Holocaust survivor Meir Zev Spitzer, a longtime resident of the Borough Park neighborhood of Brooklyn, N.Y., passed away April 1 as a result of complications due to COVID-19.

Spitzer was born Mád, Hungary, in 1925. A studious boy, he was sent to study in the yeshivah in Nyíregyháza (Nieredhaus in Yiddish), Hungary, under the tutelage of Rabbi Yehoshua Heshel Landau. Following his studies there, he furthered his studies in Munkatch, Hungary (Munkács in Hungarian; today, Mukachevo, Ukraine).

He survived World War II and the Holocaust in Auschwitz and other concentration camps, where he was interned with his father, Rabbi Aryeh Leib Spitzer, and his brother, Hershel. Life in the camps was bitterly tough; morale was low. Spitzer would often repeat what his father would say: that the only way they would leave the camp alive would be when Moshiach would come.

Later in life, Spitzer would note his deep gratitude to G‑d for being able to survive the Holocaust, and go on to establish a family with children and grandchildren.

After the war, he immigrated to America with his father, his brother and his sister, Rivkah Perel. His father taught for many years in the Satmar Chassidic school Torah V’Yirah. He married Miriam Matil Jacob and built a family in New York.

Spitzer first lived in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, N.Y., where he frequented the Kozlover synagogue. He eventually moved to Borough Park, where for many years until his passing, he prayed at Congregation Bnai Moshe Medzhybizh, known as Rabbi (Abraham) Bick’s Shul, with whom he was very close. He would attend as many Torah classes and study sessions at the synagogue as he could.

“Reb Meir was an exceptionally refined man,” wrote Akiva Spitzer. “His purity shone from him; something that was noticed by all those who came in contact with him. He was also very pious and honest in his business dealings, making a kiddush Hashem to everyone who dealt with him.”

A devoutly religious man, Spitzer would use all his free time to study Torah, attending Torah classes even regularly even in his later years. He would also study at home with his children and grandchildren.

“He helped many people in various ways,” recalled Akiva Spitzer, “all in a quiet manner, never seeking honor for his actions. He was the epitome of modesty, never needing anything for himself, and was therefore beloved by all.” He is survived by his wife, Miriam; their two sons and daughter; and many grandchildren.

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