Reb Leibel Einhorn, z”l

He was born in 1922 in Bistra, Romania, near Sighet. It was a town of 70 talleisim, but his heart was big enough to encompass a world of Chassidus, Torah and chessed.

As a child he learned in Spinka and maintained a close relationship with the Rebbes of Spinka. But he was a chassid of Vizhnitz — both Reb Moshe, zt”l, and, ybl”c, Reb Mottele, shlit”a, were often guests in his home, as were many other Rebbes.

“He considered himself a chassid,” says son-in-law Mendel Zilberberg. “But the Rebbes considered him a yedid — a friend they could depend on.”

He was a gentle “powerhouse” — instrumental in building the Vizhnitzer beis medrash and yeshivah in Boro Park,  and Shikun Vizhnitz — now the town of Kesser, near Monsey, New York.

But as much as he was an ardent Vizhnitzer Chassid, he was a veltz-Yid. A long-standing vice president of Agudas Yisroel and active in every way — individually and communally — he helped other Yidden. He had only one purpose — he did everything l’shem Shamayim.

When the Skulener Rebbe, zt”l, came to America, Reb Leib was his right- hand man, raising funds to help bring Yidden from Europe. He was also a longstanding vice president of Bais Yaakov of Boro Park and was instrumental in building the school on 46th street.

With all his active klal work he was forceful, but always a rodef shalom. He was never heard to say a bad word about anybody. And if someone would say something negative about another person, he had a knack of deftly changing the subject.

After the Holocaust he stayed in Europe and worked day and night obtaining papers for others to emigrate to America.  He personally housed and clothed numerous people until they were able to stand on their own. Later, in New York, he built a diamond business.

“He was a chassidishe Yid in the truest sense of the word.” Reb Leibel lived in a world of Torah and chessed. You would always find him with an open sefer. And he was always ready to help another Yid. Even in business, he was more than just punctilious and honest. His work was an opportunity to support his family and, even more so, to help others get on their feet — whether it meant extending credit… or forgiving people who fell on hard times and couldn’t pay back the money they owed him.

Reb Leib needed nothing for himself. A small house was enough for him. Family and friends convinced him to buy a bigger one — because it would be more bakavodig  when the Rebbe came to stay.

Reb Leib is survived by his wife, Chave, his sons Avraham and Shloime and daughter, Mrs. Zissie Zilberberg, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He leaves a world richer for having been here, and poorer for having lost him.  Yehi zichro baruch.

This article appeared in print on page 17 of the July 31st, 2013 edition of Hamodia.