Didn’t shake hands with Clinton • Reb Yitzchak Isaac Weinberger z"l

Baruch Dayan Haemes: Mourning in Williamsburg, with the arrival of news of the death of the veteran activist, R' Yitzchak Isaac Weinberger z"l, after suffering from illness for a short time, he was 66 years old at his death.

The deceased was one of the first students of the Satmar Yeshiva in New York, and was a favorite student of the Satmar Rebbe the Divrei Yoel, of blessed memory.

43 years ago - soon after his marriage – he turned public affairs; it was when he was called by the director Satmar institutions, R 'Lipa Friedman z"l to help neighborhood residents.

He began translating various documents for Jewish residents, who came after the Holocaust and did not have time to learn the English language. He sat patiently for hours to translate them the letters received from the authorities or doctors.

He was well known in his righteousness and pleasant manners, which helped open many doors for him in the government, local authorities and various organizations. Within a few years he reached a high scale of activism, and made friends with all politicians. Mainly because it was a humble man and he also continued to wear the old hat and suit, and appeared before officials that way.

Several years ago, an article that appeared in the local press, in which he was described as a Diaspora Jew, wearing tattered and worn clothing, no worries about the show outside fitting, and does not think that due to his position, he must wear fashionable and new clothes, yet the doors of all the big politicians are open to him.

He was an acquaintance with the governor of New York, and helped put the New York mayor at the time, David Dinkis, into office. Weinberger was also a personal friend of the Clintons. Twenty years ago, when Clinton was elected President of the United States and Weinberger attended the big party at the White House after the President's inauguration to the role. Everyone went to shake hands with the royal couple after the party, and when he passed in front of all the world media cameras, Mrs. Clinton did not hand out her hand, and told him: "you do not shake hands, with woman." The sentence became the talk of the general public, and made a Kiddush Hashem.

Another story that took place in this event was when Weinberger was talking to the new president. In middle of the conversation, the famous movie actor Harrison Ford passed. The President turned to look at Ford and asked who the Orthodox man with whom he huddles is. Then he turned to Weinberger, and presented him, with the third standing beside them: "this is Harrison Ford."

The activist, who was not familiar with the names of great players in the world, said to the President seriously: "What role, he's a member of Congress or a member of the Senate?" President and Ford grinned. But there was no response to this naïve question to underestimate the value of the activist. On the contrary, the President liked it very much because of its simplicity and opened all the doors before him.

The funeral of the deceased will leave the Beis Medrash of Satmar, Hooper Street in Williamsburg, where he will be eulogized including Williamsburg Satmar Rabbi, from where the funeral will leave to Kiryat Yoel, towards the Beis Medrash, and from there to the cemetery - where he will bury near the Ohel Admor "I Satmar.

He left a large family, including his sons, Rabbi Shmuel Leibush, CEO Mesivta High Satmar, Rabbi Boruch Shlomo, a spiritual director Satmar Kiryat Yoel Talmud Torah, Rabbi Yoel, director of Association of Kiryat Yoel of Satmar yeshiva students, and many descendants.

ת.נ.צ.ב.ה.