BD”E: Rabbi Hertz Frankel, Z”l, Legendary Satmar Principal and Spokesman

Rabbi Hertz Frankel, z”l, the principal of Brooklyn’s Satmar community in Williamsburg for more than 60 years, passed away on Shabbos at the age of 90.

Rabbi Frankel was appointed by the Satmar Rebbe, Harav Yoel Teitelbaum, zy”a, to run the Satmar girls’ schools in 1959.

Born in the Polish town of Lizhensk in 1930, Rabbi Frankel and his family escaped the atrocities of World War II by fleeing through Uzbekistan, eventually settling in America in 1948.

Rabbi Frankel graduated from Brooklyn College and earned his rabbinical ordination at Yeshiva Torah Vodaath.

Rabbi Frankel’s fluency in English made him a valuable asset to the Satmar Rebbe, who was extremely committed to chinuch and understood that his experiences running a yeshivah back in Europe left him well prepared to lead the community’s Bais Rochel girls’ school.

In addition to serving at the helm of the Satmar girls’ school, Rabbi Frankel also served as an intermediary between the Rebbe and government officials and others outside the Satmar community, earning him the informal title of the Rebbe’s “secretary of state.”

Rabbi Frankel resided in Boro Park. In his later years, Rabbi Frankel moved to Lakewood to be closer to his children.

His levayah will be held on Sunday morning, with kevurah to be in Israel.

He is survived by, lhbch”l, his wife, children, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Yehi zichro baruch.