A tragedy struck the Satmar community in Beit Shemesh over Rosh Hashanah with the sudden petirah of Reb Yaakov Weiss z”l, a noted member of the community, at the age of just 47.

Reb Yaakov collapsed suddenly at the onset of Yom Tov while visiting his parents in the Satmar neighborhood of Yerushalayim. He was rushed to the hospital, but tragically was niftar on Friday night, leaving his family, friends and acquaintances devastated.

The tragedy was particularly heartrending as Reb Yaakov leaves behind his only son, just nine years old, who was born after his parents had waited 16 years to be blessed with a child.

Reb Yaakov was the son of Reb Isaac Weiss, a longtime communal activist in the Eidah Hachareidis in Yerushalayim.

In his youth, Reb Yaakov was educated in Satmar institutions in Yerushalayim. As a bochur, he learned at Yeshivas Yetev Lev of Satmar in the city, where he was a talmid of Rav Moshe Aryeh Freund zt”l, the Gaavad of the Eidah Hachareidis, who headed the yeshiva.

Upon reaching marriageable age, he married his wife, the daughter of Rav Reuven Ruderman of Beit Shemesh.

The couple settled in the Ramat Beit Shemesh Bet neighborhood, where Reb Yaakov worked at a local grocery store. Residents and friends remembered him as an exceptionally pleasant and gracious avreich who greeted everyone warmly and always had a smile for those around him.

One customer at the grocery related that Reb Yaakov routinely used his position there as an opportunity to perform anonymous acts of chesed. Children would sometimes arrive at the store without money or with insufficient funds to pay for what they wanted to purchase. Rather than embarrass them or send them away, Reb Yaakov would discreetly make up the difference from his own pocket.

The customer recalled that this was only one example of the many acts of chesed Reb Yaakov performed regularly, reflecting the kindness and warmth that characterized his interactions with others.

At the onset of Rosh Hashanah, Reb Yaakov was at his parents’ home in the Satmar neighborhood of Yerushalayim when he suddenly collapsed. He was transported to the hospital, but on Friday night he returned his neshamah to his Creator.

The levayah was scheduled to leave the Shamgar Funeral Home in Yerushalayim at 1:15 a.m. on Motzoei Rosh Hashanah, proceeding to Har Hamenuchos, where he was to be laid to rest.

Yehi zichro baruch.

{Matzav.com}