Prominent Breslov Hasid and Hatzalah Founder David Yehuda Grunwald Dies at 57
Translated & summarized from JDN by baba
Rabbi David Yehuda Grunwald, a key figure in the Breslov Hasidic community and a co-founder of Hatzalah Israel in Jerusalem, has died at age 57. He was recognized for his extensive charitable work and dedication to saving lives.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- David Yehuda Grunwald, Breslov Hasid and Hatzalah co-founder, died at 57.
- He was a pioneer in Haredi emergency medical services.
- Grunwald was deeply involved in community and charitable work.
- He raised his children alone after his wife's death.
- Knesset Member Meir Porush eulogized his extensive contributions.
Rabbi David Yehuda (Duki) Grunwald, a prominent figure in the Breslov Hasidic community and a co-founder of Hatzalah Israel in Jerusalem, passed away on the first day of Sukkot at the age of 57. He died at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital after a period of illness.
Grunwald was known for his decades of work in saving lives and assisting the needy. He was instrumental in establishing the first Haredi rescue organizations, specifically Hatzalah Israel in Jerusalem, and contributed to the development of emergency medical services within the Haredi public. He was also deeply involved in the needs of the Breslov community and its institutions.
Friends and acquaintances described Grunwald as a welcoming individual whose home was always open to guests and those in need. He was a recognized point of contact for help during times of distress, dedicating himself to public and private needs around the clock. Born in 1969, he was the son of Rabbi Avigdor Mordechai Grunwald, a senior Breslov Hasid. He was educated in Hasidic institutions and later married Chana Rachel, daughter of Rabbi Chaim Menachem Kremer, a prominent Breslov influencer.
The family resided in the Ramat Shlomo neighborhood of Jerusalem. Several years ago, his wife passed away at the age of 47 after a serious illness, leaving behind seven children, only two of whom were married during her lifetime. Despite his own health struggles, Grunwald raised his children with devotion. In September 2025, he and his son donated a Torah scroll in memory of his wife to the main Breslov synagogue in Ramat Beit Shemesh Dalet.
Grunwald was a regular visitor to Uman, Ukraine, where he would hold prayer services and Kiddush gatherings. In recent years, after moving to the Givat Moshe neighborhood, he established a synagogue in his home to ensure he could maintain daily prayer services with a minyan. Knesset Member Meir Porush eulogized Grunwald, highlighting his extensive charitable work and his role as a pioneer in Haredi emergency medical services, emphasizing his dedication, self-sacrifice, and love for his fellow Jews.
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