Thousands of Bnei Brak residents, headed by roshei
yeshiva, admorim, rabbonim and prominent public figures,
accompanied Rabbi Shmuel Weinberg, former mayor of Bnei Brak,
on his last earthly journey. He was 77 years old at the time
of his petirah on Wednesday night, the 23rd of Av.
The levaya left his home in Bnei Brak and continued to
the Kehal Chassidim shul. It then made its way through the
city until reaching the Chisda shul, where hespedim
were delivered. It proceeded to the cemetery of Yeshivas
Netzivei Ponovezh.
The maspidim spoke about Rabbi Weinberg's outstanding
character traits as well as his extensive activities on
behalf of the many Torah and chessed institutions
which he founded.
Rabbi Weinberg, son of the admor of Slonim, HaRav
Avrohom Yehoshua Heschel, was born in Poland. His father was
the son-in-law of HaRav Dovid Weidenfeld, the father-in-law
of the Beis Yisroel of Gur. While growing up in a home of
Torah, yiras Shomayim, and chassidus, he
absorbed a deep love of Torah and chessed. In 5695
(1935), he and his family moved to Eretz Yisroel,
where he married the daughter of HaRav Moshe Osher Eckstein,
the av beis din of Sered, and the main supporter of
the yeshivos of Slobodke.
Rabbi Weinberg devoted his best years to public service,
primarily as a member of the Bnei Brak city council on which
he served for many years, most of them in senior positions
such as mayor and deputy mayor. In the municipality, he was
well known for his integrity as well as his efforts to
improve the city and benefit its Torah institutions. He was
very close with the city's gedolei Yisroel and
rabbonim, and especially his uncle the Beis Yisroel.
His door was open to all in need, and many sought his wise
counsel and help.
He served as the president of the Eishel Avrohom Kollel,
which he established in memory of his illustrious father. He
went to great extents to publish his father's seforim,
among them Otzar Erkei HaTorah BeOhalei Yissochor.
He suffered from a serious illness this year, and on
Wednesday night, the 23rd of Av, he returned his pure soul to
its Maker.
