R’ Michoel Tenenbaum, born in Rozan Poland in 1912, went on to become one of the most prominent Gerrer chassidim worldwide. At a young age he left home to study in the larger Torah institutions, first in the Novardok yeshiva, then in Lomza. At the young age of 17, he merited acceptance into the famous Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin despite the rigorous entrance examinations, requiring expertise in at least 200 folios of the Gemara. For four years the young R’ Michoel was a disciple of the renowned Lubliner Rov, Rabbi Meir Shapiro, zt”l, who stood at the head of the yeshiva.
Soon after the outbreak of WWII, R’ Michael fled with his wife and daughter to Russia, where he survived the war. Following the hostilities, he returned first to Poland, then to an Austrian DP camp where he lived for two years. With his growing family, R’ Michoel arrived in the U.S., settling in the early 1950’s in the Borough Park section of New York. Before long Mr. Tenenbaum had become a successful businessman, all the while throwing his efforts and resources into the development of the empire of Gerrer Chassidus and its Torah institutions – both in New York and in Israel. After an illustrious life, R’ Michoel passed away in 2003, leaving behind progeny who carry on his legacy of serving Klal Yisrael.
Now in his zchus, his family has become a major supporter of Only With Joy, helping to bring the inspiring story of Rav Meir and his accomplishments to the next generations.