New York – As we approach the passover holiday, it is VIN News’ sad duty to inform the community of the passing of Mr. Mordechai Friedman of Kiryas Joel, New York.
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Reb Mordechai was well known and respected in Kiryas Joel and beyond for his non-stop acts of chesed. As one of Kiryas Joel’s first and longest-running Hatzolah members, Reb Mordechais was personally responsible for literally saving numerous lives over 35 years.
Reb Mordechai was also quite renowned over the the years for using his chaplaincy position with the New York State Police and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office to organize and maintain a mincha minyan and plenty of suitably kosher food at the Sloatsburg rest stop the New York State Thruway.
It was this position that earned him the most fame, serving as it did to provide thousands of Jews traveling to and from the Catskills, Montreal and other places with a place to daven, eat and otherwise meet their needs. Many Jews, Chasidim and otherwise, knew the hardworking, selfless community activist from the Sloatsburg “pit stop.”
Reb Mordechai was also a Jewish chaplain at Upstate Regional Medical Center. He also established the Bikur Cholim room at Arden Hill Hospital in Goshen, New York.
The veteran community askan who helped thousands with his tzedakah and chesed over the years passed away at the age of 56 this Motzoei Shabbos after a long battle with cancer.
A son, Mr. Abe Friedman, follows in his father’s footsteps as chief adviser to New York State Senator Eric Adams and security liaison to New York State’s Office of Homeland Security.
BDE – I am sure the tefillos and kiddush hashem ,by keeping slaotsburg orderly and accesable to so many jews will be meylitz yosher for this special person.
R’ Mordchai was a great person that will sure be missed. His warm heart & good word was him,
His son R’ Avrum Yanki follows his foot steps, & a true askan.
May he be a meilets yosher for the whole family. -k-
Bd”h he was a TRUE bal chesed with a real Yiddish heart.
A yid with a goldene heart, we lost a strong friend in our comunity,
I had the priviladge of being personnaly close with this Tzadik and saw first hand some of his acts of Chesed, his motto was “low key” never wanted any recognition or kuvud for anything he did.
Klal yisroel lost a true hero. He will truely be missed.
Burech Dayan Emes!
What a special person, maintained by himself the good sam hospital bikur cholim room although he was a busy person he wanted to do this himself. Packing shabos peklech for the sick.
May his soul rest in peace.
BDH
May he be an askin to all of us by the beis din she’ll malha
And special to his sun abe that he should be.matzliach with his chesed to all
This person was mamash a tzadik. Hamokem yenachem eschem bsoch shar avalei tzio lyerushalayim
BDE .He was a. big bal chesed and ran the shabos room in arden hill hospital not in the good sam let him be a Meilitz Yosher for Klal Yisroel
Bd”h
What a terriable loose. Should he be a melitz yoisher on all of us
Hashem should help as Zul shoin zain ulaihu hashlem kul hakorbunois kilom
Bsiros Toives
What a shock!
R. Mordechai Friedman was known as a very nice guy, respectful of every yid
always ready to help anyone & everyone, and he did alot of hishtadlus for the tzibur.
Baruch Dayan Haemes – Yhe Zicroh Boruch
The LEVAYEH of our fellow Hatzola member R’ Mordechai Freidman KY18/B318 will be at Yeraim Chapel 11pm. Besires toives.
Burich Dayan HuEmes. What a loss to all of Klal Yisroel. I was personally involved in 2 cases where Rabbi Friedman helped a very special cause.
Boruch Dayon HoEmes. He was a sweet person.
Can’t beleive it! I remember being on calls with him. What a mentch! Always with a smile. Was able to communicate with patients in a special manner. Chaval al di’avden v’lo mish’takchen!
going to be buried
The New Pollaks Lot, Near KJ
All his good deeds will come by today in favor for him. I still remember clearly how he helped us one erev yom tov when we had an emergency. May his good deeds be remembered by all.
What a bal chesed.let’s for sure he left here a son who is going ready in his deruchim.may he be a maliz yosher for his dear wife and children,
helped everyone
The Leveiya is now in KJ at Pollak’s lot.
He was a great man!
Bde what a good man
BDE. I didn’t see him in a very long time but I remember he was a good man, may his neshume have an aliye and ale yiden a yeshie.
A true angel !! Got to know reb Mordche. He will he saved my life!! HE made sure I hv food for my family. This is a lose for every Community. He’s heart was GOLD a person one of a kind. Me my wife crying for hours and can’t find comfort
Was a real mentch and super baal chesed, was a close chosid of Rabbi Zalmen Teitelbaum – Satmar Rebbe shlita.
Was laid to rest in the new bais hachayim in KJ, (adjacent to the old one, and just yards away from where the kvorim of the holy satmar rebbes z”l).
A life filled with chesed and zechus horabim. Zichrono livrochoh!
I remember being a summer resident in KJ area every time i met Mordche a’h at Landaus grocery he would always ask me to make a deposit in the Hatzolah account which paid for all the groceries in the Arden Hill hospital Bikur cholim room…Lets continue doing it leili nishmusoy…
Just a story 11 pm after traveling home from the city sitting inthe pessenger side he told me he does not feel good and he can’t drive anymore when he arrived to kj he made. Uturn took an hatzolo call to the city with 2 advil real bal chesed
What a nice man what a beauteful family! Him and he’s son are true leaders special people! I was fortunate to meet him. He made me smile and helped with such secitivity. He will be missed by so many heartbroken people. But he’s legosy will go on by he’s special devoted leader who work so tirelesly for all people!
what a nice man.. was always living to help people in all needs. hes smile hes way of speakig to people was so impressive! A TRUE LOSS NOT ONLY FOR THE jEWISH COMMUNITY BUT FOR ALL ! MY HEART IS BROKEN. PEOPLE CRY OPENLY ABOUT THIS LOSS….. but i assure you we will never forget him!
As a member of the Law Enforcement community and a personal friend of Rabbi Friedman, he will be truly missed I myself first met him when I was hospitalized in Arden Hill Hospital years back and brought me Kosher meals and visited me daily. A real true friend and am sure his sons Abe & Joel will carry on the legacy their father started.
I agree ..I know mordchi for 27 years he was man with a great heart a man who was helping all of us for all of us , he did so many good things in his life ! In the hatsula for 25 years,in the hospital, in the State Police in the jails ,in the sheriff office all over the world !he never wanted to take credit for his self . This is a loss for the entire world , he had left his 2 great sons with good good hearts which they will to do the same like there father for every community . Both of you keep up the good work ! And be strong I’m still in shocked
I know personal his son yoeli , he helped me and my wife in the early morning ones , he is a man with a good heart like his father and brother , Yoeli jeep up the good work we all need you
thanks to his wife for supporting him at all times.