YWN regrets to inform you of the Petira of Reb Moshe Handelsman Z”L, longtime Executive Director of the Mirrer Yeshiva in Flatbush. He was in his high 90’s. The Niftar was a Holocaust survivor who joined the Hanhalah of the Mirrer Yeshiva during the early days of the Yeshiva in the United States under the leadership of HaRav Avrohom Kalmanowitz Zt”l and later his son HaRav Shraga Moshe Kalmanowitz Zt”l. With great Mesiras Nefesh, he assisted the Yeshiva in raising significant sums of money to help the Yeshiva grow. He retired from his position in the early 1990’s after more than 40 years. Rav Handelsman lost his first wife many years ago, and later remarried Mrs Yehudis Hirsch, the wife of the late Rav Avrohom Hirsch zt”l of Pe’iylim (of Boro Park).

A 23-year-old bochur from Williamsburg was tragically killed in a snowmobiling accident on Sunday afternoon. Kalman Sofer z”l was snowmobiling in Lowville, New York when the machine he was riding struck a tree, critically injuring the young man. He was rushed to Lewis General Hospital where he tragically succumbed to his injuries. Misaskim is currently working with local and state authorities to ensure kavod hameis. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

We regret to inform you of the petirah of Rebbetzin Chava Hecht, the wife of Rabbi JJ Hecht and matriarch of a large family, who passed away on Tuesday, 7 Adar. She was 95. Among her many accomplishments, she founded Camp Emunah for girls in 1953 and served as its director for 70 years until her passing. She was looked up to as “the mommy of us all” by tens of thousands of campers. She is survived by her children, Rabbi Shalom B. Hecht, Bassie Raskin, Fraide Sabol, Rabbi Yossi Hecht, Rabbi Shea Hecht, Dovid Sabol, Rivky Abramowitz, Chana Rochel Duchman, Levi Hecht and Rabbi Shimon Hecht. She is also survived by her sister Mrs. Tzippa Goldberg. She was predeceased by her son Rabbi Gershon Sabol, and her brother Rabbi Tzvi Moshe Lasker.

We regret to inform you of the petirah of Rabbi Dr. Harvey Schwartz, who was niftar Tuesday evening at home in Yerushalayim. Dr. Schwartz He was a longtime member of the Woodmere community, where he served as baal koreh for many years before moving to Eretz Yisroel. He was a close confidante of HaRav Moshe Feinstein zt”l, and was a legendary advocate for the Jewish community, and was notably the driving force behind Jewish schoolchildren having busing available to them. A close friend of United Hatzalah founder Eli Beer, Dr. Schwartz was the president of the Leo Berger Fund in conjunction with United Hatzalah.

Yidden around the globe are reeling after hearing the tragic news of the untimely death of HaChassan Yaakov Yitchak Grossinger, z’l, at the young age of 23, overnight Tuesday. The niftar was hospitalized several days ago after suffering from pneumonia. Yaakov Yitzhak, z’l, was engaged to be married to the daughter of the famed badchan Yoely Lebowitz, the son of the Nickelsburg Rebbe from Monsey. Tragically, this is the second searing tragedy for the family, as the Rebbe’s son, Reb Baruch Yehudah Leibowitz, z’l, passed away in Israel only two weeks ago. The Niftar is the son of Mr. Hershy and Mrs. Breindy Grossinger of Boro Park. He was currently learning in the Geldztzaler Chabura in the Mir Yerushalayim. The Levaya was held on Wednesday afternoon in Yerushalayim.

Tragedy struck the London Jewish community, when word spread of the tragic Petira of one of the community members. Rabbi Meir Leifer Z”L, a 54-year-old chasidish resident of London was found unresponsive near a Stamford Hill shul after suffering a massive heart attack on the street. The London Ambulance Service responded to the scene and attempted to revive him, and were assisting by doctors as well as Hatzola members. Sadly, their efforts were tragically in vain. Rabbi Leifer is survived by his wife and children, including a son and daughter who are both engaged to be married. Boruch Dayan HaEmmes… (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A 91-year-old Israeli woman who was critically wounded by a Hamas rocket attack last May died Sunday from complications from her injuries, her family said. Naomi Pearlman, a Holocaust survivor originally from Poland, was injured when a rocket struck her home in the southern city of Ashkelon during Operation Guardian of the Walls last May. The blast killed her Indian caregiver, and both of Pearlman’s legs were amputated after the blast. Her son, Shuki, told the state-run Kan broadcaster that his mother had been hospitalized since the rocket attack. “She survived the Holocaust, raised a wonderful family,” he said. “If there was anyone who deserved to be called the ultimate survivor, it was her.” (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem & AP)

Tragedy befell the Manhattan Beach Jewish community on Shabbos afternoon, when the 99-year-old gabbai of the Manhattan Beach Jewish Center was R”L struck and killed by a vehicle as he crossed the street. Mr. Jack Mikulincer Z”L was heading to shul for mincha in a wheelchair and was being accompanied by his long-time friend, who is a Flatbush Hatzolah member. As Mr. Mikulincer crossed the intersection of Coleridge Street and Oriental Boulevard, he was fatally struck by a BMW SUV. Chesed Shel Emes was on the scene of the accident after Shabbos to ensure kavod hameis. Police said that the driver of the SUV remained at the scene following the crash, which is still pending an investigation. Mr.

Tragedy struck the Los Angeles Jewish community on Thursday morning, when word spread of a horrific incident. Sources tell YWN that a young couple from the community traveled to Denver to go on a skiing trip. They were travelling on Interstate 70 in Idaho Springs, when their vehicle (Jeep Compass Trailhawk) collided with a disabled tractor-trailer at around 5:30PM on Wednesday evening. Tragically, 33-year-old Leora Ezoray A”H was Niftar at the scene. Her husband was rushed to the hospital where he was initially listed in serious condition. Bichasdei Hashem he has stabilized.

Esther Pollard, z’l, the wife of Jonathan Pollard who worked tirelessly for decades to secure his release, has passed away, a statement issued by the family on Monday morning stated. The levaya is scheduled to take place on Monday at Har Hamenuchos in Jerusalem. Esther, z’l, who had been battling cancer for years, contracted COVID about two weeks ago and was rushed to the hospital on Shabbos after suffering a severe deterioration in her condition. Jonathan Pollard spoke to Arutz Sheva after Esther’s petirah, saying: “In my worst nightmares I never thought I would lose Esther.