Remembering the Chuster Rebbe of Boro Park
By Gershon Hellman -February 22, 2023 (Article Credit goes to the Ami and goes to Gershon Hellman) Rav Shmuel Shmelke Leifer, zt”l, the Chuster Rebbe of Boro Park, a renowned rav, mechaneich and baal darshan, was niftar on Monday. He was 78. Rav Shmelke, as he was lovingly known, was a scion of the chasidic courts of Nadvorna, Chust and Skolya, and a son of Rav Aharon Moshe Leifer of Chust. His father was the last Nadvorner einikel to lead a court in Chust before the war. After arriving in America, Rav Aharon Moshe lived in several communities, where he was greatly mechazeik many Yidden with his trademark warmth as well as his greatness in Torah. As a bachur, Rav Shmelke learned in Yeshivas Mattesdorf, under the guidance of the Mattesdorfer Rav, Rav Shmuel Ehrenfeld, zt”l, as well as in Yeshivas Krasna and Ger. He also was close to his uncle, the Skolya Rebbe, Rav Dovid Yitzchok Aizik Rabinowitz, zt”l. Rav Shmelke was a master mechaneich. He served as magg...
