It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of Rabbi Yaakov Eliezer Friedrich zt”l, one of the eldest Lubavitcher Chassidim. He lived in Antwerp, Belgium, and passed away at the age of 102.
R’ Yankel was abandoned by his father at the age of 6 and was raised by a Catholic peasant. After many challenges, he was adopted by the Belgian Jewish community and raised in a Torah environment.
In his memoirs, “By the Hand of Hashem,” he describes how he escaped the German blitzkrieg in Antwerp and faced much danger, trials and tribulations with faith in Hashem and great mesiras nefesh. He miraculously survived the war and moved to Belgium, where he rebuilt his life.
R’ Yankel dealt in diamonds, and also was a longtime educator, specifically in the Chabad Cheder and Mesivta in Belgium.
He was authorized by the Belgian government to teach Holocaust history in their school system.
R’ Yankel was a crucial figure in helping to revive Belgian and Holland Jewry after World War II. He traveled extensively throughout Holland and Belgium to give shiurim be mashpiah. Thousands became baalei teshuvah and were brought closer to their Jewish heritage through his hashpaah.
He also traveled around Holland and Belgium, working to help shluchim get started in various locations.
He is survived by his children, Mrs. Adler, Mrs. Goldman, Mrs. Hickson, and R’ Avrumi Friedrich, and grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his son, Yisroel Friedrich.
The levavah was held in Antwerp.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com}