BD”E: Dayan Chanoch Ehrentreu, Zt”l, of London

The Torah community in Europe and across the world was plunged into mourning Thursday upon learning of the petirah of Dayan Harav Chanoch Ehrentreu, zt”l, of London, at the age of 90.

He was hospitalized earlier this week and his condition turned critical Wednesday. Many tefillos were said on his behalf across the world, but the gezeirah was sealed.

Dayan Ehrentreu was born in Frankfurt in Kislev 5693/1932. His parents were Harav Yisroel and Rebbetzin Blima Ehrentreu, z”l. His paternal grandfather was the Munich Rav, Harav Chanoch Ehrentreu, zt”l, after whom he was named.

When his family emigrated to the U.K. at the outbreak of World War II, his father was appointed principal of the Prestwich Jewish Day School. As a young bachur, Chanoch learned in the Gateshead yeshivah, and later in the Sunderland yeshivah.

When he came of age, he married, tbclh”t, Rebbetzin Rochel, nee Sternbuch – a sister of Harav Moshe Sternbuch, shlita, Raavad of the Eidah Chareidis of Yerushalayim.

After his marriage, he learned for seven years at the kollel of the Gateshead yeshivah.

He also founded a kollel in Sunderland and moved to live there for nearly 20 years. Later, he was appointed for several years to serve as Rosh Beis Din in Manchester, in place of Harav Yitzchak Yaakov Weisz, zt”l, who then immigrated to Israel to serve as the Gaavad of the Badatz Eidah Chareidis.

Dayan Ehrentreu was appointed head of the London Beth Din in 1984, a post he held until he retired in 2006.

In all posts that he held, Dayan Ehrentreu had a tremendous influence in all issues.

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

His levayah will be in Eretz Yisrael; details will be posted once released.

Yehi zichro baruch.