15,000 Jews Pay Tribute to Rabbi of Sadigora

Fifteen thousand Jews attended the funeral of Rabbi Isaac Friedman on Monday afternoon. Rabbi Friedman, the Rabbi of Sadigora, who came to the United States at the invitation of his many Chassidic followers, died just before his planned return to Europe.

The funeral was conducted according to the rites of the Chassidic Rabbinical families. Many Chassidic Rabbis were among those who payed tribute to the memory of the Chassidic leader.

The throng grew so dense in front of the house where the Rabbi died, that traffic had to be diverted and even street cars were unable to get through for half an hour before the coffin was borne to the street on the shoulders of eight Rabbis. As the Rabbis reached the door with their burden, a great wail rose from the multitude.

Burial took place at Mount Zion Cemetery.

Several hours before the burial a Din Torah, arbitration court proceedings, were held by two Rabbis, Rabbi Israel Guttman of Kamienietz Podolsk and Rabbi Halperin of Denver, Colorado. Two congregations, the Roumanian Synagogue of Brooklyn and the Tifereth Israel Congregation demanded the Rabbi be buried on their plots. The Roumanian synagogue offered $5,000 in cash for the family of the dead Rabbi and a reservation of eighty plots around the grave in order that it might be assured that no one unworthy, should be buried near the Rabbi. The congregation Tifereth Israel undertook to insure support for the family and to make a reservation of thirty-two graves. The demand of the latter congregation was supported by its claim that they were the actual Sadigora Chassidim who invited the Rabbi to America. The Rabbinical court decided that Rabbi Friedman should be buried on the grounds of the Tifereth Israel Congregation.

A committee of Rabbis was appointed as trustees of Rabbi Friedman’s estate.

Before the body was interred the Rabbis declared that this was being done on the condition that should his family so desire, the body will be exhumed and transferred to Europe.