It is with great sadness we inform you of the Petirah of Harav Gavriel Finkel Z”L, a renowned Lakewood Posek who was suddenly Niftar on Shabbos.Hatzolah rushed to his home approximately 1:30 AM Shabbos morning, where he was found unresponsive. He was approximately 76.
Rav Finkel Z”L is survived by his wife Miriam, and many children.
The Levaya will tentatively be taking place at the BMG Alumni at 11:00AM. Kevurah in Lakewood.
Baruch Dayan Ha’emes.
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(Note: Thank you to all who notified us of the Petirah. The Petirah was not posted immediately after Yom Tov due to children living in Los Angeles and other cities, and who were not yet aware.)
This is such a sad news . Rav Finkel was a very special person . It is a very big loss for Lakewood and anyone who knew him personally .
Dear Finkel Family,
Your father was very special person ever and he always treated me as family. I want to tell you I am going truly miss him alots. May his neshula go higher and higher. I am sorry for the lost.
BDE.such sad news. Any levaya info?
Oy Vay!!!!! This is such sad news!!! We must wake up and do Teshuva!!!!!!
It is a very very sad news for the alumni and for Lakewood and of course for the Finkel family.
There are no words that can describe this loss
Will there be a hook up outside with microphone for Kohanim?
Big loss.Hashem is taking the good people. We need to wake up.TESHUVA.
What a loss for Lakewood and Klal Yisrael. Rav Gavriel’s entire being was a quiet dignified kiddush Hashem. His renowned neila shmuzzen were not about lofty ideas of teshuva, but on simple bein adam lichaveiro issued, testing other with respect, driving like a mentsch etc. he will be sorely missed.
Moreinu Harav Shneur Kotler ZT”L said, “Az Lakewood zol machen ah Beis Din, un Reb Gavriel zol zein der Rosh” [Lakewood should make a Beis Din, and Reb Gavriel should be the Rosh].
Correction: The words “Beis Din” should be replaced with Vaad HaRabbonim”, as heard by the Hespeidim.
[Not to undermine that Rav Finkel ZT”L filled the capacity of Dayan on Vaad HaDayonim of Lakewood, And Kashrus Council of Lakewood (KCL)]
As a kid growing up in Lakewood we
Used to go to Rabbi Finkel a lot with questions. We may not have always gotten an answer right away (more complex q’s needed time) but we always got a warm smile. 100% of the time. No matter the situation or time of the day. He made us who were not his equals feel like an equal.
BDE. He was a very special person. A big loss.
Harav Finkel was not only a tremendous Talmud chacham but answered each shaila patiently and clearly. Growing up with Rav Finkel as the chazzan on the yomim noraim, there is nothing like the way he lifted up everyone at the alumni minyan to spiritual heights with his melodies and his clear, strong voice. His neiila davening is irreplaceable. I just hear him trembling and saying “HaShem hu haelokim” and then breaking out in joyous song by kaddish after yom kippur davening was over. Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur will never be the same again. Yehi zichro Baruch.
A giant walked amongst us.May his special family have a nechama.
Nothing like getting mussar from someone named hotpants to do teshuva
we had him in Adelphia Yeshiva as a Chazen too !
he will be missed by all of the Adelphia Alumni
Eish Emes
Rabbi Finkel for many years has been my moral compass as to what is right and wrong. Tha Rav will be missed by all those that came for his advice. May the family have nechama
will there be a phone number to call in?
R Finkel was giant of a man.
A true loss.
I used to work for the OU and he was one of our very very special Mashgichim and very soft spoken. I used to Daven periodically at Alumnia and just observing him gave me such a חיזוק. When I’ll come to lakewood I’ll feel the emptiness.
From ISRAEL.
How was he related to Rav Yakov Finkel SZL ?
He was a younger brother to Jack Finkel. I was just on the phone with him the night before about a chesed issue. I am devastated.
BD”E.
Had a few conversations with him. Very clear, thorough, and always with a smile. Very special person.
I’m so deeply sorry for the loss of Rabbi Finkel. I worked with him for many years. Not only was he a great person to work with but a friend as well. My thoughts and prayers go out to the entire Finkel family.
Boruch Dayan Haemes. Harav Finkel Zatzal was the epitome of a tzadik. His lively shiurim and sensitivity to answering shailos was unbelievable. Harav Finkel would many times tell the one asking the shailah that he would have to think about it and call him back, even on the most basic questions, just to make him feel good. What harav Finkel has accomplished in his life is something we should all try to strive to be like. He will be greatly missed and mourned upon. Yehi Zichro Boruch