Kolel Shomre Hachomos Names Gemach for Martin Grossman

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grossmanFirst report: [Click here to view the ad.] The accolades and tributes to Martin Grossman following his recent execution have surprised many people, and in the latest undertaking, Matzav.com has learned that Kolel Shmore Hachomos-Reb Meir Baal Hanes, headquartered at 18 Heyward Street in Williamsburg, has founded a free loan fund in memory of Mr. Grossman, Michoel Yechiel ben Avrohom.

In a paid advertisement announcing the dedication, the Kolel states:

We tried, Reb Michoel Yechiel Grossman a”h, to save your body from harm, but miShomayim it was otherwise decreed. However, for your neshama, there is salvation.

Your name has been inscribed in the keren kayemes of Kolel Shomre Hachomos in Yerushalayim. For this coming year till Adar 5771, Mishnayos will be learned, Kaddish will be said, and a lecht will be lit in your memory.

Dear Acheinu bnei Yisroel, since Reb Michoel Yechiel a”h did not leave any children nor close religious relatives, our board of directors have initiated a special “Free Loan Fund,” “Gemach Michoel Yechiel ben R’ Avrohom Grossman a”h,” which will serve as a loaning gemach to those in need in Yerushalayim. Each time money will be spent from this gemach, it’ll be a zechus and an aliyah for his neshama

The advertisement goes on to provide an address and phone numbers to send “your generous contributions,” adding that “Especially in this upcoming month of Nissan before Pesach when millions are distributed and $1,000,000 from the gemach will be loaned, your donation will make a difference.”

Mr. Grossman was convicted of first-degree murder in the death of Margaret “Peggy” Park, a Florida wildlife officer who was shot with her own gun in 1984 when he was 19 years old.

Mr. Grossman was the 69th person executed in Florida since the death penalty was reinstated in the sunshine state in 1979. He was the 25th by lethal injection.

Jew around the world wrote to Florida Governor Crist, asking him for a 60-day stay of execution for Mr. Grossman, but the Governor ignored the requests to allow Grossman to repay his debt to society by serving the rest of his life in prison. Separately, 200 organizations, Jewish and non-Jewish, sent Governor Crist a petition requesting the stay of the execution, in order to properly file an official request for clemency.

{Noam Amdurski-Matzav.com Newscenter}


113 COMMENTS

  1. When a chashover Tzaddik Kollel Yungerman dies leaving over yesomim Kollel Shomrei Hachomos does nothing yet when a convicted murderer gets executed they open a gmach lzecher nishmaso? What on earth?

  2. Matzav please provide the phone number of this organization. I would like to speak to them regarding this insanity.

  3. They have got to be kidding me. I paskened that the death penalty is a sad but necessary means of executing justice in a society and this is what they do? Nebech.

  4. A new kollel will be opened up Lizecher Nishmas Reb Bugsy Siegel, and Reb Dutch Schultz who were both killed at a young age. Donations may be sent to the kollel that is leraning lezecher nishmas these Heiligeh nishomas.

  5. wow. what a sick message this sends that honor someone who murdered. sad. very sad day for us, i hope this doesnt cause further backlash

  6. matzav on top of the matzav
    maybe this will be hanging in the bmg coffee room like yesterday’s story on touro, with the whole place hocking

  7. Let’s not forget that he did repent & express remorse, he can certainly use some good merits now.
    Also, lets not forget his troubled upbringing, “Don’t judge a person until you reach his position”

  8. Matzav – Where can we find the address to make a contribution to this tzedaka l’zecher nishmas Michoel Yechiel z”l?

    This is a wonderful and beautiful mitzvah for this meis mitzvah.

  9. Baruch Hashem! Reb Michoel Yechiel A”H was niftar al kiddish hashem and died a Yid and Baal Teshuva.

    It is truly heartwarming to see our caring brothers thinking of his memory.

  10. Thank You Matzav. I would not have known of this very worthy cause otherwise.

    I am making a donation of $500 and urge my Yiddishe brethren to do likewise.

  11. Do I need to specify that my donation is to be directed L’Zecher Nishmas Reb Michoel Yechiel ben Avrohom hy’d?

    Also, where can I mail the check to??

  12. I have tears swelling in my eyes reading this truly amazing Kiddush Hashem. What other nation on earth would treat one of their own, such as this, as a true brother?

    Only Acheinu Bnei Yisroel!!

    Yasher Koach Reb Meir Baal Hanes!!

    I wish I could make a sizable contribution, but due to the economy will only be able to send in $18.00.

  13. imagine the jewish outcry if the goyim established a gemach
    in honor of the guy who killed old man mr gerstle in washington heights

  14. Reply to “Reb Time”
    You “paskened” Are you a big Rav? Are you greater than the GEDOLIM who said we had an obligation to try and save his life. Reading some of the sarcastic comments here is making me sick. It seems that a lot of Yidden have forgotten the importance of Ahavas Yisroel.

  15. Excuse me, don’t judge a person until you reach his position? I’m going to hope that I don’t wind up stealing a gun, beating a woman with her heavy flashlight and then shooting her in the head.

    Why, is this something you’ve been afraid you’d do?

  16. I’m going to make a donation to a charity in honor of the woman he murdered, and I’m certainly not going to do anything for a charity in her killer’s name!

    It’s official, we’ve lost our minds.

  17. When you call him “Reb” you cause a lot of tzar to his neshama because they will be dan him like a Reb instead of a nebach. Regarding HY”D what does that mean? More people should die? Maybe the whole Parks family should die, will that make you happy?

  18. How dare they dirty the name of the Holy Tanah Rab Meir Baal Haneiss by associating their Tzedaka with a murderer???!!!

  19. Let’s not forget that he took a human life. Just because you think he had an excuse (a very very poor one at that) does not take away the fact that he murdered a young woman with an entire productive life ahead of her. Calling him Reb or Zichrono Livracha (what bracha!) is an abomination and likely a Chillul Hashem.

  20. Once again members of our community have gone out of their way to embarrass the rest of us. When will it stop?

  21. I just looked up their contact info on their website. Instead of us all arguing about them behind their backs, first of all, why don’t you call them to see if it’s true?
    Secondly complain to them or ask them why they did so?
    If it’s all a possible hoax (post Purim joke as in the made up story about the Kosel ads) then we are smearing their name for no reason!!!

    PHONE: DAYTIME
    Until 7:00 pm …………………… 718.243-2495
    Toll-Free …………..1-888-876-MEIR(6347)

    Fax:(24 hours) ………………….718.243.2499

    Email: ………………[email protected]
    Online ……………….www.kshauction.org

  22. Why are we still lynching this guy he died already revenge was exercised by the parks family and so be it. why say reb michoel ben reb avraham why make cynicil remarks like these why are they calling him reb he wasnt a rabbi and make a gemach well why not but make sure its explained that its for a person who died without children and so the gmach is in essence for a mais mitzvah who was on his way to becoming a full b.t. And the commenters upset that a gemach and kadish and mishnayis was set up for him when many people die with yisoimim without this being done for them, well sir you are blinded here cuz martin has no yisoimim here noone to say kadish and noone to learn for him and no zchusim by kids or even relatives carrying on in the straight path for him and he has alot of chiloini years to get a kapuru for, and so yes he needs this gimach more then you could imagine and for those still calling him a murderous cop killer well I guess a ainoi yehudi cop killed is more serious then a yehudi killed and even if lets say he was a brutal man does his nishama lishetuschem not deserve a kapuru more then anyone else and even if you say oh you are giving kuvoid to a rushu which might backlash against yiden in the long run well I am sorry but a yids poor soul in need of a kapuru takes precedence over here

  23. This is a real chessed shel emmett. Grossman probally needs a tikun neshamot too. Any zchut donated to him is a real chessed for such a poor neshama.

  24. I called at 5pm.The person who answered the phone told me to call tomorrow and ask for rabbi meyer.
    my pushka has $300 in it.I will send it to the organization as it is technically their property.Tomorrow it goes into the garbage.
    I will also speak with my friend who holds a big parlor meeting in his house every year.Knowing him as well as I do,there will be no parlor meetings anymore.

  25. What is the big deal. He was a baal teshuva who had no relatives. His crime was immense but wheere is rachamim. Misah is mechaper. Can he have no zechusim? A yid is a yid.

  26. Reading some of these hate comments has encouraged me to participate fully in this tzedakah with a large contribution.

  27. What a disgrace.

    They should be boycotted. Any Shuls or individuals that have their pushkas should send them back in protest. There are plenty of other tzedokos to give too.

    P.S. Why don’t they have a fund for Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, who were executed too?

    Maybe add in one for Meyer Lansky for good measure.

    Chillul Hashem, an organization with such irresponsible policy should not be trusted with holy tzedokko funds.

  28. #26 and #31 are right.

    It seems that if you’re Jewish some of us will explain away any abhorrant behavior which they wouldn’t do had the murderer been of a diff. race. Not only that, Grossman gets to be the victim under the ruthless Gov.
    However for G-d fearing Jews (who might make a mistake or two),if they don’t have you’re shitta (not against Tzionism, diff. political party, etc.) boy are you gonna get it.

  29. to comment 24 yeruchom: you are asking very sharp, just the way I like. Just one question though: do you know what hy”d means, or did you see it in a book and think all Jews get it after their name?

  30. Any Yid can do teshuva for ANY aveira.

    Reb Martin did teshuva.

    He deserves the zechusim Klal Yisroel established in his memory.

  31. Yidden are Rachamim bnei Rachamim.

    From some of the comments here, I would question that.

    Reb Michoel Yechiel z’l is our brother.

    Show some brotherly love to him, your brother.

    Despite everything.

    Not even considering his deep regret and teshuva for his act 25 years ago, which he expressed.

    Everyone is entitled to do teshuva. Everyone is entitled for their teshuva to be accepted. By the RBS”O and by his brothers.

  32. To all those who spoke of boycotting them, call them at least before you do so. I already posted their contact information. Ask if it’s true (I tried to call but it was too late for today) and certainly just like you think they should have asked daas Torah before doing so (if it’s true) then you certainly SHOULD ask daas Torah before boycotting them or canceling their parlor meeting in your home.
    Nebach- the poor Israeli recipients who count on you for your check to R Meir Bal Hanes- they have nothing to do with what their benefactor is named for!
    are you so sure of yourself that you are l’shem Shamayim too????

  33. The point is not if Grossman’s death was mechaper, he did teshuva etc. We are not the judge, Hashem is.
    The point here is why are people putting him on a platform? What message they are sending their kids?
    I have just read an article in a heimishe publication explaining why he did what he did and of the hard life he had as a child. What was the point of the article ? To excuse his actions. Such an act should be unexcusable, unthinkable and uncromprehendable for our children and ourselves.

  34. True, he murdered, over 20 years ago. According to many grossman did die having done tshuva. Why all the hateful comments? With no relatives remaining it is our job as a whole to give the man the chance to make it somewhere in olam haba

  35. Is that it? He was a Tzaddik Yesod olam the likes of which the world hasn’t seen since the time of the Rishonim!

  36. There is absolutely nothing wrong with creating a zchus for someone who left this world after not having lived in a way that would have created zchusim for him to take along with him. Indeed, it would be a good idea to have one special “Anonymous Yidden” fund and quietly have in mind Mr. Grossman and others like him.

    The outcry we are witnessing here from so many thoughtfull Jews is because this organization were oiber-chachomim and thought that they would capitalize on a news item. They might have dedicated a fund to the victims of the Haiti earthquake if they would have thought it would bring in the bucks.

    Our tzibur is sensitive to such an abuse of trust. We trust our mosdos to not act reckless and compromise all that we stand for. Lets not lose the once respected mosad of Kolel Shomrei HaChomos as they take the same road…

  37. his ???? has a part of GOD ! just as yours !??? ?-?-?-? ???? how do we speak on him by now he is no body just a ???? ! so i don”t know what he is i don”t speak

  38. For everyone who made a comment against this, go ask mechila of the organization, and go ask mechila of R’ Michoel Yechiel ben Avrohom. How dare you call yourself Jewish?! How precious is a Jewish Neshama?! And you have the chutzpah to make comments on a public forum?! I’m sad that this is what things have come to, a Jew is a Jew is a Jew. No matter what someone ever did, he is a Jew. If he has done teshuva by dying (as many have said) and thats good enough for HKB”H, is it not good enough for you? Are you better than Hashem?! I think you had better rethink things next time you define yourself as a Frum Jew, because thats one thing you definitely arent.

  39. Stop romanticizing this man’s story. The baal teshuvah bit was purposely played up by his defense attorney and the Chabad rabbi as a last ditch effort to save him. Grossman sure did not look like a baal teshuvah and his last meal of treife chicken proved that The Chabad rabbi went out of his way to help him put on tefillin and had him say “Shema” before his execution, which is noble. However, let’s not get carried away here. Most murderers on death row find religion in prison, whether through a rabbi, a priest or an imam.  

  40. What next, will they name a yeshiva after him to? He is a criminal, a murderer, since when do we exalt a murderer? Are they all deranged?

  41. who cares what they named the gemach? that dfoesn;t matter.
    what matters is that this guy became a “Reb”
    are they joking? it is so sick, so so sick.

  42. No doubt Martin Grossman had a big neshama and now has a big chaylek in Olam Haba. This is just another reminder we are still in Galus and if its not the entire nation who is hunted like in the times of Haman, then its an individual Yid today in Florida.
    It was really beautiful though how jews from all over the world took thought, prayer, action and wrote, signed petitions or called to try to save a fellow Jew’s life

  43. Giving charity is a very wonderful thing, but I’m not sure I would be comfortable giving tzedakah to a mosad that is in memory of a murderer.

  44. This whole fiasco is saddening and bewildering. It seems that many in the ‘frum’ community are seriously lacking in seichel.

    Some people are making Martin out to be some kind of big tzaddik. That is ludicrous.

    And now, ‘acharei-mos, kedoshim’ too? He is like – lihavdil elef havdolos – Rabbi Akiva??!!! Rachmono litzlon. Who came up with such rubbish?

    The man was on death row for decades. Where were the people making all this noise then? Where was the Aleph institute?

    An argument can also be made that the aggressive campaign backfired. We are in golus, let us not forget that. The agressive campaigns for Pollard, Rubashkin, and lihavdil Grossman, have not succeeded. Time to wake up and rethink things instead of continuing to waste so much energy in loud agressive campaigns.

    We are a small group and must respect the law and government. We are taught by our sages to pray for the peace of the government, without which people would be in serious danger for their very continued existence. Some people forget that. Time to come back to earth.

  45. ???? ????? – ??? ?????? ?????? ??? ??? ??? ?????, ??? ?? ?? ?? ???????? ??? – ???? ?????? ??? ????, ???? ????? ??”? (????? ?? ?? ?”?) ????? ?????? ???? ??? ???, ??? ???? ???? ?????? ???? ????, ?? ??? ???? ?????? ???. ??? ?????, ???????? “????” ?? ?? ???? ?????? ??? (???????? ?? ?”?) – ??? ???? ??? ????? ???? ???????? ????? (?????? ?? ? ?”?), ???? ?????? ?????? ??????, ??? ???? ?????? ???? ???? ??? ???. TIFERES YISREAL

  46. Please commenters stop being so mean.
    Please understand that what
    Martin Grossman did was not premeditated.

  47. ????? ??? ?? ??????? ????? ?”??? ????”, ????? ???? ?????? ???, ?”? ???? ?”?, ???? ?? ???? ????”? ??, ????:
    ????? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???? ???? ???? ???, ????? “??? ???? ??? ?? ????”, ???? ???? ???? ????? ???? ?? ?????.

  48. Yasher Koach to Kolel Shmore Hachomos for doing the correct thing, despite knowing the baalei letzanus would hit at them.

  49. Reb Michoel Yechiel zt’l died a TZADDIK. Anyone, no matter what he previously did in his life, can die a Tzaddik.

    We can all learn this important lesson from Reb Michoel Yechiel.

  50. To bb #56
    Did you never hear of mitigating circumstances??
    We don’t excuse his act but there is a HUGE difference between a premeditated serial killer, and an epileptic, abused, orphaned kid.
    If you don’t grasp this, I suggest you take some psychology courses.

  51. he was a jew and he died a jew and he is our brother don’t matter what he did you want god should forgive you you gotta forgive him nobody is clean in this world so don’t be mkatrig
    our father sees all these comments and is crying why his kids can write such things on my child that came back to me clean and had all his years a hard life blease brothers and sisters take out a mishneyis and say just one paruk for his neshumah\

    thank you

  52. To #91
    That’s precisely why I believe psychology is a bunch of garbage. Always excusing everybody’s bad actions.

    And don’t tell me about his childhood. I come from a dysfuntional, abusive family and my childhood history has been one of abuse and pain. However I’m still accountable for my actions.

    I am not judging Martin Grossman, death is mechaper. I hope he is in Gan Eden now.

    What I am saying is, what message are we sending for our kids when we go all out for someone who took away somebody’s life? If someone wants to do something privately for his neshoma I understand , but all this publicity? My personal opinion is that it takes away from the horror of just the thought of murder. It makes it all understandable and while it might not affect you personally, I believe this has a huge impact on our kids, the way they view the whole concept of murder.

    Am I entitled to my opinion or am I a sonei Yisroel because of it?

  53. I am shocked by the intense hatred being displayed on this website towards Reb Michoel, a”h. What happened to loving a fellow Jew? To the ones who call themselves Frum Jews, you are over the issur of hating another Jew in your heart. So, I would not call you frum Jews but pseudo Jews.

  54. It seems many commenters are having difficulty differentiating between establishing a gemach for someone which serves as a merit for his soul, as opposed to glorifying someone’s memory e.g. naming a building after them.

  55. A person who was the biggest serial killer all his life can do teshuva at the last second of his life and be niftar as big of a tzadik as Rav Moshe Feinstein!

    Recognize the gadlus of Reb Michoel Yechiel ben Avrohom!

  56. TO 19 (Tanna Kamma): how about if people want to donate money anywhere as a zechus they donate it to an organization that deals with kids at risk, people with substance abuse problems, kiruv, etc. to ensure that no Jewish child goes down this trajectory again. (Suggestions include but are not limited to Projet YES, Friendship Circle, NCSY.)

    It is flabbergasting, and a sign of the time that we’re not trying to sweep this under the rug and be as low key as possible, even if feeling inner pain over the genuine human tragedy of MG’s life.

    I fear the possible chillul Hashem in how this step will be perceived, well meaning as those behind it may be.

  57. If the Bais Hamikdash and the Sanhedrein were around, Martin would get Misa! He commited one of the 3 cardinal sins! I don’t recall any Gemach made for Yeravam ben Nevat, Acheir, Achav, etc… They were all Yidden. What ever happened to the famous Ger Tzedek – Avraham ben Avraham? Never saw a gemach in his name! It’s all missplaced Rachmonus! The whole thing stinks! Such Tipshus! Kollel Shomrei Chomos has too much time on their hands!

  58. #79 & #91 and others: It was most definitely premeditated first degree murder. At 4 years old, he had a couple of seizures when hospitalized for pneumonia. That’s it. That does not make him an epileptic. While he didn’t have the easiest life growing up, he was not abused and he was not an orphan. In fact, he still has relatives alive.

    I wish people would stop repeating the lies about this case.

  59. you said “and if its not the entire nation who is hunted like in the times of Haman, then its an individual Yid today in Florida.”

    Surely such foolishness cannot come from a Jewish mouth.

  60. Dear #86: Kolel Chibas Yerushlayim and others are run by serious ballai dass, not by wild people who are out to make a easy buck without thinking about ethics in fund-raising.

  61. WHY DON’T THEY MAKE A GMACH LZECHER NISHMAS THE 2 LITTLE BOYS THAT WERE RUN OVER BY CARS/BUSSES THE LAST FEW WEEKS????? THERE ARE 100’s OF DESERVING PEOPLE TO HAVE GEMACHS NAMED AFTER MAYBE THE BORGER CHASSAN OR SHUA FINKELSTEIN. THIS IS SO DEPRAVED ITS BEYOND WORDS!!!!!

  62. To all commenters against the gemach,

    I emailed the Gemach organizationto express my support. Rabbi Shloma Mayer asked me to call him. After speaking with Rabbi Mayer, I was impressed by his sincerity in his deep concern of the hatred being displayed by fellow yidden. He was hurt and asked me to defend his gemach publicly.

    I mentioned to the Rabbi that some of the commenters questioned whether he asked Daas Torah before he established this fund, and he answered that he asked advice from a gadol.

    Everybody you have to chill out and try to see the good that has come from this whole sad story. Whether you believe this or not, Reb Michoel Yechiel, a’h, accomplished something that many of us will probably never do in our lifetime. He brought yidden from all over the world to come to together to help another yid. This was a big z’chus for his neshoma, and top it off he said SHEMA to the world which was a big Kiddush Hashem.

    We must stop hating and show rachmonus to others who didn’t have the same privileges many in the frum world have, B’A’H. He grew up with a very dysfunctional family, and got involved in terrible things. How can we not show mercy for this man’s soul? Isn’t that what Hashem wants from us? If Hashem can forgive Reb Michoel Yechiel, why can’t we? Isn’t it our mission in this world to try to emulate Him?

    I intend to send tzedaka to the fund, bli neder, in show of support. I hope many of you will do the same.

    I hope and pray that we will all be united as one people again. That there will be no more hatred and separation and there will be Ahavas Yisroel. May it happen now.

  63. Murder cannot be condoned, excused or ignored. Ahavas Yisroel means loving and caring your fellow Jew. It also means separating and condemning that which Hashem loathes. Murder, immorality and idolatry are not for us to excuse and forgive. Once we excuse such behavior and immortalize the criminals that use “tshuvah” in a last ditch effort to gain clemency, then we lose our right to be called a nation of Hashem. Instead we become a lawless society, where every criminal and every crime become acceptable. This is NOT what Hashem wants from us and this is not the message we should be conveying to our children. It was WRONG to get our children involved in the effort, it was WRONG to attack the Governor of Florida and the victim’s mother, and it is CERTAINLY WRONG to name a gemach in memory of Grossman. It is a desecration of the name of Rabbi Meir Baal Haness and a desecration of the name of Hashem. All that have been responsible for the mindless chillul hashem(the harrassment of Mrs. Parks and this gemach gimmick) need to do some serious introspection. May Hashem help all the Jewish people return to the Derech of Torah and may this be the end of the Chillul Hashem.

  64. How about a Gemach for Rabbi Meir Kahane Z”L, Rabbi Boruch Goldstein Z”L or Rav Shlomo Carlbach Z”L. They are definitely more worthy.

  65. Mr. Goldstein caused the death of Yidden in the rioting that followed his crazy act. Grossman caused no Jewish deaths, and is halachicly not guilty of murder — even prior to his teshuva.

    Reb Meir Baal Haness did the right thing.

  66. I’m just curious- are people saying that he was a tzadik because he put on tefilin? And what exaclty about his life was a kidush Hashem? Also- true- he did not kill a Jew, but we live in America and follow dina d’malchusa dina and even murdering a non- Jew is assur.

  67. I’m just curious- are people saying that he’s a tzadik because he put on tefilin? And what exactly about his life was a kiddush Hashem? And while it’s true that he did not murder a Jew we still live in America follow dina d’malchusa dina and murdering anyone (including a non-Jew) is asur.

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