Only this week, Reb Aryeh Mordechai had the zechus to enter for a private audience with the Belzer Rebbe and present a kvittel. He was deeply attached to the Rebbe with heart and soul and frequently traveled to be with the Rebbe for Yomim Tovim, Shabbosim and other special occasions.
On Wednesday night, Reb Aryeh Mordechai began feeling unwell and was hospitalized at Mayanei Hayeshua Medical Center. His condition deteriorated overnight, and he was niftar shortly before dawn, leaving behind a lifetime of chinuch, chesed and quiet devotion to others.
The levayah was held on Yigal Street in Bnei Brak, proceeding past the central Belzer bais medrash at 5 Rebbe of Belz Street before continuing to the Kahal Machzikei Hadas section of the cemetery in Ashdod, where he was brought to kevurah.
Yehi zichro baruch.
{Matzav.com}
