On Sunday, the 10th of Kislev, thousands of shocked and
deeply pained members of Yerushalayim's chareidi community,
among them many Breslover Chassidim, accompanied R' Yaakov
Frank zt'l on his last earthly journey.
The niftar was a unique person -- a genuine yirei
Hashem and chassid, who during his all- too-brief
lifespan dedicated himself with great mesiras nefesh
to both individual Jews and the public at large. He was a
true oved Hashem, who devoted every fiber of his soul
to kedusha.
His petirah occurred on Shabbos, the 9th of Kislev,
while he was celebrating the aufruf of his son. He was
niftar having been refined by immense suffering, which
he accepted with love.
He is survived by 13 children, 8 of whom are still small, as
well as by a chosson, who on the eve of his wedding
has been left without any financial support or means of
providing for his most basic needs.
Those attending the levaya walked behind the bier with
lowered heads, and wept bitterly at the sight of the 13
children who ripped the lapels of their garments and wept
over the loss of their beloved father who left them on a day
which should have been a joyous one for him and his
family.
The levaya, held on motzei Shabbos, the 10th
of Kislev, left from the Shamgar funeral center. It was
attended by thousands of Yerushalayim's chareidi Jews, and
headed by roshei yeshiva, rabbonim and admorim,
who accompanied the bier by foot to the home of the
niftar, a small, two-room apartment, which is huge in
the amount of ma'asim tovim which took place within
it. The niftar was only 50 years old when he left for
the World of Truth.
As the procession arrived near the house, every heart melted
upon hearing the cries of the children who were shattered by
the sight of the bier of their beloved father, whom they
would never again see during their lifetimes. The
levaya continued on to the Breslover beis
medrash in Meah Shearim, where he had served as a
gabbai and meshamesh for more than a quarter of
a century.
His brother, R' Moshe Frank, chairman of Jerusalem's Degel
HaTorah branch, delivered a stirring and heart-rending
hesped, in which he described his brother's avodas
Hashem as well as his dedication to the chinuch of
his children and his energetic efforts on behalf of his
fellow Jews.
Profuse weeping was heard as R' Moshe described the behavior
of his brother during recent months. He related how, when his
brother's suffering intensified he made great efforts to hide
his pain from those surrounding him.
"Two weeks ago," R' Moshe related, "my brother held a bar
mitzvah for his son. Two avreichim took him out of
the hospital so that he could attend the bar mitzvah.
When he saw me, he hinted that he wanted to speak to me
privately. When I approached him, he said that the
avreichim had accidentally twisted his tubes,
something which had caused him much pain for over half an
hour. Because he was afraid of distressing them, he didn't
say a thing. However, because he couldn't bear the pain any
more, he asked me to straighten the tubes, on condition that
the avreichim wouldn't notice this, and on condition
that I not tell them what had happened."
R' Moshe Kramer, one of the most prominent and venerable
members of the Breslover Chassidic community, spoke at length
about R' Yaakov's avodas Hashem, his dveikus in
his prayers, and his boundless diligence in Torah study. He
also cited the amazing chessed he performed on behalf
of all in need, even though he himself was
impoverished.
R' Benzion Guttfarb, one of the roshei yeshiva of the
Masmidim Yeshiva, described the outstanding character traits
of the niftar, who spared no efforts for the sake of
the community as well as individual Jews. His meticulous
observance of every aspect of the mitzvos was done with the
pure intention of causing nachas ruach to his Maker.
R' Benzion also spoke about R' Yaakov's deep dedication to
the chinuch of his children, relating that his final
request during the last week of his life was that all efforts
be made to continue to raise his children in the manner he so
aspired to achieve.
The levaya continued to Har Hazeisim. As the body was
lowered into the earth, the throng burst out into heart-
rending cries.
Prominent rabbonim and askonim who visited the home of
the niftar, were shocked by the terrible poverty which
prevails there. They saw too, that the burden of the medical
payments and the expenses of the weddings of a number of the
children rests on the shoulders of his wife. In light of this
appalling situation, the rabbonim have decided to found a
fund for the relief of this family, so that their home should
not chas vesholom totter.
Contributions may be sent to the niftar's brother: Rav
Tzvi Pesach Frank, Sanhedria Murchevet 106 A, Apartment 15,
Jerusalem 97707.
In Israel, contributions may be transferred to Keren
Mishpochas HaRav Frank, Bank Po'alei Agudas Yisroel, branch
185, account number 105-420271. The address of the Fund is
P.O.B. 5098, Jerusalem, Israel.
