The Gerrer Chassidus mourns the passing of Reb Yechiel Menachem Mendel Hertz z”l, one of its most venerable and distinguished chassidim of Ger, who passed away at the age of ninety-nine. He was niftar at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Yerushalayim.
Reb Mendel, as he was affectionately known, was born in Poland to his father, Rav Yitzchok z”l, and his mother, Mrs. Chana Leah a”h. He was among the few remaining chassidim who carried direct memories of prewar Poland and was the last living Gerrer chossid who had actually traveled to the Beis Medrash of Gur in Poland during his youth, a nesiah that remained etched in his heart for life.
In the Gerrer community, there are still several elderly chassidim who recall seeing the Imrei Emes zt”l during his final years in Yerushalayim . But Reb Mendel was unique. He alone had merited to travel to Gur itself in Poland before the war. He would often reminisce with deep yearning about those sacred days and the luminous atmosphere that surrounded the Rebbe and his chassidim.
A man of great modesty and deep scholarship, Reb Mendel devoted his life to Torah study, constantly producing original insights in learning. He was known to avoid public attention and would never speak of his age or personal past. Out of humility and fear of the ayin hara, he also refused to be photographed.
When reporters from Hamodia sought to interview him, Reb Mendel firmly declined, maintaining his lifelong discretion and humility. Within the Gerrer community, he was revered as a relic of an earlier, purer generation.
The levayah took place on Friday, beginning at the Sanhedria Funeral Home and continuing to Har Tamir in Har Hamenuchos for kevurah.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com}
