BDE: Rav Meir Yehuda Wosner, z”l, of Skver, 99.
Sadness gripped the Skverer chassidus around the world with news of the passing of Reb Meir Yehuda Wosner, z”l. At the age of ninety-nine, he was the eldest Skverer Chossid alive, and a role model to generations of chassidim for his avodas Hashem, his emunah peshutah, and his dedication to the Skverer Rebbe, shlit”a.
Reb Meir Yehuda was a cousin of Rav Shmuel Wosner, zt”l, and like him, he hailed from Vienna, where he was born in the year 1922–growing up in an atmosphere of uncompromising Yiddishkeit, which he would carry with him until his last days.
His mother’s family was from Serdehel, Hungary, where the family found itself during the war. While he made it out of Auschwitz alive, his family was not so fortunate, and many of them gave up their lives al kiddish Hashem, Hy”d. Arriving in America in the aftermath of the Churban, he found the previous Skverer Rebbe, Rav Yaakov Yosef Twersky, zt”l, and became tethered to him with heart and soul. His soul connections to Skver remained his essence until his last breath.
He was a beloved figure in the chassidus, and spent his days raising funds for the Skverer mosdos. He was also the ba’al Koreh in the main shul on Shabbos.
Perhaps his greatest legacy is his children. His son, Rav Yochanan Wosner is a revered Dayan in Montreal, and his sons and sons in law are brilliant talmdei chachomim in Skver and Monsey.
He was sharp and active until a few days ago, and occupies with his avodas hakodesh, until he was hospitalized, and was niftar this afternoon.
The levaya took place in Skver yesterday at 7:30, and the Skverer Rebbe—who is now in California—has instructed the entire shtetl to attend, and give a proper kavod acharon to this legend who has departed their midst.
Yehi Zichro Baruch