The Midnight Start to My Friendship With Tzvi Kriegsman

Mendy Lipszyc recalls his first time meeting Tzvi Meir Kriegsman, who tragically passed away this week, and what Tzvi did when he was stuck at midnight with a flat tire.

By Mendy Lipszyc, NMB

It has been a tough weekend. I just got back yesterday from burying my best friend.

I met Tzvi Meir Kriegsman 23 years ago, and how we became friends was an exact reflection on who he was.

At the time, I was attending a trade school where my cousin and Tzvi were as well. One day, my cousin introduced me to Tzvi during a break. A few days later, my father was sitting Shiva after his mother passed away. My father was sitting Shiva in Boro Park, about 30 minutes away from where I was living, and every morning, I would drive with a bunch of friends, to make sure there were enough people to make a minyan.

One night, hanging out in my car around midnight, I realized I had a flat tire. As an 18-year-old, who just started driving, I had no idea what to do. I went into my house, and logged into good old AOL. Looking at the messenger, I saw Tzvi Meir, who I had just met online. Half-jokingly, I said, “hey, do you know how to change a flat?” And he said “sure”.

At midnight, he walked over and changed my tire for me so that my father would have a minyan and be able to say kaddish. This was the beginning of our friendship.

This is exactly who Tzvi Meir was. He was selfless, and always there to give a helping hand. Life was not kind to him, yet what little he had he was ready to give to others. And yet amazingly, I always admired how grateful he was for what he had.

I remember him telling me how happy he was that he found “a good paying job.” I couldn’t understand how he was making ends meet with it, yet he was grateful for what he had.

The world lost an amazing person Thursday, and 2 girls were left without a father. Left without a father to help them with their expenses. Left without a father to help them find shidduchim. And left without a father to marry them off. They need your help.

Please donate generously at Charidy.com/tzvi.

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Binyomin Kriegsman is sitting Shiva for his brother Tzvi Kriegsman at 770 empire Blvd #4n

Minyanim:
Shachris – 9:00
Mincha – 4:05
Maariv: 8:00
Visiting hours:
12-1 pm
8:20-930 pm

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Shiva information for Dina Wall (Kriegsman)
1342 Sterling Pl. apt 1A
Between Schenectady and Troy closer to Schenectady
Wednesday 5pm -8pm
Thursday 12pm -2pm and 5pm – 9pm
Friday 10am – 1pm
Motzei Shabbos 7pm – 9pm

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Devo and Bayla will be observing shiva at the home of their grandmother, Mrs. Miriam Roetter at 25431 Gardner in Oak Park.
 
Visiting hours are Thursday from
11 am to 1 pm
3 pm to 5 pm with a 4:30 mincha 
and 7pm to 9 pm.
 
As well as Friday 11 am to 1 pm 
and Motzei Shabbos from 7 pm to 9 pm.