Profiles of the Satmar Niftarim

Reb Yitzchak Rosenberg was born in Bnei Brak. He was one of America's largest supplier of building materials. Reb Yitzchak Parness was a successful diamond dealer and was mugged half a year ago in Miami.

The tragic drowning of Reb Yitzchak Rosenberg z"l and Reb Chaim Parness z"l has shaken up Satmar.

Harav Yitzchak Rosenberg was 68. He was born in Bnei Brak to his father Reb Tzvi z"l. He was a Munkatcher Chassid and was close to the Minchas Elazar zt"l.

When he was a young bachur his parents moved to America, a common occurrence back in those days just after the establishment of the State of Israel, when many Satmar Chassidim moved to the U.S. to be closer to the "Devrei Yoel" zt"l.

Shortly after his marriage, Reb Yitzchak entered the work force and established a company that sold wood to contractors.

Reb Yitzchak was blessed with success and over the years began to expand his business to supply other building materials as well. His business eventually became one of the largest suppliers of building materials in America.

Dozens of Satmar Chassidim are employed in his business. "Every time he needed to hire someone he would first check if there was an avreich looking for work who was able to fill the job opening- and gave him the job.

He was a member of the Beirach Moshe's inner circle. At first he was appointed to the administration of the Satmar Mosdos in the diaspora, and then he was a member of the Mosdos Yetav Lev in Eretz Yisrael.

Just a few months ago he donated 1 milion dollars to the Satmar Shabbos in Meron.


He built Beis Medresh Heichal Rosenberg in Kiryat Yoel, Monroe. Heichal Rosenberg is a Beis Medresh with 1,000 seats- used exclusively for learning.

Two years ago he was appointed Rosh Kahal of Yetav Lev Satmar after the death of the previous Rosh Kahal.

He would come to Eretz Yisrael once a year to spend a Shabbos with his close friends in Meron. He did not put on any airs and slept on a simple 60 centimeter mattress on those special Shabbasos.

It's likely that he will be buried next to his father in Har Hazeisim.

Harav Chaim Parness z"l was 65. He was a diamond dealer. He was close to the Satmar Rebbe and gave generously to all the Rebbe's Tzedakos.

He was a warm person with a good heart who gave everything he had to help others. His house was always open and was koveih eitim near his workplace.

The Rav was a grandson of the Admor of Stropkov and the nephew of the Admor in Eretz Yisrael. His father Harav Hatzadik Reb Yisreal Parness was a grandson was a grandson of the Harav Hatzadik Reb Shalom M'Stropkov zt"l.

He was close to the Satmar Rebbe the Beirach Moshe and moved to Kiryat Yoel when the Beirach Moshe was appointed Rav of Kiryat Yoel.

He recently opened a Beis Medresh in the city of Stropkov and dedicated a matzeivah for the kedoshei Stropkov.

About 6 months ago he was mugged in Miami. $35,000 was stolen from him at that time and told his family, "I am so thankful that I survived. Your life cannot be replaced (but money comes and goes)".

His levaya will be at 10:00 at the Stropkov Beis Medresh in Monroe.


Itzik Man contributed tothis article

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!