BDE: Reb Aizik Schwartz, z”l, Pupa Rosh Hakohol in Monsey, Builder of Yiddishkeit

YS GOLD 

We regret to inform you of the passing of Reb Aizik Schwartz, z”l, the longtime Rosh Hakohol of the Pupa kehillah in Monsey, and a major pioneer of the Pupa kehillah in New York. He was just shy of his 95th birthday. 

Reb Aizik hailed from the Hungarian town of Nanash, and the war came when he was a young bachur. Following the war, he met the Vayechi Yosef of Pupa in Antwerp—and he would remain connected to the Ruv with heart and soul for all his years. 

The Pupa Ruv opened a yeshiva in Antwerp, and Reb Aizik became very close to him. He was a very loyal and devoted talmid for life. About ten years later, he came to America, and married a granddaughter of the Chimpa Ruv. 

He settled in Williamsburg, where he was among the major askonim in building and establishing the Pupa kehillah. He was a major force in rebuilding from the ashes, and establishing the fledgling kehillah.  

He then moved to Boro Park, where he was likewise a pioneer of the Pupa kehillah there. Finally, in the 1970’s, he moved to Monsey, where he gathered with a group of Pupa talmidim to establish the Pupa kehillah there. The Vayechi Yosef officially crowned him as the Rosh Hakohol of the kehillah—a title that he held for half a century! He carried out his calling and his mission with utmost devotion and dedication, and had a close connection with, ybl”ch the current Pupa Rebbe shlit”a. 

Mispalelim in Pupa recall, in Conversation with Rockland Daily, a true example of Torah and yiras Shomayim. “Reb Aizik was always learning, always doing the right thing. A tremendous yerei Shomayim, and a tremendous masmid,” recalled one Pupa chossid. 

Today, the Pupa kehillah in Monsey boasts five shuls and thousands of children enrolled in the mosdos. It is no exaggeration to say that Reb Aizik was a major force since the founding by a handful of devoted chassidim, and he oversaw the growth throughout his years. 

Especially when he retired, he was always learning, and even when it was very difficult for him to come to Shul, he nevertheless pushed himself to come daven in Pupa.

He was a true example to the entire kehillah of an ehrliche Yid, and a devoted chossid to his rebbeim. 

The Levaya will take place at 12:00 at the Pupa Beis Medrash on Suzanne Road. 

Yehi zichro baruch.