The Gerer Rebbe paid an unusually lengthy nichum aveilim visit to the family of the legendary baal koreh of the Gerer beis medrash, Rav Yehudah Aryeh Taub, zt”l, who passed away suddenly last Thursday while in the Beis Medrash of the chassidus.

Upon entering the home, the Rebbe sat down and immediately inquired whether the niftar had been ill before his passing. Family members responded that Rav Taub had passed away suddenly and had not suffered from any known illness beforehand.

During the visit, one of the sons began recounting his father’s extraordinary devotion to serving as the baal koreh in the Beis Medrash of Ger. He related that despite the many additional aliyos customary in Ger, his father never prepared in advance where to pause the Torah reading. Instead, the Rebbe’s longtime ne’eman bayis, Reb Yossel Schiff, would quietly signal him during the kriah itself where to stop, and despite the challenge, the niftar never once complained.

As the son continued speaking about his father’s lifelong dedication, one of the Rebbe’s close attendants, Reb Leiby Paznichevsky, motioned that perhaps the Rebbe wished to respond, subtly indicating that the son should conclude his remarks. The Rebbe immediately signaled with his hand that he should continue speaking, allowing him to share additional memories and stories.

Afterward, the Rebbe offered words of consolation, connecting the family’s loss to the verse, “Zos HaTorah adam ki yamus b’ohel.” He then cited the Gemara in Brachos, in the chapter Haroeh, which teaches that the gentlest form of passing is “k’binisa mei’chalba“—like drawing a hair from milk—a description of misas neshikah. Turning to the mourners, the Rebbe comforted them by saying, “He merited it. He did not suffer when he passed away.”

Meanwhile, the Gerer Rebbetzin personally telephoned the family Monday evening to offer words of comfort and shared a remarkable episode that had taken place on the day of Rav Taub’s passing.

According to the Rebbetzin, the Rebbe unexpectedly announced that he would not attend Minchah in the beis medrash that day. Surprised by the unusual decision, she entered the Rebbe’s room to ask him directly why he would not be participating in the tefillah.

The Rebbe explained, “The baal koreh just passed away, and the tzibbur is deeply saddened.”

He then opened a Gemara to the same passage in Brachos, showing the Rebbetzin the teaching that misas neshikah is compared to drawing a hair from milk. The Rebbe asked that she convey one final message of consolation to the family: “Now it is good for him there.”