Rabbi Mordechai Bart, a Crown Heights resident who was a survivor of the Siberian exile passed away on Shabbos, 25 Teves, 5774.
He was 93.
Rabbi Mordechai Bart was born and raised in Poland. When he was 20 years old the war broke out and together with his yeshiva, he ran away from Poland, to Lithuania where the Bochurim tried applying for visas in the hope of emigrating to the United States. Instead, the communists used their applications to gather information about them, arrest them, and send them off to Siberia, never to be seen again.
One Friday, Mordechai heard that the communists were after him, so he ran with just the clothing on his back to hide in a nearby cemetery. Sunday morning, while still hiding, he wanted very much to put on Tefillin. He risked his life by knocking on the door of the caretaker of the cemetery to borrow his Tefillin. The caretaker quickly chased him away as his daughter was a communist and was sure to turn him in. But it was too late, as before long, the NKVD officials appeared and seized the hapless escapee, sending him to exile in Siberia.
He survived the grueling stay in Siberia, which ultimately saved his life. After the war, he returned to find that the Nazis had murdered his entire town.
After the war, he married Faiga Kleinman and they emigrated to America where they began their life anew.
They were blessed with children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren some of whom are Shluchim of the Rebbe.
He is survived by his wife Faiga, son Yankel Bart – Westchester, NY, daughter Chana Rivkah Gottlieb – Crown Heights, son Chezkel Bart – Brooklyn, NY and son Simcha Bart – Los Angeles, CA.
The Levaya will take place tomorrow, Sunday leaving Shomrei Hadas at 9:45 am and passing by 770 at 10:45 am.
Shiva will take place at 1590 Carroll St. through Friday morning.
Shacharis 7:00
Mincha 4:15
Maariv 5:15
Email nichum aveilim to simchabart@sbcglobal.net
Baruch Dayan Haemes.
Condolences to the family. Reb Mordechai was a true scion of the previous generation. A man who lived through so much during the war but never showed it. He sat and learnt and exhibited wonderful middos and simchas hachayim.
Chaval al d’avdin
He was a very special person and a real Talmid Chochom. BDE
OY what a tzaddik we lost. He davened at baumgartens shul for many years with us.
I knew of this man and his son as I was growing up on carroll st, he davened at khal chasidim and arem ahuvim…..back in the old days…….very nice, and erlich. BDE…
hamokom yenachem eschem besoich shaar aveilei tzion verusholayim
He was a very special person!
was an amazing person. should only hear good news. has left behind many grandchildren and great-grand children.