BDE: Reb Yechezkel Shraga Goldenberg, z”l

BY: Boropark24 Staff 

We are deeply saddened to inform you of the shocking and untimely passing of R’ Yechezkel Shraga Goldenberg, a ga’on who lived his life as the unassuming proprietor of Copy Corner. He was 62 years of age. 

The niftar was born in Williamsburg to his father, R’ AvrumChaim Goldenberg, a brilliant talmid of the Satmar Ruv, from his native Satu-Mare, who established the printing business, which was responsible for the printing of hundreds of seforim in the postwar era. 

From the youngest age, his brilliance shone brightly. Reb Pinchas Elya Rosner, a heartbroken chavrusa and friend since their shared childhood in the Viener Yeshiva, recalls: “He was probably the most brilliant from among the Vienertalmidim—and there are numerous talmidei chachomim in our ranks from those days.

“When he was eleven or twelve years old, he typed up an entire kuntres on Pesach—with divrei Torah from various sources,” he recalls. 

This may have been the precursor to his career as the owner of Copy Corner in Boro Park—which was itself one of the most important Torah publishing houses in our community—a cover for his life of living and breathing Torah. 

Rosner recalls how their Rosh Yeshiva, the Hodhazer Ruv—a demanding, brilliant Ga’on—seemed to be speaking directly to Chesky, out of the hundred talmidim in the shiur. “He would sit there in the shiur, seemingly in his own world, and at the end of the week, you could not catch him on a single chidush of the Rosh Yeshiva!”  

All the seforim that were produced from chidushim of the Hodhazer Ruv were the work of R’ Yechezkel Shraga. Mr. Rosner shared with us a sample of his beautiful handwriting in a gift that he presented him—evidence of his tremendous creativity and talent. 

He was a regular mispalel in the Satmar Shul on 10thAvenue, where he was known for his deep ehrlichkeit, and broad Torah knowledge—although he went about his life with a deep simplicity, uncomfortable when anyone spoke about him.

“When he received an Aliyah, he was so careful to pay up every penny immediately,” recalls the gabbai. “He was possessed of every good middah.” 

Despite his many qualities, he did everything with tremendous simplicity—a cover for the tremendous power of chidush and Torah knowledge that he possessed. 

He felt unwell in recent days, and was taken into the hospital on Chol Hamoe’ed. His situation sadly deteriorated rapidly, and he was niftar Wednesday morning. 

The levaya will take place in the Satmar beis Medrash on 10th Avenue at 5:00 this afternoon. 

Yehi Zichro Baruch.