Bnei Brak Mourns Rabbi Shmuel Chaim Stern, 60, Who Died Alone

Rabbi Shmuel Chaim Stern, 60, was found dead in his apartment on Hebron Street in Bnei Brak on Tuesday evening. Police and ZAKA (Disaster Victim Identification) volunteers responded to the scene. ZAKA volunteers Menachem Salbutitzky and Itamar Yosef worked with Bnei Brak police to expedite the necessary procedures for a swift burial in accordance with Jewish law.

Stern was an orphan with no surviving family members, meaning his funeral was classified as that of a "met mitzvah," a deceased person without relatives, which obligates the community to ensure a proper burial and mourners.

A heartfelt appeal was distributed through community and charity organizations, prompting a large turnout at the Yarkon Cemetery on Tuesday night. Hundreds of people attended the funeral procession, which began at 11:00 PM, to ensure the deceased had a minyan (quorum of ten men for prayer) and was properly honored in his final journey.