It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Dovid Spiegel zt”l, the Ostrov-Kalushiner Rebbe of the Five Towns and rov of Bais Medrash of Cedarhurst, a devoted marbitz Torah and beloved rov who for decades built and nurtured a warm, vibrant center of Torah and Yiddishkeit in the community.

Rav Spiegel, a son of Rav Pinchas Eliyahu Spiegel zt”l, the Ostrov-Kalushiner Rebbe, was a distinguished talmid of two gedolei Torah of the previous generation, Rav Avrohom Pam zt”l and Rav Aharon Kotler zt”l. His connection with Rav Aharon was especially close and deeply personal. As a bochur, Rav Spiegel was among those who would frequently drive Rav Aharon to various engagements and destinations. Those hours spent in close proximity to the rosh yeshiva allowed him to develop a profound bond with his rebbi, absorbing not only Torah but also the spirit and vision that Rav Aharon instilled in his talmidim.

On June 19, 1962, Rav Spiegel married his wife, Rebbetzin Devorah Esther Spiegel a”h, the daughter of the Pittsburger Rebbe, Rav Avrohom Abba Leifer, in Newark, New Jersey, beginning a partnership that would become the foundation of a life devoted to Torah, community, and chesed.

In the early years following their marriage, the young couple lived in Lakewood in modest circumstances, residing in a small one-bedroom apartment above the stores on Fifth Street. Those humble beginnings reflected the simple and devoted lifestyle that characterized Rav Spiegel throughout his life.

A pivotal moment in his life and in the development of the Five Towns Torah community came in 1970. His brother-in-law, Rav Binyomin Kamenetsky zt”l, approached him with a bold vision: to establish a warm and authentic shtiebel that would serve as a beacon of Torah life in the growing Five Towns community. Rav Spiegel accepted the challenge with dedication and determination.

What began as a modest undertaking soon grew into something extraordinary. Over the decades, the shtiebel became a center of warmth, Torah, and genuine Yiddishkeit. Rav Spiegel did far more than establish a shul. He built a kehillah in the truest sense of the word. Through his guidance, countless individuals and families found a place where they could grow in Torah observance and strengthen their connection to Yiddishkeit.

Rav Spiegel understood that cultivating Torah life in a community requires not only passion but also wisdom, patience, and a deep understanding of people. With quiet determination and thoughtful leadership, he helped shape the spiritual character of the Five Towns in numerous ways. His influence could be felt in the lives of those who turned to him for guidance, encouragement, and inspiration.

Throughout the years, he remained a steady presence, a rov who cared deeply for his mispallelim and whose warmth and sincerity left a lasting impression on all who encountered him.

Rav Spiegel is survived by an exceptional family of children and grandchildren who continue his legacy of Torah, avodah, and devotion to Klal Yisroel.

The levaya is taking place now at Rav Spiegel’s shul, located at 504 W. Broadway in Cedarhurst, NY, followed by kevurah in New Jersey. Watch the levayah live HERE.

Yehi zichro boruch.