By COLlive reporter
Rabbi Yaakov Eliezer Friedrich, one of the eldest Lubavitcher Chassidim today who lived in Antwerp, Belgium, passed away on Wednesday, 12 Tishrei, 5784.
He was nearly 101 years old.
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.
While in Belgium as a young man, he was friends with R’ Zalman Schechter and R’ Avrohom Weingarten. He became a Chossid of the Frierdiker Rebbe and the Rebbe, with whom R’ Yankel had much correspondence.
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 received much inspiration and specific instructions from the Frierdiker Rebbe and the Rebbe. He 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 Torah Shiurim and lead Chassidic Farbrengens. Thousands of people became Baalei Teshuva and were brought closer to their Jewish heritage through his teaching.
He also traveled around Holland and Belgium, working to help Shluchim get started in various locations. He was passionate about teaching the Sheva Mitzvos Bnei Noach, which he corresponded with the Rebbe about often.
He is survived by his children, Mrs. Adler, Mrs. Goldman, Mrs. Hickson, and R’ Avrumi Friedrich, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, some of whom serve as Shluchim in Florida, Oklahoma and Manhattan, NY.
He was predeceased by his son Yisroel Friedrich obm.
The Levaya will take place today in Antwerp.
Baruch Dayan Ha’emes.
May his memory be a blessing
Beautiful beautiful
My zedy was a very very special man did mizvohs all the time people could really learn from thank hashem for give me so G8 zeddy for a 100 years let’s greet moshach his garn d channie goldman