Rav Shmuel Gratz zt"l, founder of an important
kollel for baalei batim and Kollel Ohr Hameir,
passed away in Bnei Brak on Leil Shabbos Parshas Bamidbor
5766 at the age of 84.
Shmuel Gratz was born to Aharon Gratz in Lithuania. At the
age of two his family moved to the US, where he was raised
and educated in Torah-based schools. He studied at Yeshivas
Tiferes Yerushalayim under Maran HaRav Moshe Feinstein
zt"l.
After marrying, he served as the rov of Beis Knesses Agudas
Achim in East New York where he showed mesirus nefesh
in upholding Yiddishkeit despite the many obstacles
during that period. He started numerous shiurim at
different botei knesses, giving some of them
himself.
As Jews began to migrate to other parts of New York, he sold
the shul and gave the proceeds to the Ponevezher Rov.
The money was then used to build Beit Scharansky on Rechov
HaRav Meltzer in Bnei Brak and all the memorial plaques from
the shul were moved and posted in the new building in
Eretz Hakodesh.
In 5722 (1962) he moved to Eretz Yisroel, settling in
Tel Aviv. He immediately set about founding shiurim in
the city, particularly at Beis Knesses Tiferes Mordechai
which he attended regularly.
He became active in saving youth from the disastrous effects
of heretical schools. Working with HaRav Shaul Karelitz and
HaRav Mordechai Weinstein he set up youth clubs that
sponsored various activities designed to provide
chizuk and draw the participants closer to avodas
Hashem.
Rav Gratz founded a program of mesivtos, primarily for
sixth- through eight-grade students, including dormitories to
keep them away from negative influences in their home
neighborhoods. He maintained contact on a daily basis with
Maran HaRav Shach zt"l, who provided him great
encouragement in operating the program. Rav Gratz would often
travel abroad to raise money for the project.
He also founded the kollel baalei batim at the Komarna
beis medrash on Rechov Devora Hanevia in Bnei Brak,
which was considered a tremendous innovation at the time. The
kollel, which earned the acclaim of the Kehillas
Yaakov, sponsored shiurim given by gedolei
Torah and prominent roshei yeshivas. He also started
Kollel Ohr Hameir for yeshiva alumni forced to work in non-
chinuch jobs to earn a living.
He suffered from poor health in recent years and his
condition deteriorated on Leil Shabbos until he returned his
purified soul to his Maker.
The levaya set out on Motzei Shabbos from his son's
home and proceeded to the Komarna beis medrash, where
bitter hespeidim were given by HaRav Mordechai
Reinhold, HaRav Tzvi Rotberg, HaRav Yonoson Domb, HaRav Chaim
Peretz Berman and his son HaRav Moshe Yosef. The eulogizers
recalled the deceased's gadlus in Torah and
middos as well as his resolute activities for the sake
of Klal Yisroel. Following the hespeidim the
levaya continued on its way to Jerusalem, where he was
buried at Har Hamenuchot.
Rav Shmuel Gratz zt"l is survived by his son Moshe
Yosef and his daughter who is married to HaRav Gavriel
Radner, as well as grandchildren and great-grandchildren
continuing the spiritual legacy he passed on to them during
his lifetime.
