The Honorable R’ Yaakov Menachem (Jerome) Feller z”l

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of the Honorable R’ Yaakov Menachem (Jerome) Feller z”l. He was 80 years old.

Raised in Coney Island, Brooklyn, Judge Feller was a son of R’ Zev (Willie) and Bessie Feller, pioneers of Yiddishkeit in that section of New York City.

As a young man, Judge Feller attended Mesivta of Brighton and then Gur Aryeh. He continued on at Yeshivas Rabbeinu Yitzchok Elchonon/YU, where he learned under Rav Yoshe Ber Soloveitchik. He then learned at Mesivta Tiferes Yerushalayim, where he received semicha from the posek hador, Rav Moshe Feinstein, who later served as his mesader kiddushin.

He married his wife, Nechama (Davis), and ultimately entered the field of law. He later became a federal bankruptcy judge in New York, appointed to that post during the Reagan administration.

In his role as a frum federal judge – one of the few yarmulka-wearing Jews to hold such a position – Judge Feller was mekadeish Sheim Shomayim in all he did. His interactions with others were marked by his kind words and thoughtful comments for one and all, while he demonstrated steadfast adherence to the derech haTorah.

Judge Feller lived for decades on Mador Court in Far Rockaway, where he was a longtime neighbor of the famed menahel of Yeshiva Derech Ayson of Far Rockaway, Rav Ahron Brafman. Judge Feller maintained a close kesher with Yeshiva Derech Ayson and its hanhalah.

He was a longtime member of the White Shul, Congregation Knesset Israel in Far Rockaway, forging a close kesher with the rov, Rav Raphael Pelcovitz, and later Rav Eytan Feiner.

Mrs. Nechama Feller passed away approximately twenty years ago. Judge Feller remarried to Mrs. Miriam Olshin of Lawrence, who was an extraordinarily devoted eizer kenegdo during their 19+ years of marriage.

Judge Feller is survived by his wonderful family: his children, R’ Nesanel Feller, Rabbi Yosef Feller, Mrs. Rucky Lesin, and Mrs. Temyma Klein, and many grandchildren; and his sister, Mrs. Reyna Hisiger.

The levayah will be held tomorrow, Wednesday, January 19, at 9:30 a.m., at Boulevard-Riverside Chapels, located at 1450 Broadway in Hewlett, NY. The levayah can be viewed live at https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/5572442044.

Kevurah will follow at Mount Judah Cemetery, located at 81-14 Cypress Avenue in Ridgewood.

The family will be sitting shivah until Tuesday morning, January 25, at the home of Nesanel and Dena Feller at 50 Broadway in Lawrence (Shacharis: Thursday – Tuesday: 7:30 am, Sunday: 8:00 am. Minchah/Maariv: 4:45 pm, Friday: Minchah Gedolah 1:30 pm).

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}