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Beloved Childhood Friend of Belz Rebbe Rabbi Menachem Shmadra Dies at 78
How 2 Israeli newsrooms covered this story — translated into English and compared side by side.
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By ערוץ 7
First reported by Behadrei Haredim · Jul 30, 2026
What happened
Rabbi Menachem Shmadra, a childhood friend of the Belz Rebbe and key figure in establishing Belz communities in Israel and the U.S., died at 78. His funeral was held in Ashdod and Jerusalem, and he is survived by a large family.
- 01Rabbi Menachem Shmadra, childhood friend of the Belz Rebbe, died at 78 in Bnei Brak.
- 02He helped found Belz Hasidic institutions in Israel and the U.S., including Williamsburg and the Catskills.
- 03His funeral procession passed through Ashdod and Jerusalem before burial on Har HaMenuchot.
- 04Born in Tel Aviv in 1948, he studied with the future Belz Rebbe and worked in Ramat Gan's diamond exchange.
- 05He settled in Ashdod in 1979, helping grow its Belz community into a major center in Israel.
- 06He is survived by children, in-laws, and grandchildren continuing his legacy.
Summary translated & synthesized from the sources below by baba. Read each original for the full report.
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