BD”E: Reb Shimon Charny, Z”l, of New York

The Gerrer community in New York and further abroad mourns the petirah of Reb Shimon Charny, z”l, who was niftar in Boro Park on Tuesday, Erev Yom Kippur, at the age of 88. The community has lost yet another of the last remaining links to prewar Poland.

Reb Shimon was born in 5690/1930, in Lodz. His parents were Reb Yitzchak Eizik and Mrs. Miriam Esther Charny, Hy”d. His father was a grandson of the noted Chassid Rav Noach Shachor (Charny), z”l, the father-in-law of the Imrei Emes of Ger, zy”a.

During the Holocaust years, Reb Shimon managed, b’chasdei Shamayim, to survive with many nissim. After liberation Reb Shimon emigrated to America. He married, tblch”t, Mrs. Leah, the daughter of the venerated Mashgiach of Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin, Harav Dovid Mintzberg, Hy”d. Together they built a home steeped in Torah, yiras Shamayim and Chassidus. He was one of the founding members of the Gerrer shtiebel in Boro Park, on 49th Street.

Reb Shimon had a special and close connection with the Rebbes of Ger, as a relative of their mother and grandmother, the Rebbetzin of the Imrei Emes. The Lev Simchah, zy”a, was in America for his wedding in 5716/1956, and participated in the Shabbos sheva brachos as well.

Despite the many hardships he faced in his life, from the Holocaust to the passing of his only daughter over 20 years ago, Reb Shimon did not sink into despair and was always seen b’simchah, with an upbeat and positive outlook.

Reb Shimon and his wife would travel often to Eretz Yisrael, to be with their children and grandchildren.

In recent years his health took a turn for the worse, and his sons from Eretz Yisrael traveled often to New York to tend to their parents. Several weeks ago Reb Shimon was hospitalized, and he was niftar on Tuesday morning, Erev Yom Kippur.

A levayah was held in Boro Park later in the day, and the aron was flown out after Yom Kippur to Eretz Yisrael, where he will be buried on Har Hamenuchos in Yerushalayim.

Reb Shimon is survived by, tbl”c, his wife, Mrs. Leah, sons: Reb Dovid, Reb Eli and Reb Avraham Mordechai, all of Yerushalayim. He was predeceased by his daughter, Mrs. Miriam Schmidt, a”h, in 5758/1998. He is also survived by many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Yehi zichro baruch.