Rav Michels Levaye

Had an unforgettable, special Rebbi in Yeshiva Ketane Ohel Yaakov, who left an everlasting impression upon me. He was a survivor who had been through the trauma of the Holocaust, yet remained upbeat. Besides teaching us Torah ,he would  sing with us heart warming songs and tell us stories that captivated our being. His  smile, care, respect and understanding for every talmid was extraordinary. He earned a special place in my heart and probably in the hearts of all those who knew him. Whenever we met, we would greet each other warmly and happily. This went on throughout my teenage years and even after I got married. When there was a simcha in my family, I would try to invite him. When I became a Rebbi myself in later years, it was his performance as a Rebbi, I tried to emulate in the classroom. After moving away from Brooklyn, we lost some contact. Occasionally I would drive in to attend to matters. On one such trip, while driving down 17th Avenue, I ran into a traffic jam. As my car slowly moved along, I noticed throngs of people gathered together on all sides of the street. Something was obviously going on. I rolled down my window to ask someone what was happening The answer shocked me. The funeral of my beloved pastime Rebbi, Rav Michel Hakohen Schwartz, was taking place. I could barely catch my breath. Hashem just sent me here today, to this specific place, at this specific time, to be able to give my Rebbi his last deserved honor. The very man who impacted my life so much as a young boy. I immediately parked my car and hurried over to participate and carry the Oron down the street.