Margot Friedländer, one of the oldest Holocaust survivors in the world, was niftar this past week in her hometown of Berlin at the age of 103. Friedländer, née Bendheim, was born in Berlin in 1921 and survived the Holocaust after losing her mother and brother in Auschwitz. Her mother’s final words, “Try to make your life,” became a guiding principle for Friedländer in the decades that followed. She was captured in hiding at age 21 and deported to Theresienstadt, where she met her future husband, Adolph Friedländer, also a survivor. The couple moved to New York in 1946 and lived there for over 60 years. After her husband’s passing, she made the remarkable decision to return to Berlin in 2010 to dedicate her life to Holocaust education and remembrance.

The young man who was killed in a boat accident off the coast of Eilat on Wednesday evening was Levi Yitzchak Leizerowitz, z’l, a 21-year-old resident of Tiveria. The niftar, a member of the Breslov community in Tiveria, is survived by his parents, his wife, and a one-year-old daughter. As a teen, he attended the Migdal Ohr institutions of HaGaon HaRav Dovid Grossman in Migdal HaEmek. He grew very close to HaRav Grossman and maintained a close relationship with him. Nine others were injured in the incident, two moderately and seven lightly. The police said that the boat overturned after it made a sharp turn at high speed, causing all 12 passengers to be thrown in the water. A witness said that none of the passengers were wearing life jackets and some fell under the boat’s engine.

(By his daughter, originally published in Hamodia) On the words in Avos (4:13), “V’kesser shem tov oleh al gabeihen”, Rabbeinu Yonah writes that the purpose of coming to this world is to acquire a shem tov, and when someone leaves this world with a shem tov, “yismechu alav krovav vohavav,” his relatives and friends will rejoice with him. My father, Reb Shimon Betzalel Edelstein, zt”l, has a glorious reputation as a gaon batorah, mushlam in middos, and baal chessed mufla. His shem tov is recognized by all who knew him, whether from yeshiva, shul, neighborhood, or the business world. It is difficult to try and find a frame of reference for my father. He was much greater than the sum of his parts.

Many in Bnei Brak are in shock after learning of the sudden passing of R’ Avraham Leibush Levi z”l, a well-known figure in the city and a prominent volunteer with Yedidim, Ichud, Zaka, Shomrim and many other Chesed organizations. He was 35. Sources tell YWN that he suddenly collapsed at home and was Niftar. In Bnei Brak, R’ Avraham was known as an extraordinary man of kindness, always eager to assist others. Anyone in need of help would call him, and he made himself available 24 hours a day to everyone. Many knew him where he worked at Kalman’s Deli in Bnei Brak, where he served customers with dedication and loyalty.

YWN regrets to inform you of the Petira of Mrs. Chaya Gutfrab A”H, the wife of Reb Yossele Gutfrab, a prominent and well-known figure in the Zichron Moshe Beis Midrash in Yerushalayim. She was 68. Mrs. Gutfrab was renowned for her exceptional Hachnosas Orchim and Chesed, and was well known by many American Yeshiva Bochrim. Born on the 22nd of Kislev, 5717 (1956) in Yerushalayim, Mrs. Gutfrab was the daughter of Rabbi Eliyahu Yehuda Lubetzky Z”L. She was known to Daven with deep Kavanah for her sons, daughters, family, and the entire Klal Yisroel, serving as an extraordinary example of modesty in her dress and conduct. She shunned worldly pleasures, and her words of wisdom and ethical teachings were likened to pearls and precious gems.

A terribly car accident on Tuesday night claimed the life of Rabbi Shneur Zalman Oirechman z”l, a Chabad shliach and marbitz torah in northern Eretz Yisroel. He was just 33 years old. The niftar, a ben aliyah with a lev tov, was raised assisting his father, Rabbi Moshe Shmuel Oirechman yb”l, the Rosh HaShluchim of the Krayot area, Rav of Beis Knesses Shaarei Moshe in Kiryat Yam, and a prominent askan serving as chairman of the Vaad Kesivas Sefer Torah Kloli. From a young age, Shneur Zalman z”l was known for his Ahavas Yisroel, bringing chizzuk and simchas haTorah to countless Yidden. Whether through his efforts in the Sefer Torah Hakloli, his harbotzas haChassidus, or simply his warm smile that lit up any room, he was a true oved Hashem.

YWN regrets to inform you of the sudden Petira of HaRav Yitzchok Spitzer Z”L, a distinguished Dayan in Skver and a prominent Mohel, who was Niftar suddenly on Tuesday afternoon at the age of 68. Harav Yitzchok Spitzer Z”L was widely revered for his deep knowledge of Halacha and unwavering dedication to Limud HaTorah. Known throughout the Skverer Kehilla and beyond, his halachic rulings were marked by clarity, depth, and sensitivity, even in the most complex situations. His decades as a Dayan and Mohel touched the lives of countless families. Tragedy struck Tuesday morning while the Niftar Z”L was inspecting a mikvah in a private home on Lincoln Avenue in New Square. He was found unconscious at the scene.

YWN regrets to inform you of the petira of Reb Dovid Wolpin Z”L, the Niftar was critically injured after being struck by a vehicle on the evening of Thursday, February 27th, near Saddle River Road and Lanzut Court. He was 81 years old. As previously reported by Monsey Scoop, emergency personnel from Hatzoloh EMS and the Ramapo Police Department responded swiftly to the scene. Reb Dovid Z”L was transported by Rockland Hatzoloh to Westchester Medical Center with paramedics on board. Tragically, despite all medical efforts and the heartfelt tefillos of Klal Yisroel, Reb Dovid Wolpin Z”L was niftar on Tuesday morning. He was known as a humble and ehrliche Yid, dedicated to Torah, tefillah, and chessed. His loss is deeply felt by his family, friends, and all who knew him.

Rebbetzin Hendel Kaplan, a”h, a daughter of HaGaon HaRav Meshulam Dovid Halevi Soloveitchik, zt”l, and wife of HaRav Nechemia Kaplan, shlit”a, one of the gedolei marbitzei Torah in Eretz Yisroel was niftar on Monday night at the age of 68 following a prolonged illness. The levaya took place at her home on Rechov Yosef Ziv in Yerushalayim, leading to her kevurah in Har HaMenuchos. Rebbetzin Kaplan, a scion of Torah royalty, was born on Lamed Nissan 5717 (1957) into one of the most illustrious families of gedolei Yisroel. She was the daughter of HaRav Dovid Soloveitchik zt”l, the Rosh Yeshiva of Brisk, and the granddaughter of HaRav Yitzchok Ze’ev Soloveitchik, zt”l, the Brisker Rov. Her yichus extends back to Rav Chaim Brisker, the son of the famed Beis Halevi, zt”l.

Klal Yisroel was shattered on Motzei Shabbos as the devastating news of the petirah of a mother and her two young daughters R”L, who were tragically niftar in a horrific crash on Shabbos afternoon in Flatbush. The levaya for Natasha (Sara) Saada A”H, and her precious daughters, Diana (7) A”H and Debra (5) A”H, will take place on Sunday at 4:30 PM at Shomrei Hadas Chapels, located at 14th Avenue and 38th Street in Boro Park. The tragedy unfolded on Shabbos afternoon when a vehicle, operated by Miriam Yarimi, 32, plowed into the young mother and her daughters on Ocean Parkway near Quentin Road.