On 9th Avenue and 51st Street in Boro Park, there stands a humble shul, known as the Bucharester Shul. It was headed for decades by Rav Benzion Deutch, a tremendous meyuchas who hailed from great tzaddikim, and who already served as a dayan in Bucharest, Romania, as a bochur of eighteen.  

Bucharest 

The Rebbe was born in the Romanian capitol of Bucharest in the year 1935 to his father, Rav Shmuel Deutch, the Bucharester Rebbe. His paternal grandfather was Rav Moshe Deutch of Sighet, who traced his lineage generation by generation to great tzaddikim from throughout the generations, including the Ba’al Hamo’or, the Maharshal, the Maharsho, the Megale Amukos, the Bach, and many, many others. Rav Moshe Deutch was the son-in-law of Rav Avrohom Yitzchok Hellir, the rov of Tzfas, the son of Rav Shmuel Hellir, the son of Tzfas. On this side of the family, they are likewise descended from many gedolim. 

The Rebbe survived the was years as a young boy in Bucharest. The situation of the Yidden there, while much easier than for the Yidden of other countries, was still very difficult, and they suffered mightily from the local resha’im. Rav Benzion witnessed how his father was taken away a number of times, but, b’chasdei Hashem, he managed to return home every time. It was with great miracles that the entire family survived the war. 

Following the war, the family remained in Bucharest which became a major center for refugees and survivors—many Rabbonim and Admorim among them. One of these was the Imrei Chaim, Rav Chaim Meir Hager of Viznitz, who married off his son, Rav Mordechai (later the Viznitzer Rebbe of Monsey) in Bucharest. Rav Benzion was present at the wedding, and later recalled the many Rabbonim and dignitaries who attended. 

Boro Park 

In 1961, the family finally managed to get out of Romania, and they settled at first in Williamsburg, and Boro Park soon thereafter, where they would remain for the rest of their lives. In those early years, the Satmar Rov—recognizing the caliber of this young talmid chochom—sent him to inspect the kashrus of the meat in slaughterhouses. 

In Boro Park, his father Rav Shmuel established Khal Beis Moshe d’Bucharest, and thereafter, Rav Benzion opened Khal Beis Shmuel Tzfas on 48th Street in the name of his illustrious ancestor, Rav Shmuel Hellir of Tzfas. 

The Rebbe’s avodah centered around learning with great diligence, away from the public eye. This is how he spent his days and years. His tefillos were likewise with great warmth and fire in the nusach and melodies that were handed down in the family from their holy forbears. He would daven before the omud on Yomim nora’im with tremendous feeling which in turn awakened the hearts of the mispalelim. 

With the passing of his father in 1985, he assumed the leadership of his Beis Medrash Khal Beis Moshe d’Bucharest, and there continued with his avodas hakodesh.  

Although the Rebbe wished only to live his spiritual life away from the limelight, many would come to the Rebbe for brochos and for advice, and they would always leave uplifted and inspired. His heart was exceptionally warm to every Yid. He would listen to their concerns with extraordinary patience and attentiveness. The Rebbe had a close relationship with a number of Admorim, especially with his close cousins, the Admorim of Toldos Aharon and Toldos Avrohom Yitzchok. 

Towards the end of his life, the Rebbe was unwell, and suffered from a number of ailments. He returned his neshomoh to its Creator in Elul of the year 2020. His Levaya took place in Boro Park and Yerushalayim, and the Rebbe was laid to rest on Har Hazeisim following decades of Torah and avodas Hashem in Boro Park of yore.