Tragedy: Belza Hasid dies of coronavirus at age 47, two weeks after his parents passed away

September 20, 2020   

tragedy:  At the Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv, the late Rabbi Menashe Yitzhak Meir Schiff, z"l, of the Belza Hasidim in Ashdod, passed away at the age of 47 - after falling ill with the coronavirus more than two months ago. The deceased z"l passed away two weeks after his father and mother passed away. His father - the late Rabbi Yosef Schiff, z"l, one of the most prominent Belza Hasidim in Jerusalem, passed away on the 1st of Elul at the Shaarei Tzedek Hospital from a serious illness, at the age of 69. Hours later, his wife, Mrs. Ita, a.h., collapsed after receiving the difficult news and passed away. The deceased z"l is the grandson of the late Rabbi Elazar Moshe Avraham Schiff, zt"l, a descendant of the Rebbe, Rabbi Elimelech of Lizhensk, z"a. His mother, Mrs. Ita, a.h., was the daughter of the late Rabbi Hananya Yom Tov Lipa Teitelbaum zt"l. The late Z"l was known for his extensive knowledge of Hasidism and Hasidic history and even published several books. He left behind 12 orphaned children, whom he did not get to marry. His nephew, Rabbi Hananya Yom Tov Lipa ben Saarka Miriam Hinda Gross, aged 22, is hospitalized at the Tel Hashomer hospital, and has been dealing with a serious illness for several years. Rosh Hashanah prayers were held in the courtyard of the Belza Hasidic community in the presence of the Rebbe, without adhering to the Ministry of Health guidelines.