Leading Nadvorna Debretzin Rebbe, Holocaust Survivor, Dies at 97

Thousands gathered on Sunday to mourn the passing of Rabbi Arie Leibush, the Rebbe of Nadvorna Debretzin, who died at the age of 97. He was described as a sage, a righteous man, and a remnant of a bygone era, a scion of the Nadvorna dynasty and one of the last living descendants of Rabbi Mordechai of Nadvorna. Born in Debrecen, Hungary, in January 1930, Rabbi Arie Leibush survived the Auschwitz extermination camp as a youth, enduring immense suffering. After the war, he was one of the few survivors from his immediate family, with his parents and most siblings perishing in the Holocaust. He settled in Antwerp, Belgium, where he married and later moved to the United States, establishing his home in the Boro Park neighborhood of Brooklyn. He led prayers at the 'Kehal Chassidim' synagogue, succeeding his elder brother. Known for his profound humility and simplicity, Rabbi Arie Leibush lived a life of quiet devotion, drawing wisdom from his ancestors and rabbinical predecessors. He maintained a rigorous schedule of Torah study and prayer until his final days, despite experiencing medical complications during Sukkot. His funeral procession departed from the Shomrei Hadas funeral home in Boro Park, with his coffin to be flown to Israel for burial.