R’ Yanky Meyer’s Passing One Year Later: A Truly Irreplaceable Loss

YS Gold

It has been one year since the passing of the legend of askonus, a man who—as his matzeivah aptly says—“innovated in Chessed like a true ga’on.”

Speaking to veterans of askonus, it becomes clear that this loss is truly irreplaceable. “As cliche as it may sound,” says R’ Yochonon Donn, a longtime writer, “from every corner, we hear how the address for every need in our community—the one on the other end of the line who always picked up— no longer answers the call. He is truly irreplaceable.”

In the year since R’ Yanky’s passing, unbelievable stories emerged of his dedication to Chessed, to almonos and yesomim, and to every member of Klal Yisroel, no matter who they were—and there are many more stories of his chessed that will never be revealed to the world.

Reb Meir Weill was R’ Yanky’s partner in the founding of Misaskim and in other Klal endeavors. He told BoroPark24: “It is difficult to believe that we are marking the first yohrtzeit for my friend and Klal Yisroel's friend, R' Yankie Meyer, z”l. His devotion and dedication to anybody and everybody was unprecedented. We have no replacement for him, and throughout this past year, it was very noticeable. How many times did we hear Klal Yisroel say, "Where is Yankie". May he be a meiletz yosher to the family and all of us. May he be the shtadlan for us in Shomayim to bring a k'siva v'chasima tova to all of Klal Yisroel!”

As one askan told BoroPark24 last year in advance of the annual kinnus tefillah for children that takes place in Boro Park during aseres yemei teshuvah —giving voice to how askonim feel in the aftermath of his passing:

“It’s bittersweet dealing with it and preparing for it. We are all strong, dealing with it because this is what Yanky, z”l, taught us. We know that all the kinderlich's tefilos will be niskabel because Yanky will be there today and deliver the tefilos straight to the Malech Refael.”

 Indeed, Reb Yanky surely continues his holy work of advocating for his fellow Yidden just as he did with such heart and dedication and mesirus nefesh during his lifetime on this earth.

 Yehi zichro baruch.