It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rabbi Shalom Fischer zt”l. He was 65.
Rabbi Fischer, one of the most noted Chassidim of Erlau, had battled serious illness for the past two years.
He was born on the 3rd of Iyar. His father was the late Rabbi Shimshon Fischer.
He was orphaned when his father died while on the way to his older brother’s wedding in London. He was just 7.
Later, he saw much blessing and success in his business, and he contributed his fortune to the world of Torah and Chassidus, mostly devoting his time and money to orphans.
He was connected heart and soul to the Rebbe of Erlau, the Imri Sofer of Erlau and the current Rebbe, and even was meshadeich with the Rebbe’s family when his eldest daughter married the grandson of the late Rebbe.
According to Calcalist, his fortune was estimated at more than a billion shekels.
He started his business career with a restaurant in Tel Aviv, then later at the Ner Tzion candle factory, and later at Palace Industries for disposable utensils and similar products.
In the early 2000s, he met businessman Matthew Bronfman and the two teamed up to acquire control of Blue Square and the Mega chain together with Dudi Weissman and Shraga Biran. The partnership did not last long, and Fisher and Bronfman sold their shares in Blue Square in January 2007. Two months later, the two purchased 19.8% of the shares in Shufersal and the chareidi chain Yesh, and controlled the marketing chain alongside Nochi Dankner. They sold the shares after about a decade at a large profit.
Bronfman and Rabbi Fisher acquired IKEA Israel from the Co-op chain in 2005. The company then included one branch in Netanya and has since expanded to six branches, with the seventh to be established in Ashdod. The company’s revenue is estimated at NIS 1.7 billion per year.
For the past week, he was hospitalized in intensive care at Laniado, where he was anesthetized and respirated.
He leaves behind nine children and many descendants who continue his path of charity and kindness.
The levayah was held yesterday at his home at 3 Rechov Harav Rozovsky in Bnei Brak and at the Erlau Bais Midrash in Katamon. Kevurah took place on Har Hamenuchos.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com Israel}
