Klal Yisroel was plunged into mourning today with the sudden Petirah of the Novominsker Rebbe Zatzal, Rav Yaakov Perlow Zatzal, Nasi of the Moetzes.
Agudah released the following statement moments ago:
We are devastated and broken-hearted to report the petirah of the Novominsker Rebbe Horav Yaakov Perlow, זצוק’ל.
The Rebbe was a longstanding member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of America, and served as Rosh Agudas Yisroel for the past 22 years. The loss to Klal Yisroel, and Agudas Yisroel, is incalculable.
Because of the current situation, the Rebbe’s family is respectfully requesting that nobody other than immediate family participate in the levaya or kevura, which will be’H take place later today. Clearly, as the tremendous baal achrayus that he was, those would have been the Rebbe’s wishes as well.
People are encouraged to participate by telephone in the saying of Tehillim. This will take place at 10:00 this morning. The call-in number is 646-558-8656, code 166-981-037#.
May we share besoros tovos.
UPDATE: Audio message from the Rebbe’s son:
BDE wow absolutely no words!
BDE, ish emes
Can’t believe it someone who truly loved clal Yisroel gave his heart
Oy Hashem have Ruchmanus.
What a loss! What a Gadol, a Tzadik, a true leader and Askan.
Klal Yisroel all cries together right now
Knowing the rebbes heart, he probably couldn’t take so many yidden bitzar….
BDE! a Huge loss for Klal Yisroel.
I remember spending summers with the Rebbeh in Camp Tashbar. The highlight of the summer was the Rebbeh’s speech to all the boys at the camp banquet. The rebbeh always spoke so simply and so directly to the boys and create memories and chizuk that I am sure last a lifetime.
Chaval al D’avdan v’lo Mishtachkin
BDE. A genuine Tzaddik. A true Leader. Tremendous Loss!!
May he be a Mailitz Yosher for all of Klal Yisroel!
Aza Manhig the rebbe was veoloh bseiroh hashomeymoh
Aza Manhig the rebbe was a odom Godol ad mioid veoloh bseiroh hashomeymoh how big of mourning it is for everyone may the rebbe be a maletz Yosher for all of klal Yisroel in such difficult times.
BDE ish kodosh
It is hard to imagine a world without the Rebbe. People who weren’t zoche to know him personally probably didn’t realize who he was. Just one small point, although he was thrusted into the public spotlight, he despised honor. I remember when a publication interviewed him on a specific topic for their weekly publication. But, when it actually came out, had a few pages about his life and accomplishments. He walked into the Yeshiva that Thursday evening and gave a shmooze about the fakeness of our world. That is just the beginning.
I remember that! OIY!
He hated Kavod and got the Levaya the way he wanted. He would always say that all Kavod on this world “tzeilt men up”
An important note: those familiar with the Rebbe’s sense of achrayus and love for Yidden and his rootedness in the realities Hashem places before us all know that the niftar would not want anyone other than those stated to attend the levaya out of concern for pikuach nefesh through spread of the disease, chalila vachas, and not just out of concern for chashash chillul Hashem.
Shocked. Stunned. A gaping hole. A tzaddik in our times. He was an ISH EMES. Ah gevaldige mensch!!!! What a potch to klal yisroel!