Community Rallies to Support Family of Beloved Teacher Mordechai David Stieglitz After Sudden Death
Thirty days have passed since the sudden passing of Rabbi Mordechai David Stieglitz from Afula, a beloved teacher and spiritual leader in the local ultra-Orthodox community. His death on the Sabbath of Parshat Pinchas left his widow and nine children, eight of whom are unmarried, struggling to cope with the loss and the harsh reality of life without their primary breadwinner. Rabbi Stieglitz was deeply respected as the head of the "Derech Emet" Talmud Torah, a prayer leader, and a key figure in the community, impacting students from Afula and nearby Givat HaMoreh.
Following his death, the community quickly organized a fundraising campaign, asking each family to contribute at least 50 to 100 shekels monthly for three years to support the family. Despite this heartfelt effort, the community, mostly composed of Torah scholars with limited means, cannot sustain the family alone. In response, Rabbi Avraham Halevi Lifshitz, the rabbi and head of the rabbinical court in Kfar Gideon and the Jezreel Valley, issued a rare and urgent letter calling on all generous donors across Israel to assist the widow and orphans. He described the contribution as a "real salvation" and a "great and rare mitzvah".
Rabbi Lifshitz praised Rabbi Stieglitz’s lifelong dedication and urged the broader public to join in providing the family with a dignified livelihood. While the mourning period has ended, the family’s hardship continues, and the community appeals for ongoing financial support to alleviate their economic distress. Donations of any size are welcomed to help ease the burden on the widow and her children.
Summary: Rabbi Mordechai David Stieglitz, a cherished teacher from Afula, died suddenly, leaving behind a widow and nine children. The local community initiated fundraising efforts, but broader support is now sought to sustain the family financially. Rabbi Avraham Halevi Lifshitz has called on all donors in Israel to contribute, emphasizing the critical need and spiritual importance of this aid.
