Rabbi Sholom Grunfeld, z”l

Reb Sholom was born in New York and attended Bobover mosdos. Following in the footsteps of his esteemed forebears (his father, Reb Chaim Ber, ybl”c, was one of the pillars of Bobov after the war, helping to build the community), he was very close to the Bobover Rebbe, Reb Shlomo Halberstam, zt”l, spending many hours in his home.

After his marriage he spent several years in the Bobover Kollel in Toronto, Canada. Upon his return to New York he began teaching kittah alef at the Bobover cheder. During his 29 years as rebbi, over 1,000 talmidim were introduced to the alef-beis with his classic bren and varmkeit. He was beloved by his talmidim and their parents, and always had a smile and a good word for everyone.

Reb Sholom was a talmid chacham who never wasted a minute. He had a sefer in his hand at all times, and learned whenever he could.

Reb Sholom and his wife raised a beautiful family, all following in his derech. Seven of the children are married, and four remain at home. The family was recently zocheh to celebrate both a wedding and a bar mitzvah.

Over the years, Reb Sholom and his wife took in many children from broken homes or who had special needs. They reared these children as their own, achieving amazing success in raising productive, happy children. As recently as a few weeks ago, he was again making arrangements to care for a young boy.

The Grunfeld home was always open to friends, family, visitors from Eretz Yisrael, and any Yid who needed a good meal and an open heart. “Their Shabbos table was never empty,” Reb Shaya Zitronenbaum, a son-in-law, told Hamodia. “And he was a big baal chessed. In fact, the first Bonei Olam party was held in his home over 20 years ago. He was involved with many Bobover tzedakos.”

His hand and heart were open to all. He was very involved in kimcha d’Pischa and matanos la’evyonim campaigns, and helped countless Yidden through the years.

He spent Lag BaOmer saying Tehillim, and davened before the amud. He attended the Rebbe’s tisch and nothing seemed amiss. And yet upon his return home, it seemed his tafkid was complete. He died on his 55th birthday, complete in his days, beloved by all who knew him. “There is surely no one who had any taanos against him,” said a relative.

His son, Reb Hersh Mendel, spoke at the levayah, expressing the hope that he and his siblings would be able to come close to the madregah of their father.

Reb Sholom is survived by his wife, his parents, his siblings, children and grandchildren.

Yehi zichro baruch.

This article appeared in print on page 4 of the April 30th, 2013 edition of Hamodia.