BDE: Reb Meir Chaim Gutfreund, z”l, Visionary Mechanech

YS GOLD 

We regret to inform you of the petirah of Reb Meir Gutfreund, z”l, a leader and visionary in the world of chinuch. He was 72 years of age, and passed away following an illness. 

Reb Meir was born and raised in the Monsey community, in the shadow of Beis Medrash Elyon and its Torah giants. He would take that spirit of striving and yearning for Torah and imbue it into generations of talmidim in Brooklyn and Lakewood. 

About three decades ago, seeing a void in Brooklyn’s chinuch landscape, Reb Meir founded The Cheder with a handful of children. Over the years, the yeshiva would grow into an empire of Torah—spanning from nursery through Beis Medrash. 

Throughout his career in chinuch, Reb Meir’s hallmark would be excellence. He applied that trait to everything he did with incredible drive. Indeed, the mosdos that Reb Meir led during his tenure are known for the most uncompromising standards of excellence, with rebbeim who are master mechanchim, dedicated to their craft. 

“Rabbi Gutfreund was a unique builder of Torah— a man who was completely and wholly dedicated to the cause,” related a Rebbi at The Cheder who has witnessed his Avodas hakodesh up close for a number of years. 

“Even when it cost him a lot—whether monetarily or otherwise—he would stop at nothing to help a talmid. He covered countless talmidims tutoring and chavrusos and mentors, both in yeshiva and outside yeshiva.” 

Reb Meir was completely l’sheim Shamayim, and had a gift for knowing how to build institutions. When a Mossad in Lakewood was struggling, Reb Meir took it over, and built it to become one of Lakewoods preeminent mosdos haTorah.” 

A Rebbi relates that rebbeim and talmidim alike knew that they could walk into Reb Meir’s office at any time and unburden themselves. He always had a listening ear, and he was always there to help.

Reb Meir raised an incredible generation of his own children who are talmidei chachomim—including a son who serves as the Rosh Yeshiva of Mesivta Shalom Shachna of The Cheder. 

With the passing of Rabbi Gutfreund, the Brooklyn community lost a great visionary and builder of Torah. 

The Levaye will take place 10:30am at The Cheder.

Yehi zichro baruch.