The Modzitzer chassidus in Eretz Yisroel and around the world was plunged into mourning with the passing of the veteran meshamesh bakodesh, Rav Shmuel Yitzchok Penigstein z”l, who served the Modzitzer Rebbes with unmatched dedication for three generations.

R’ Shmuel Yitzchok was a living embodiment of what it means to be a meshamesh bakodesh, zocheh to a rare and extraordinary zechus to serve in the inner sanctum of three successive Admorim of the Modzitzer shalsheles. He was not merely a gabbai in the technical sense; he was a living link between doros and a central address for chassidim seeking an eitza or access to the rebbes.

His avodas hakodesh began in the era of the Modzitzer Rebbe the Imrei Eish.

Throughout the years of the hanhogah of the Nachalas Dan, R’ Shmuel Yitzchok stood faithfully at his side with mesirus nefesh. He managed the Rebbe’s home with quiet authority and refinement, while safeguarding the kavod of Beis Modzitz with utmost care.

Even in the current dor, R’ Shmuel Yitzchok remained the familiar and beloved figure at the entrance to the Rebbe’s home, carrying with him the taam of earlier generations and the vast experience he had accumulated from the previous admorim, until his strength waned in recent years.

R’ Shmuel Yitzchok was renowned for his absolute ne’emanus. His entire metzius was batel to the ratzon of his Rebbes, viewing his role as a lofty shlichus ruchniyus. Despite the constant demands and pressures of serving in the homes of gedolei Yisroel, he received every person b’sever panim yafos, with patience and a genuine smile, always seeking to assist each chossid in whatever way he could.

As a true Modzitzer chossid, he was deeply connected to the unique olam haniggun of the chassidus, and was a participant in the elevated moments of niggun and shirah at the tishen and other exalted occasions.

With his petirah, the Modzitzer chassidus has lost one of the last sh’eiris hapleitah of a previous dor, a Yid who saw with his own eyes the rebuilding and flourishing of the chassidus in Eretz Yisroel.

The levayah took place this morning, departing from his home on Rechov Ganei Gad in Bnei Brak, passing the Modzitzer beis medrash at 20 Rechov Chavakuk, and continuing to the beis hachaim in Yarkon, Petach Tikvah.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}