JERUSALEM (VINnews) — On Friday morning, Rabbi Yisrael Yaakov Neiman, one of the prominent chasidim of the Spinka rebbe in Bnei Brak, passed away suddenly after returning from a vacation in Switzerland at the untimely age of 58.
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Just a day before his passing, in a poignant moment during a cable car ride in the Swiss mountains, Neiman was photographed singing the song “Ribono Shel Olam, I know that I am in your hands like material in the hands of the creator.”
*יום לפני פטירתו הוא צולם שר ברכבל בשוויץ*
הרב ישראל יעקב ניימן ז”ל נפטר פתאומי בשבוע שעבר אחרי שחזר משוויץ.
שימו לב למילים של השיר:
ריבונו של עולם, ידעתי ידעתי כי הנני בידך כחומר ביד היוצר…. pic.twitter.com/YYCCEzQGP8— מאחורי ‘הפרגוד’ (@moshepargod) August 4, 2024
Rabbi Neiman, who served as chazan during the Yamim Noraim in Spinka, had another very special role. During his lifetime, he was a father figure for numerous prisoners in jail. He used to come daily to Abu Kabir, where he would volunteer and sit for hours daily, and talk with the prisoners. He would listen to their life stories and problems and would advise them on how to rehabilitate and how to improve their lives.
Every day he would go to the jail, including on Chol Hamoed, Purim and even Erev Pesach. The prisoners were even more attached to him than his children, they felt tremendous love from him. Many maintained contact with him long after their release and considered their success in rehabilitating due to his support and encouragement.
May his soul be blessed.
“Every day he would go to the jail”
Obviously not when he was abroad.
The Israeli government rewards all soldiers, that finished their full years of service, with a trip to the Swiss Alps. It is only befitting, that they should also reward all those, that are fighting the war by learning Torah, with a trip to Switzerland.