YWN regrets to inform you of the tragic petirah of Rabbi Menachem (Mendy) Raitport z”l, who was niftar on Tuesday in a devastating car accident while traveling on I-95 in Georgia. He was just 57 years old. Rabbi Raitport, a longtime resident of Crown Heights, was returning home from Florida with one of his sons when the accident occurred. Miraculously, his son escaped serious injury. Born, raised, and educated in Brooklyn, Rabbi Raitport was a respected figure in the Lubavitch community, known not only for his yiras Shamayim and devotion to Torah and mitzvos, but also for his deep expertise in halacha, especially in the intricate laws of shechita. For many years, he operated a butcher shop on Kingston Avenue, providing kosher meat to the kehilla with the utmost standards of kashrus and care. Beyond his professional pursuits, Rabbi Raitport was deeply devoted to community service. A proud father and grandfather, he invested tremendous energy into helping others—whether through his work as an EMT, his role in community emergency response, or his frequent involvement in acts of quiet chesed. He was never one to seek honor or recognition, but those who knew him could attest to his unwavering sense of responsibility to his fellow Yid. He also brought that same passion to the public sphere, running for public office multiple times under the Conservative Party banner, determined to be a voice for values, integrity, and the needs of the local community. His campaigns were fueled not by politics, but by a sincere belief that the Torah perspective belonged in the halls of power, advocating for better education, safer neighborhoods, and fairer treatment of small businesses and families. Rabbi Raitport came from a family steeped in chesed. His parents, Rabbi and Mrs. Y. Raitport, were known for their activism and generosity in both local and international Jewish causes. This spirit of service ran deep in Rabbi Menachem’s veins. His sister is married to Rabbi Moshe Rotberg, mara d’asra of Khal Zichron Yechezkel in Toms River, New Jersey. He is survived by his devoted wife, children, grandchildren, siblings, and countless friends and community members who are heartbroken by this sudden loss. Baruch Dayan Ha’Emes. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)