It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of Rav Shmuel Zvi Berkovicz zt”l, menahel of Yeshiva Ktana of Passaic and rov of Khal Yeraim of Passaic.
Rav Berkovicz had been ill for the past week with cellulitis and was hospitalized when his condition worsened despite the medication. While in the hospital he suffered a heart attack and his exalted neshama left this world at approximately 5:15 p.m. today.
A native of Toronto, Rav Berkovicz went on to learn in the Telshe Yeshiva of Cleveland and stayed on through kollel. He embarked on his chinuch career as a rebbi in Mosdos Ohr HaTorah of Cleveland and eventually went on to serve there as menahel. Approximately ten years ago, he moved to Passaic to become a menahel at the Yeshiva Ktana.
With his down-to-earth approach, compelling oratory and warm, heimishe personality, Rav Berkovicz was the natural candidate to serve as rov of the newly established nusach Sfard Khal Yeraim minyan on Main Street. He quickly emerged as the go-to person for advice and hadracha.
His rebbetzin, Mrs. Rochel (nee Brandwein) Berkovicz, served as a perfect partner in all Rav Shmuel’s avodas hakodesh both in Cleveland and later in Passaic. Together, they built a family of outstanding bnai torah who are suddenly bereft of their loving husband and father. The shocked and heartbroken Khal Yeraim summed up its feelings for their beloved rov in the simple e-mail that went out announcing the petira: “Baruch Dayan HaEmes. It can’t be true”.
The levayah will take place tomorrow, Thursday, at 10 a.m. at Ohel Yosef (Yeshiva Ktana Boys’ Building). Due to very limited parking, please do not come by car if at all possible.
The Levaya will also be broadcast live at https://livestream.com/midabri
Dial-in number: (425) 436-6365, access code: 506414
Kevurah will follow at the Congregation Sons of Israel Cemetery, located at 613 Ramsey Street, Lakewood, NJ.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com}
BDE, Such a Romemusdik person.
Since he came to Passaic not a day went by that I didn’t see him where he did not have a smile on his face. יהי זכרו ברוך
BD’E
By the way the shul is on Main Avenue. There is no Main Street in Passaic.
Right it’s on the same street as Kosher Connections
Baruch Dayan HaEmes! I had the zechus to spend a Shabbos with his kehilla in Passaic a few years ago, and I was so moved by his sincere erlichkeit and humility. He was demanding from his oilem to grow in their avodas Hashem in a ne’imusdik way and you can see how they all loved him. May they, his talmidim and family find chizuk and we should only hear besuros tovos.
Baruch Dayan Haemes!
May the family have a nechama!
Baruch Dayan Haemes huge loss
I have fond memories of him as menahel when in was in Cheider. He was such a nice man, one of the few rabbeim I would always respect.
A very caring Menahel – treated everyone, no matter their age and background with respect. Yehi Zichro Boruch
What a loss for Passaic, in general, and Yeshiva Ketana, in particular. He was a mechanech who invested tremendous effort into really getting into the psyche of each child. I sometimes felt that he was one of the few Rabbeim who truly understood my son, and I know many people felt the same way.
Such a sweet and humble man. He dealt with us on numerous occasions with patience, warmth, and respect and was a great Yoetz and madrich in chinuch. Baruch Dayan Haemes.
A truly special and wonderful person. A model talmid of his choshuva rebbeim and R”Y in Telshe. R’ Shmilu was never without a smile and a good word for everyone. You always left his presence feeling better about yourself!
תנצב”ה
R’ Shmeelu ZTZL.. Only needs one line on his Matzievah
הוי מקבל את כל האדם בסבר פנים יפות
A terrible loss for Klal Yisroel!
Harav R’ Shmeelu ZTZL.. Only needs one line on his Matzievah
הוי מקבל את כל האדם בסבר פנים יפות
A terrible loss for Klal Yisrael!
Yehi zichro boruch.
Does anyone know how to see a recording of the levayah? I clicked on the link for the livestream but there doesn’t seem to be a way to replay it. Thank you.
Clevelander, go to the bottom of the page the link sends you too and press watch again
bde great man