It is with much regret we inform you of the Petirah of longtime Lakewood Askan and community activist Reb Pinchos Gershon (PG) Waxman Z”L. After contracting COVID-19, Reb PG suffered other complications, and was unfortunately Niftar this afternoon at Jersey Shore University Medical Center. Reb PG was renowned for his Chesed and Tzedakah in a quiet way, and was a beloved friend to thousands around Lakewood and beyond. He resided in the 14th Street area. “PG was brilliant, with a heart of gold. His love was his Divrei Torah he wrote every week, and he was a real example of what it means to serve the Tzibuur,” a neighbor and longtime friend of Reb PG told TLS.

Hagaon HaRav Yonah Reuven Turchin, z’tl, the Rosh Yeshivah of Yeshivas Ha’Granat in Ramat Shlomo and the Rav of Yehud, was niftar from the coronavirus at the age of 72 on Shabbos Kodesh. HaRav Turchin was the son of Hagaon HaRav Nissin Turchin, z’tl, a mekurav of the Chazon Ish who founded Kollel Ohr Yitzchak and served as the Rav of Yehud. After his father’s death, HaRav Turchin moved Ohr Yitzchak to Ramat Shlomo in Jerusalem and changed the name to Yeshivas Hagranat (‘הגרנ”ט’) after his father. He tailored the yeshivah for struggling bochurim, saving countless bochurim from the street.

HaRav Chaim Shmuel Shternkuker, a well-known Kretchnif Chassid was Niftar on Wednesday in Mayanei Hayeshua Hospital in Bnei Brak due to complications from COVID-19. He was 71. The Niftar was born to Rav David and Sarah Shternkuker and lived in Bnei Brak. He studied under the Rebbe, HaRav David Moshe of Kretchnif and stayed a part of the inner circle of son the current Rebbe. For years, Rav Chaim worked as a Chazzan in the Diaspora as well as a sofer for the Beis Din of Tel Aviv, as well as a Sofer Stam. He served as one of the Gabbaim for the Kretchnif Bais Midrash on HaRav Cutler Street in Bnei Brak. The Niftar left behind a lot of descendants including Rav Michael Shernkuker, who works as the Shamash of the Premishlaner Rebbe, among many other worthy descendants.

Hagaon HaRav Yehoshua Heschel Brim, the Rosh Yeshiva of the Bohush Chassidus Yeshiva was Niftar on Wednesday in Laniado hospital in Netanya due to complications from COVID-19. He was 84. The Niftar was born in Yerushalayim to HaRav Moshe Brim, and served for many years as a maggid Shiur and then Rosh Yeshiva in Yeshivas Tiferes Yisroel of the Boyan Chassidus then in Bohush, where he taught many Talmidim there. He was well known to be a great talmid chacham, who kept himself with much Anivus and connected with every person on their own level based on where they were coming from, without any derision. HaRav Yehoshua became ill a month ago when he tested positive with COVID-19. Since that time, his health took a sharp downward turn and he was hospitalized in Laniado hospital.

A midwife who works at Mayanei Hayeshua Hospital in Bnei Brak was Niftar on Wednesday after she contracted COVID-19. Family members of the deceased claim that she contracted the virus while working in the hospital. According to the report which was published by IDF radio, the Charedi midwife protected herself adequately during every shift, but she was likely infected by one of the other staff members at the hospital. The midwife was 64-years-old and contracted the disease a few weeks ago. She was intubated and sedated and was in very serious condition until today when she passed away. According to the hospital, there is no way to tell for certain where she contracted the virus, but they do not discount the possibility that she got it while working at the hospital.

Hagaon HaRav Avraham Yaakov Tzeller, z’tl, of Bnei Brak, one of the most chashuve members of the Ruzhin-Sadigura chassidus, a Marbitz Torah, a Baki in Halacha, and mechaber sefarim passed away suddenly at the age of 55 on Sunday. Rav Tzeller contracted the coronavirus during the first wave in Israel in April and had already fully recovered, according to a B’Chadrei Chareidim report. However, on Motzei Shabbos he began feeling ill and went to Terem [an emergency care clinic] to be checked out. He ended up being evacuated by a mobile intensive care unit to Mayanei HaYeshua Hospital where he collapsed and died hours later.

YWN regrets to inform you of the Petira of HaRav of Reb Yosef Weiss Z”L, the beloved Menahel at Yeshiva Shagas Aryeh in Lakewood, and the author of multiple books, most notably the popular “Visions of Greatness” series. He was 59. The Niftar previously served as the head Yeshiva Ruach Hatorah, and in earlier years was the English principal in Satmar and other Yeshivas. Rav Yosef Z”L suffered from an illness the past year, and was suddenly Niftar Wednesday morning. The Levaya will be taking held today at 1:30PM in the Lake Terrace parking lot. Levaya Live Stream: Call-in: 857-356-3300, or 612-398-0330. Boruch Dayan HaEmmes…

HaRav Moshe Rochberger ZT”L, one of the Rabbonim of Haifa, passed away on Sunday in Shaare Zedek Hospital in Jerusalem. HaRav Rochberger was one of the talmidim of Maran Hagaon HaRav Elyashiv ZT”L. He was born 83 years ago during the Second World War in Europe. At the end of the war, his family moved to Israel and settled in Haifa. As a child, The Niftar learned in a local cheder and entered Ponevezh at the age of 14. He later studied in the Hebron Yeshiva until he got married and once again moved back to Haifa. He became the Rov of the Bat Galim neighborhood of the city at the age of 26 and was considered to be the youngest community Rov in Israel.

The Satmar community was in mourning on Friday, when word spread of the Petira of their beloved Rosh Hakuhal in Williamsburg. Reb Meyer Rispler Z”L (70), served as the Rosh Hakuhal (President) of the Satmar Kehillah in Williamsburg (Chassidim of Rav Aharon Teitelbaum Shlita). He contracted COVID-19 in late September, and was hospitalized. He was then placed on a ventilator, and R”L never recovered. The Niftar was a tremendous Baal Chesed and Baal Tzedakah, and was the CEO of a large accounting firm, Mayer Rispler & Co. His Chesed was far reaching, helping Tzedakos and Mosdos around the world that didn’t necessarily have any affiliation with Satmar.

YWN regrets to inform you of the Petira of the Glogover Rebbe, HaRav Aryeh Leibish Rubin ZATZAL. He was 67. The Rebbe contracted COVID-19 in March, and was hospitalized and placed on a ventilator at the time. He unfortunately never recovered, was placed on dialysis, and was in and out of the hospital. He was Niftar at his home on Friday morning. The Rebbe served as a Menahel at the Spinka Cheder in Boro Park for more than 40 years. The Levaya was held on Friday morning at his Bais Medrash on 1814 55th Street. Boruch Dayan HaEmmes… (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)