A massive levaya headed by gedolei haTorah, roshei
yeshiva, dayanim, rabbonim and thousands of Manchester
Yeshiva students accompanied HaRav Meir Tzvi Ehrentreu,
zt"l, the rosh yeshiva of Manchester, on his
last earthly journey. He was niftar suddenly on
Tuesday night, Elul 6, at the age of 70.
HaRav Meir Tzvi Ehrentreu, son of HaRav Yisroel Ehrentreu
principal of Prestwich Jewish Day School, was born in
Frankfurt. In time, he went to England and studied in London
yeshivos under HaRav Moshe Schneider and then in the
Gateshead Yeshiva. Quite rapidly he became known for his
outstanding hasmodoh, unique character traits and in-
depth study. Friends relate that from his early youth, he
yearned to study Torah, and applied himself diligently to his
study, amassing an amazing amount of knowledge. He was
called, "bor sod she'eino mi'abed tipa." He shattered
his yetzer and refined his body, devoting himself
solely to Torah and yiras Shomayim.
He married the daughter of HaRav Yehuda Zeev Segal, who
recognized his greatness in Torah and yiras Shomayim,
as well as his outstanding character traits. After his
marriage, he continued to study with great hasmodoh,
acquiring vast knowledge in the sea of Talmud. All who knew
him attested to his amazing knowledge and expertise in
Shas.
Soon after his marriage he began to teach in the Manchester
Yeshiva, where he produced many students. Many talmidei
chachomim studied under him, and he had a deep influence
on his students. Many consulted him on issues of Torah and
yiras Shomayim, regarding him as a model of the
perfect oved Hashem whose entire life focused only on
serving Hashem, raising the glory of Shomayim and
spreading Torah.
His students regarded him as the transmitter of the legacy of
his illustrious father-in-law, HaRav Yehuda Zeev Segal, whose
sole purpose was to direct them along the paths of Torah and
mussar. HaRav Ehrentreu's students note how he managed
to chart paths into the hearts of the students and guide them
along the Torah way with his pleasant manner and speech.
He was an example for his students, especially in the trait
of humility: the exalted trait from which he drew his
patience, alacrity and gratitude so highly praised by his
students. He fled honor as one flees from fire, and was
beloved by European Jewry, who regarded him as Europe's
"crown of Torah" and "crown of humility."
It wasn't for naught that those who eulogized him cried out:
"Woe to the ship that has lost its captain." Although one
does not see the captain, from the course of a journey, one
can learn about his greatness and how successful he was in
directing the Torah world through stormy waves to safe
shores. Upon leaving for Eretz Yisroel, the ra'avad of
the Eida HaChareidis, HaRav Yitzchok Weiss, zt"l,
former rav of Manchester, said that the community could rely
totally upon HaRav Meir Tzvi Ehrentreu, who was thoroughly
versed in the Shulchan Oruch.
A number of months ago he fell ill, but recovered and
returned to the yeshiva to teach. On Tuesday night, 6 Elul,
he felt ill, and not long after suffering a heart attack, he
returned his pure soul to its Maker.
British residents and students from all over Europe and the
United States came to London to participate in the
levaya. Before it left his home, his brother-in-law,
HaRav Pesach Segal and his son, HaRav Yisroel Ehrentreu
delivered hespedim in his memory. The levaya
then continued to the study hall of the yeshiva where he
taught for scores of years, where hespedim were
delivered by: HaRav Menachem Mendel Schneibalg; HaRav Chanoch
Ehrentreu, the head of the London beis din and the
niftar's brother; the niftar's son, HaRav Moshe
Yitzchok; the niftar's brother-in-law, HaRav Moshe
Kupits; the niftar's son, HaRav Avrohom Ehrentreu, and
HaRav Yaakov Yehuda Falk.
The maspidim bitterly bemoaned the loss of "the crown
of England," the pillar of Torah and humility, who in his
greatness and modesty led the yeshiva after the
petirah of his father-in- law. They called him a
rosh yeshiva who was great in both Torah and midos
tovos, and said that his petirah obligates us to
strengthen ourselves in Torah study.
At the end of the hespedim the levaya left for
the cemetery in Manchester, where he is buried beside his
father-in-law, HaRav Yehuda Zeev Segal.
The niftar was the brother of HaRav Yonah Yosef
Ehrentreu, zt"l, the rav of the Adas Yeshurun
community of Bnei Brak.
He is survived by his wife as well as by ten children, sons-
in-law and grandchildren, all of whom are following the path
he charted for them.
