BDE: Rabbi Lazer Handelsman, Z”l

By Hamodia Staff

Rabbi Lazer Handelsman, a beloved mechanech and member of the Los Angeles community, was niftar Wednesday at the age of 62.

Rabbi Handelsman grew up in Brooklyn, the son of Rabbi Moshe Handelsman, venerated executive director of Mirrer Yeshiva, and Mrs. Toby Handelsman, a long-time teacher at BYA and principal at Bais Yaakov of Boro Park.

Lazer attended Philadelphia Yeshiva for high school, then Mirrer Yeshiva and Yeshiva Zichron Moshe of South Fallsburg. He also learned by Harav Moshe Eisemann of Vineland, N.J., and Harav Berel Soloveichik.

He moved to Los Angeles three decades ago, where for years he was an adored elementary school rebbi known to bring out the best in talmidim.

Even in later years as he suffered from a number of ailments, he was constantly learning with chavrusahs, sometimes on the phone when he was unable to leave his home. He had a deep concern for others, and was known to daven extensively for those in need.

A lively personality, he lit up every room he entered and was instantly the center of attention — whether singing or playing music, telling a good story, cheering people up, or relating a shtikel Torah.

A levayah will be held in Los Angeles Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. PT, at Kollel Yechiel Yehudah, 444 N. La Brea Ave.; then in Lakewood on Thursday at 12:30 p.m. ET at the chapel at Ramsey Avenue near E. 7th Street. Kevurah will be in Lakewood.

Rabbi Lazer Handelsman is survived by his siblings, Harav Michel Handelsman, Mrs. Faygie Borchardt and Mrs. Yitty Sternbuch; and his sons Menachem, Reuvain and Yaakov.

Yehi zichro baruch.