The Vishnitzer Rebbe of Monsey, Hagaon HaRav Mordechai Hager ZT”L has passed away at 95. He died at Mount Sinai Hospital in NYC.
Rabbi Mordechai Hager, born in 1922, became the Vizhnitzer Rebbe following the death of his father, Rabbi Chaim Meir Hager of Bnei Barak. He was the oldest chassidic rabbi in the entire world and was from the last of the Talmidim of Rabih”k Zy”o in Europe.
He was known for his devotion to learning Torah: he studied 18 hours a day. He had about 50,000 followers internationally.
He had 14 children, 8 sons and 6 daughters. His sons serve as leaders of his followers’ synagogues, in the United States and internationally. The eldest son, Rabbi Pinches Shulem ztl served the synagogue in Borough Park, Brooklyn, New York; Rabbi Yisroel serves the synagogue in Monsey, New York; Rabbi Mendel serves the synagogue in Kiamesha Lake, New York; Rabbi Yitzchok Yochonon serves the synagogue in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The other sons serve internationally: Rabbi Eliezer in Jerusalem, Israel Rabbi Aron in Montreal, Canada; Rabbi Duvid in London, UK; and his youngest son, Rabbi Buroch Shamshon, in Beit Shemesh.
The Levaya will be at 12:30PM from the main shul in Monsey. Ramapo Police Chief Brad Weidel said that the police department has implemented its extensive operational plan, as thousands are expected to attend the funeral and procession to the cemetery he anticipates traffic congestion and road closures today.
