The Gur Hasidic community in Borough Park, Brooklyn was struck with grief Saturday night upon learning of the sudden passing of Rabbi Avraham Shimon Morgenstern, a prominent community leader who collapsed and died during Shabbat at age 65.
The Gur community in Borough Park began growing significantly in the post-World War II period, as survivors of the Holocaust settled in the area. They established several key institutions, including shuls (shtieblach), with "Birkat Eliyahu" being one of the prominent ones, educational institutions for boys and girls and community centers.
The community is known for its strict adherence to Jewish law and Gur customs, which include distinctive dress (including the "Gerrer hat" - a round fur hat different from other Hasidic groups), emphasis on Torah study, and particular approaches to education and community life.
Borough Park's Gur community maintains strong connections with the main Gur center in Jerusalem, and many families have relatives in both locations. They are also known for their involvement in business and charitable activities, often supporting both local institutions and those in Israel.
Today, they form an integral part of Borough Park's larger Orthodox Jewish community, which is one of the largest Jewish communities in New York City.
Rabbi Morgenstern, born in 1960 in London's Hendon neighborhood, was the son of the late philanthropist Rabbi Yaakov Menachem Morgenstern, a leading Gur Hasid and major supporter of the movement. He studied at yeshivas in Lucerne and Gateshead before settling in the United States after his marriage, where he became one of the founders of the "Birkat Eliyahu" Gur synagogue in Borough Park.
The deceased was known for his deep Torah scholarship, warm personality, and generous but discreet charitable giving, particularly supporting Gur institutions in both Israel and the United States. He was the brother of the current Admor Rabbi Yitzchak Meir Morgenstern.
Rabbi Morgenstern is survived by his sons: Rabbi Nachman of Brooklyn, Rabbi Tzvi Zeev of Bnei Brak, Rabbi Simcha Bunim of Jerusalem, Rabbi Ephraim Hillel of Beit Shemesh, and Rabbi Moshe of Borough Park. He is also survived by his sons-in-law: Rabbi Bunim Garfinkel, Rabbi Dov Margoliot, and Rabbi Moshe Rappaport.
The funeral will be held Sunday at 10:30 AM (EST) at Shomrei Hadas Chapels in Borough Park, followed by a service at 11:00 AM at the Birkat Eliyahu synagogue on 18th Avenue. His remains will be flown to Israel for burial.
Baruch Dayan HaEmet.
Kikar HaShabbat contributed to this article.
0 Comments