On Tuesday 2 Cheshvan, a large and deeply pained throng
accompanied HaRav Osher Anshel Klein, zt"l, the rav of
the Heichal Menachem beis medrash of the Wasserhali
community and the head of the Maharam Shick kollel in Kiryat
Mattersdorf, on his last earthly journey. HaRav Klein, who
was only forty-eight at the time of his petirah,
returned his pure soul to its Maker after having suffered a
difficult illness and much pain.
HaRav Klein was the descended from an illustrious family of
gedolei olom such as HaRav Akiva Eiger, the Chasam
Sofer, the Chasan Sofer, and Maharam Shick. He was the son of
Rav Simcha Bunim Klein zt"l, the chairman of Kehal
Machzikei Hadas of the Belzer chassidic community and Agudas
Yisroel's representative in the Jerusalem Municipality.
As a youth, Osher Anshel was known for his remarkable
diligence, his yiras Shomayim, and his outstanding
character traits. He was loved by his rabbonim in the Belzer
yeshiva and the Chachmei Lublin yeshiva, where he studied.
For a while, he studied in the Chasan Sofer yeshiva of
Brooklyn, under the tutelage of his illustrious uncle, the
gaavad of Mattersdorf. While there, he was considered
one of the yeshiva's finest students.
He married Chaya Feige, the daughter of Rav Yaakov Adler of
Bnei Brak. After his marriage, he continued his Torah studies
and also devoting himself to the spreading of Torah and
yirah.
Twenty years ago his father founded the kollel in the
Nevei Simcha old age home, and named it after the Maharam
Shick. HaRav Osher Anshel, who was appointed to head that
kollel founded, at the same time, the Bnei Moshe Torah
Institute for the publication of the works of Maharam Shick.
In the framework of this institute, he published a number of
the Maharam Shick's works, as well as the prominent works of
his forbears on Torah, Shas, Pirkei Ovos and taryag
mitzvos. These works contained his remarkable annotations,
which were highly praised and warmly received in the Torah
world.
He also published the writings of his HaRav Menachem Sofer,
the gaavad of Wasserhali, from whom he is descended. In
the will which HaRav Osher Anshel wrote a number of days
before his petirah, he asked that the writings of HaRav
Menachem Sofer which still remain in manuscript form, be
published.
In 5750, with the petirah of his grandfather, HaRav
Ephraim Fishel Klein, the gaavad of Wasserhali, HaRav
Osher Anshel was chosen to replace him as the rav of the
Heichal Menachem beis medrash. In that capacity, HaRav
Osher Anshel delivered daily shiurim on various
masechtos of the Shas, and as well as mussar
talks which inspired all those who heard them to serve Hashem
better.
He also served as shliach tsibur on Shabbosim and
holidays, in this beis medrash. On the Yomim Noraim he
would stir the congregation which his emotion-filled prayers.
A number of months ago he contracted a rare lung illness,
which recently grew worse and aroused the deep concern of his
family and friends who recited many prayers for his recovery.
However, due to our many sins, the gates of prayer were
closed and Tuesday the 2nd of Cheshvan he returned his pure
soul to its Maker, leaving behind a startled and grieved
family.
His levaya left from the Heichal Menachem beis
medrash in the Nevei Simcha home, and was attended by a
large thong, headed by roshei yeshiva, rabbonim,
admorim, dayanim, morei horo'oh and public figures.
Hespedim were delivered by his father-in-law, the Admor
of Darg; the niftar's brother-in-law, the Admor of
Trisk; and the following rabbonim: HaRav Pinchas Scheinberg,
rosh yeshiva of Torah Or, Rabbi Akiva Eherenfeld, the
president of the Mattersdorf institutions; HaRav Yochonon
Sofer, the gaavad of Eroli; HaRav Pinchas Friedman, the
rosh kollel of the Belzer Kollel; and the
niftar's oldest son, Rav Mordechai Klein. All deeply
mourned the heavy loss, of the talmid chochom and
marbitz Torah -- atzil haruach venefesh, who was
niftar in the prime of his life.
At the end of the hespedim, his sons said
Kaddish, while weeping bitterly. The levaya then
proceeded to Har Hamenuchos, where he was buried in the
Rabbinical Plot.
He is survived by his mother and by his wife -- who stood by
his side with much dedication during their entire marriage --
as well as by eight children, only two of whom are married.
His sons are all avreichim and outstanding bnei
yeshiva, and his daughters are exemplary students of the
Beis Yaakov school system. His brother, Rav Menachem Klein,
is the general director of Nevei Simcha, and his sisters are
well known for their piety.
