It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of Rav Yosef Meir Hakohein Kantor zt”l, rov of the Agudas Yisroel shul on Remsen Avenue in Monsey, NY.
Rav Kantor was a member of an elite chaburah of talmidei chachomim at the kollel of Bais Medrash Elyon in Monsey and subsequently served as mashgiach at Bais Medrash Elyon before becoming rov in the Agudah Shul.
Rav Kantor was a venerated tzaddik and talmid chochom who spent his life fully immersed in the service of Hashem. He was a popular maggid shiur, whose shiurim have appeared on Kol Halashon and elsewhere. In addition to being marbitz Torah for decades, Rav Kantor was sought after for his hadracha, his wise counsel, and his brachos, which were known for leading to much-needed yeshuos.
Kind, gentle and soft-spoken, Rav Kantor’s anivus and pashtus often camouflaged the exaltedness of this angel of a man.
Rav Kantor endured a number of nisyonos and challenges during his lifetime, including the petirah of his beloved son, Rabbi Yonason Efraim Kantor zt”l, who passed away five years ago at the age of 54.
Rav Kantor is survived by his devoted wife, Rebbetzin Chana Kantor, and his children and grandchildren.
Yehi zichro boruch.
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BDE.
What can we say, an ish shalem mamash!
I hope someone can let everyone know about this hidden tzaddik.
May his mishpacha have a full nechama, and let all of klal yisroel follow in his way.
What a huge loss. A true Eved Hashem, on the caliber of previous generations. Mi yiten lanu temuraso…
What a true tzaddik
BDE
A tremendously holy man
What a loss
We looked forward to his amazing smile every Friday night when we went to say good shabbos after davening. He loved it even more when we children came over.
Harav Kantor was very helpful to me and my brother when we were saying Kaddish. The Rav always made sure we had a place to sit and made sure that wr were never uncomfortable.
I remember his davening.
A plain weekday mariv was like a Yom Kipur tefilah.
What a holy man he was. As kid we davened in the Agudah shul where R Kantor was the Rav. He reminded people of what the Chofetz Chaim probably conducted himself like. Just a wholesome Jew in every possible way.
A. B.
I received much Chizuk from his Mussar Schmoozen in Mesifta Bais Dovid in 1982. When I approached him with a Halacha Shailah, he didn’t just answer Muttar/ assur. He said “Come let’s look up the Halachah together”, and we went through the Sugya together until I got clarity in the Inyan. Y’hei Zichro Boruch!! Ubilah Hamoves lonetzach.
We lost the true Kadosh A Heylega gadol BDE
true zchus to watch this angelic man daven. He was beyond holy!
BDE. The virus is hitting closer and closer home. I used to learn in his Dirshu chabura. A true anav, a distinguished product of Beis Midrash Elyon in Monsey, and close to the gedolim of his time.
ת.נ.צ.ב.ה
Who can forget every time he was stopped on the street and asked for a brocho, how he would spread his hands and do the full birchas kohanim. We would time our walk each Shabbos to shul especially so we can meet him on his way to the Agudah. He never looked out of his 4 Amos. When we approached, he was always the first one to greet us. Boruch HaShem my son’s and I were zoche to receive many brochos from him. He was like the chofetz chaim in our generation.
He was from the cream of the crop of BME
A giant in middos whose caring and warmth was electrifying.
Thank you for your heartfelt words about my father Zatzal.
An email address was set up so that we can perpetuate his memory. We would appreciated hearing from everyone who has zichronos about him.
[email protected]
Yehi Zichro Boruch.