Out of the Blue • Rebbe of Jaffa zt"l

Baruch Dayan Ha'emes: This morning the Rebbe Zeide Shmuel Shmelke Rosenbaum of Mabitshkov zt"l passed away suddenly at the age of 62, and was privileged to pass way on the yahrtzeit of the Noam Elimelech of Lezhinsk zy"a.

The Rebbe zt"l was feeling ill this morning and collapsed at his home in Jaffa suburb in Tel Aviv after the morning prayers.

Drive of Hatzala Gush Dan Arie Farkash who works near by, was called to the scene and began resuscitation and later was joined by an MDA Mobile Intensive Care Unit that determined his death.

Last night the Rebbe still held a Tish of Melaveh Malka at his Beis Midrash attended by Hassidim, and gave out wine for yeshua.

The Rebbe zt"l was born in Israel on fourteenth Teves 5712, to his father the Rebbe R' David Moshe of Kretchnif, of blessed memory, and his mother, Rebbetzin Esther Rachel A"H.

He built his home with his wife Rebbetzin Shoshana tichye, daughter of Hagaon Rabbi Moshe Ze'ev Friedman, Rabbi of Jaffa zt"l. Following the death of his father in law he founded his Beis Midrash in the neighborhood, which is a magnet for dozens of people who came close to Torah and fear of heaven thanks to his activity.

For thirty years the Rebbe led the community. On Shabbos yeshiva boys used to come to the place to be close to him.

He was a unique figure and a holy man, all the Arabs of Jaffa honored him, though initially they opposed his arrival. He always promised he would remain the only Jewish aspect of the place even though he had many offers to move to other haredi places to open a Beis Midrash.

The Rebbe was known as one who had great hakaras hatov (gratitude) and whoever helped its institutions, he always came to his simchas.

The Rebbe is the brother of the Rebbes of Kretchnif, Kretchnif Kiryat Gat, Premishlan and brother in law of Rebbe of Sasov.

He is survived by a blessed generation of nine children including his son Rabbi David Rosenbaum, Rav of Beis Midrash 'Hama'or' in Jaffa who will be nominated and crowned to act as his father as Rebbe.

His funeral will leave this afternoon at 16:00 from the Beis Midrash of Hassidei Bitshkov on 21 Lamartin Street, Jaffa - Tel Aviv via the Great Beis Midrash on 38 Sderot Yerushalayim Street and at 18:00 from Beis Midrash Kretchnif in Rechovot to the cemetery where he will be buried alongside his father the Rebbe zt"l.

May his soul be bound in the bond of life.

Shiva is at his Beis Midrash on 21 Lamartin Street, Jaffa - Tel Aviv.

Most recent photos: Yesterday at the Melaveh Malka tish in the Beis Midrash

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!