By COLlive reporter
William Richard Harrell Jr., Ph.D, D.D., who led a Christian church in Harlem but was equally known and beloved in Brooklyn’s Jewish community, died on Friday, April 17, 2020.
He was 63 and was infected by coronavirus.
For many years, Harrell volunteered his time as a driver for the Hatzolah medical emergency service in Brooklyn and played a key role in saving many lives throughout the years.
“He was an incredible person filled with love, and kindness,” Jewish friends of his said. “He spread joy and happiness with his good sense of humor and kind heart. He was a cheerful, friendly leader of his community and friend to all. He was beloved by people from all walks of life.”
He was most recognized for speaking fluent Yiddish, an ability that isn’t common in non-Chassidic Jewish circles. Video clips of his casually chatting and knocking in Yiddish were widely shared on WhatsApp. In one iconic clip, Harrel is seen sitting in a furniture store lamenting the price of marrying off children. “Yieder chasune cust a-sach gelt,” he said (each wedding cost a lot of money).
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He is survived by his wife of 23 years, Mrs. JoAnn Harrell and their children Tiffany, Jonathan, Dashawn, Dwayne, and David.
Brooklyn-based comedian Mendy Pellin said Harrel “joyously broke down barriers through great empathy. To the point of speaking a fluent Yiddish.”
Pellin asked the public to kindly contribute to the Family William Jr Fund being facilitated by the Yad Lelev Foundation Inc. thought the tzedakah platform TheChesedFund in support of the family. “Please join me by donating to help his family. As he would say: asach gelt,” Pellin wrote.
The fund is under the auspices of Chaim Bodner of The Chair Market/Prince Seating, Shaya Bernath and Chaim Kohn of Hatzolah, Eli Kohn and Rabbi Aron Steier of RCCS; David Klein of the Ice Cream House, Esty Kohn of the Executive Abstract Group, Joel Kohn of FingerCheck, Naafiza Alli of BDB/Viventium, comedians Pellin, Yoely Lebovits, and others.
To donate, visit https://thechesedfund.com/harrel/family
May his family and congregants be comforted
He could have helped me (a Yid) with my command of Yiddish!
Sounds like he was a true mentsh and a righteous Gentile! BDE.
Never met him but he seems such a kind hearted,gentle,funny and warm person.may his family be comforted and rip
So amazing that he volunteered as a hatzala driver! May he rest in peace. Sending comfort to his family.
May G-d comfort you
I knew pretty well. I saw him once a week for years when he delivered payroll in Williamsburg. Always happy always smiling and always had a good word to say. Rest in Peace Vulvy