There are tens of thousands of former talmidim of Rabbi Meyer Fendel who will be mourning this remarkable man who passed away over this past weekend. His legacy of Torah education and dedication to Jewish values has left an indelible mark on the American Jewish community. He passed away at the age of 98.
Rabbi Fendel came from a family steeped in Torah tradition. His father, Rabbi Zalman Hillel (Joseph) Fendel, was born in 1888 and emigrated from Lithuania to America around 1904 as a young man of 16 and a half. Despite arriving alone with no means of support, the elder Rabbi Fendel’s commitment to Torah never wavered. He had to change jobs weekly until he was finally able to establish a small store of his own. Throughout these challenges, he maintained an unwavering dedication to Torah study, often learning late into the night despite his exhaustion from work.
The foundation for this dedication was laid in Rabbi Zalman Hillel’s childhood. His mother had instilled in him a profound love of Torah from his earliest years. When he misbehaved as a child, rather than physical punishment, she would say in Yiddish, “If you behave this way, you will never become a talmid chacham.” These words would bring the young boy to tears, showing how deeply the aspiration for Torah learning was embedded in his heart from childhood.
The Fendel home at 94 South 10th Street in Williamsburg became a beacon of Torah and chesed. It housed the first shteibel in Williamsburg, where Rabbi Zalman Hillel served as the baal koreh. Despite being almost tone-deaf, he worked diligently to master the leining and maintained a small shiur with two to three people. The home was situated between the residences of both grandmothers — Bubba Fendel (Bas Sheva) on one side and Bubba Dershowitz (Bubba Leah) on the other — creating an environment saturated with Torah values and Jewish tradition.
Reb Meyer was born on April 25, 1926, followed two years later by his brother in 1929.
Rabbi Meyer Fendel’s mother, Chaya Raizel (Rosie), was the youngest daughter of Rabbi Zecharia Dershowitz, known as the Tzaddik of Williamsburg (yes, he was related to Alan Dershowitz). Rabbi Dershowitz was a remarkable figure who had moved to Williamsburg when it was still a suburb, establishing the first shteibel there after encountering laxity in religious observance in his previous neighborhood. He was known to have declared that three generations would remain religious in America, a promise that was fulfilled as every member of Rabbi Meyer’s generation remained observant.
The shidduch between Rabbi Meyer’s parents was particularly meaningful. Rabbi Zecharia Dershowitz was deeply concerned about finding a shomer Shabbos husband for his youngest daughter. When Zalman Hillel was suggested, Rabbi Dershowitz was overjoyed to find a true ben Torah for Chaya Raizel. The match was so significant that it was finalized at Rabbi Dershowitz’s deathbed, with the wedding taking place after his passing.
Rabbi Zalman Hillel and Chaya Raizel built a home that became legendary in its own right. Their residence at 94 South 10th Street became a gathering place for Torah scholars, with students from Torah Vodaas frequently visiting on Yamim Tovim and Shabbos.
Reb Meyer attended Yeshiva Torah Vodaas, and after completing high school, became very close with Rav Moshe Dov Chait zt”l. He was Rebbitzen Chait’s first cousin, and Rav Moshe Chait convinced him to learn at Reb Dovid Leibowitz’s new Yeshiva at 135 South Ninth Street. Unfortunately, Reb Dovid passed away soon after and Rav Mordechai Shulman and Rav Scheinberg took over the shiurim.
Reb Zalman Hillel took in his mother-in-law, Lena Dershowitz, to live with them as well. The atmosphere of Torah and chesed was palpable, with Rabbi Zalman Hillel often learning until he fell asleep over his Gemara. His dedication to Torah was so profound that even during his final illness, when he could no longer study, holding a Gemara brought him comfort and joy.
On September 3, 1952, he departed New York Harbor on a ship bound for Eretz Yisroel called the “Nassau.” He arrived in Haifa port and was quite hooked on the land that Hashem gave the Jewish people— Eretz Yisroel.
In 1953, recognizing the critical need for Jewish education in Long Island, Rabbi Meyer Fendel took a bold step. With just 30 children and a handful of families, he founded the Hebrew Academy of Nassau County (HANC). The school’s first home was an old three-story house in West Hempstead known as the “Oppenheim Collins Estate.” With characteristic selflessness, Rabbi Fendel served as principal without remuneration.
The school’s early days were marked by dedication and innovation. Anne Abelow, the first teacher, taught both Hebrew and English to first graders, while Ruth Provda served as secretary, nurse and confidante to the students. Despite limited resources, the school grew steadily, adding a new wing in 1956 to accommodate its expanding student body.
In 1957, he married his akeres haBayis, Goldie Feldman. They built a warm home where their children observed their remarkable shalom bayis. Indeed, they both inspired their children to also serve Klal Yisroel in the noble profession of chinuch.
Throughout his career, Rabbi Fendel demonstrated an unwavering commitment to Torah education. In 1971, he conceived the “New Opportunities Program,” which continues to this day, enabling students with limited Judaic background to receive both Torah education and excellent General Studies. Under his leadership, HANC never turned away a child due to financial constraints. His warm and genuine approach to parents made it impossible for them to say no when he reached out about enrolling their children.
Rabbi Fendel’s influence extended beyond HANC. He studied under Rav Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg, zt”l at Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim in the 1940s and maintained a strong connection with his rebbe throughout his life. His commitment to Torah education was so profound that when his father wanted him and his brother Zechariah to take over the family business, Rabbi Meyer insisted they both pursue careers in chinuch instead, dedicating their lives to Torah education.
The decision to pursue chinuch over business reflected the values instilled by his parents. His father’s example of maintaining Torah study despite business pressures, and his mother’s role in creating a home permeated with Torah values, shaped Rabbi Meyer’s life choices. Their partnership in building a Torah home became a model for his own life’s work.
After making aliyah, Rabbi Fendel continued his educational work in Eretz Yisroel, teaching at the Ora Institute and Moriah Seminary for foreign students. He established a summer camp for Diaspora girls that transformed their connection to Israel and Torah. He lived in Har Nof, Yerushalayim, where he continued to influence and inspire others with his love of Torah and Eretz Yisroel.
Whenever I met him in Har Nof, he greeted me with his loving warm smile and sent his warmest regards to his friends and old Yeshiva mates back in New York. He was beloved by his rebbeim, friends, talmidim and their parents.
His passion for Eretz Yisroel was evident in his teachings and writings. He often quoted the Meshech Chochma’s observation that there is no Sedra in the Torah without mention of Eretz Yisroel. He emphasized that only in Eretz Yisroel could one achieve the lofty purity of thought and action (“avira de Eretz Yisrael makhkim”), and he saw this emphasis on the Land of Israel as a paramount reason for Jews to connect with it.
Rabbi Fendel followed in his father’s footsteps in combining unwavering Torah dedication with concern for others. Just as his father had once been heartbroken when he missed an opportunity to help a meshulach who visited his store, Rabbi Fendel was known for ensuring that every Jewish child had access to Torah education, regardless of their background or financial situation.
Today, many of New York’s Orthodox doctors were educated at HANC, and Nassau County’s Department of Health is run by a HANC graduate. The school stands as a testament to Rabbi Fendel’s vision and dedication, continuing to transform young lives more than 70 years after its founding.
Rabbi Fendel is survived by his sons: Hillel Fendel, a resident of Beit El and longtime writer for Arutz Sheva — Israel National News, and Rabbi David Fendel, who heads the Sderot yeshiva. His legacy lives on through his children, grandchildren and the countless students whose lives he touched.
The impact of Rabbi Fendel’s work extends far beyond the institutions he built. His approach to Jewish education, combining authentic Torah values with sensitivity to each student’s needs, has influenced generations of educators. His dedication to making Torah education accessible to all Jews, regardless of their background or means, set a standard for Jewish education in America.
Rabbi Fendel exemplified the values he inherited from his family: his father’s dedication to Torah study despite material challenges, his mother’s ability to create a home filled with Torah and chesed, and his grandfather’s unwavering commitment to maintaining Jewish observance in America. He transformed these personal values into an educational vision that has enriched Jewish life in both America and Israel.
The funeral was held on Sunday at 12:30 at the Eretz Hachaim cemetery in Beit Shemesh, where Rabbi Fendel was laid to rest in the land he loved and taught others to cherish.
His wife Goldy passed away about seven years ago. They are survived by their children: Rabbi Duv Fendel, Rabbi Hillel Fendel, Raizy Steinberg and Mindy Marcus.
May his memory be a blessing, and may his family be comforted among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem. Yehei zichro Boruch and may he be a meilitz yosher for all who knew him and for all of klal Yisroel.
The author can be reached at [email protected]
