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Sunday, February 10, 2019

Jerry Simon, 84, Passes On ... The Simons Sponsored & Housed Holocaust Survivors!


by COL and DIN

R' Yitzchok Yaakov (Jerry) Simon, a long-time resident of the Crown Heights neighborhood who carried out charitable activities without much fanfare, passed away on Shabbos morning, 4 Adar I 5779.

In 1941, his parents sent him and his brother to learn in Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim Lubavitch in New York. Their mother was ridiculed by her friends about sending her children to a Yeshiva. She nevertheless brought both sons to the Rebbe (then the Ramash) and said, "I leave you my entire belongings."

The two boys learned in the Yeshiva which was housed in temporary storefront locations. They continued once the Yeshiva moved to its famous location at the corner of Bedford and Dean in Brooklyn, learning Gemara and Chassidus.

After his marriage on Gimmel Tammuz, the couple was one of the early young Chabad couples to settle in the Crown Heights neighborhood and remained there even when many others moved out because of rising crime.

Jerry ran a kosher catering business and catered the Kinus Hashluchim, dinners of the Machne Israel Development Fund and for guests joining the Rebbe for the month of Tishrei.

He would secretly deliver food packages to local families and individuals in need. A widow once speaking about her hardships was told by the Rebbe, "Jerry nemt care" (Jerry will take care) of the food. On another occasion, the Rebbe commented that Jerry has a "good heart."

His charitable activities were done with a caring attitude and without expecting recognition or praise. He was also involved in supporting Keren Yisroel Aryeh Leib, a free-loan Gmach fund that assists families in Crown Heights.

His late Father and Mother sponsored many survivors that were in DP Camps in Germany. They then housed them in Asbury Park, New Jersey, and married off the orphan survivors.

He is survived by his wife Mrs. Sarah Malka Simon (nee Rosenblum), their children Mrs. Chana Etka Fefferman - Flatbush; Mrs. Tzirl Goldman - Crown Heights; Mrs. Aliza Scheinfeld - Crown Heights; Mrs. Nechama Dahan - Montreal, Canada; grandchildren and great-grandchildren. 

He is also survived by his brother R' Motel Simon of Crown Heights.

The levaya will take place on Sunday at Shomrei Hadas at 1:00 PM and pass by 770 Eastern Parkway at 1:45 PM.

The family will be sitting Shiva at 391 Crown Street. 
The family kindly requests no visitors past 10:00 PM.

Baruch Dayan Ha'emes.

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