BDE: Rabbi Meyer Leifer, z”l

YS Gold 

BoroPark24 regrets to inform you of the petirah of Rabbi Meyer Leifer, a longtime rov and chazzan in Manhattan and scion of rabbinic royalty. He was 92 years of age. 

Rabbi Leifer was born on the Lower East Side of New York to his father Rav Sholom Leifer who was the grandson of Rebbe Mordechai Leifer of Nadvorna, making Rabbi Meyer Leifer one of the last remaining great-grandchildren of the Nadvorna Rebbe. His mother was Rebbetzin Chaya, the daughter of Rav Dovber Thumim of Pshevorsk. 

He was a brother of, ybl”ch, the Nadvorna Rebbe of Boro Park. 

For forty-two years, Rabbi Leifer served with great dedication as the rov of Congregation Emunas Yisroel—also known as the Chelsea Shul—on West 23rd Street in Manhattan. 

In later years, he served as the spiritual leader of the Pelham Parkway Jewish Center, keeping the flame of Yiddishkeit alive in a dwindling neighborhood. 

Throughout his years in rabbonus, he was dedicated not only to his congregation, but to every Yid who came by the shul. A Daily News story from 1988 tells of the time that Rabbi Leifer hosted a meal in the sukkah for homeless people, and then offered them to make a brocho on the lulav and esrog. 

The Levaya of Rabbi Leifer will take place at Shomrei Hadas at 12:00 today. To watch it live click here.

Yehi zichro baruch.