BDE: Sudden Petirah of the Lelover Rebbe Zt”l Following Collapse in Mikvah

A heavy mourning descended in Yerushalayim and the Torah world with the sudden and tragic petirah of the Lelover Rebbe, Rav Yissachar Dov Biderman zt”l. The Rebbe was 84 years old.

The Rebbe passed away under shocking circumstances on Sunday. As was his daily minhag, he arrived to immerse in his private mikvah on Tzefania Street in Yerushalayim. According to rescue personnel, the Rebbe collapsed in the water.

Emergency teams from United Hatzalah and MDA were summoned to the scene after those present noticed the Rebbe was lingering longer than usual. According to Israeli media, paramedics Naftali Sofer, Yosef Harpaz, and Kobi Marder reported finding the Rebbe unconscious and not breathing. Despite prolonged and advanced CPR efforts, the Rebbe returned his pure neshamah to its Creator.

The Rebbe was subsequently moved to the Beis Medrash on Tzefania Street, and then to his central Beis Medrash on Bar Ilan Street, where the paroches was removed and candles were lit in mourning.

The levaya is scheduled to take place Sunday at 10:00 PM from the central Beis Medrash Kedushas Mordechai Lelov at 39 Bar Ilan Street. The late hour was set to allow the Rebbe’s son to arrive via flight from London. Kevurah will be on Har Hazeisim.

Born on 12 Kislev, 5702, in Yerushalayim, the Rebbe was the son of the holy Rav Moshe Mordechai of Lelov zt”l, and Rebbetzin Attil a”h. In his youth, he learned at Belz Cheder in Tel Aviv and later became one of the elite bochurim at Yeshivas Lelov in the Batei Yisrael neighborhood.

Before assuming the mantle of leadership, the Rebbe lived a life of modesty, working as a Sofer Stam and devoting himself to avodas Hashem in seclusion. He was known for his gentle spirit and immense Ahavas Yisrael, continuing the golden tradition of the Lelov dynasty dating back to Rav Dovid of Lelov zt”l.

In later years, he established his Yeshiva and court on Bar Ilan Street. He was beloved by Chassidim worldwide, many of whom would flock to his tishen.

Chassidim have noted with awe the sudden and unique nature of the petirah of the Lelov line of Rebbes. The Rebbe’s passing comes just two days before the yahrtzeit of his brother, Rav Avraham Shlomo of Lelov zt”l. His other brothers also passed away during significant moments of Kedushah: Rav Shimon Nosson Neta on Yom Kippur night, and Rav Alter Elazar Menachem at the conclusion of a tish. Now, the Rebbe has passed away in the midst of the taharah of the mikvah.

Due to the tragedy, various tishen and celebrations in the Chassidish world were cancelled Sunday, including the Tu Bshvat tish of his nephew, Rav Elimelech Biderman.

The Rebbe leaves behind a generation of children and grandchildren following in his ways. His brothers, yibadlu l’chaim tovim, serve as the Rebbes of Lelov-Nikolsburg and Lelov-Ezras Torah.

Yehi Zichro Baruch.