An estimated 12,000 persons attended the funeral yesterday of Rabbi Levi Grunwald, who in 1941 established the first Hasidic congregation in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn. Grunwald remained rabbi of the synagogue, Arugath Habosem, until his death Saturday at the age of 87.
Grunwald also founded the Arugath Habosem Yeshiva and Mesittha in Williamsburg. He is credited by Hasidic leaders with pressing for the establishment of kosher processing laws in the United States. Born in Khust, then in Austria-Hungary, now in the Ukraine, Grunwald received his religious training from his father, Rabbi Moshe Grunwald. After serving as rabbi in Orsawa, Rumania, he become the leader of a congregation in Tzelemmer, Austria, and was known since then as the “Tzelemmer Rebbe.” He come to Brooklyn in 1938.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
