W

ith the departure of Shabbos, the Jewish world gasped to hear of yet another coronavirus victim: Reb Zev (William) Stern, a veteran supporter of Torah and Jewish life.

Mr. Stern, a Holocaust survivor who eventually made his home in London, was a consummate giver and patron who was respected and beloved by Jews across the globe. Always regal, always serene, he managed to made Kiddush and sanctify Shabbos even during his last Shabbos on earth. Tragically, his levayah counted just a handful of attendees, but countless people listened to the hespedim and mourned along with the family.

Though his schedule was hectic and his commitments staggering, Mr. Stern began the new Daf Yomi cycle in Teves, confident he would persevere in climbing yet another mountain. Now it remains another unfinished project of the giver who launched and funded so many Torah projects.

(Originally featured in Mishpacha Issue 804)