Reb Yaakov Tzvi Hoffman, z”l, Dies After Tragic Accident

The Boro Park community was shocked and saddened by news of the untimely petirah of Reb Yaakov Tzvi Hoffman, z”l, 66, who was niftar after being involved in a car accident.

“He was a very eidel and quiet person. Everything that he did was between him and Hashem,” recalled a neighbor. “He was a straight, pashut and very hard-working person who did what the Torah said — and that was it. He and his wife were always there for anybody who needed anything.”

Reb Yaakov Tzvi, who hailed originally from Argentina, worked for many years at Focus Camera on 13th Avenue. He had always made learning Torah a priority in his life, and since his recent retirement, spent nearly the entire day studying with various chavrusos.

Rabbi Yanky Mayer of Misaskim told Hamodia that the accident occurred at the intersection of Ocean Parkway and Ditmas Avenue at about 10 o’clock Monday morning. Reb Yaakov Tzvi was one of the drivers involved in what was a four-car collision. He did not experience trauma from the crash and was speaking to responders when they arrived on the scene, but went into cardiac arrest shortly afterwards. He was rushed to Maimonides Medical Center, but efforts to save his life were unfortunately unsuccessful.

The levayah was held later in the afternoon in front of Khal Beis Halevi of Kossen, where Reb Yaakov Tzvi had been a mispallel for many years. Kevurah took place in the beis hachaim of New Square, where his parents were buried.

“He was a tzaddik,” said another neighbor. “He had just retired to spend more time learning, which was the love of his life. He had just gotten more time to sit and shep nachas from his children and grandchildren. It so very sad.”

He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Gitty Hoffman: sons, Reb Avrohom Shimon, Reb Chaim Dovid and Reb Leiby, and daughters; Mrs. Ruchie Geller, Mrs. Miri Greenbaum, Mrs. Rivky Hollander, Mrs. Perry Feig, Mrs. Fraidy Herbst and Mrs. Leah Mossberg.

Yehi zichro baruch.

This article appeared in print on page 6 of the January 6th, 2015 edition of Hamodia.