BDE: R’ Menachem Mendel (Mendy) Parnes, z”l

Yitzy Fried

We regret to inform you of the petirah of Reb Mendy Parnes, a longtime, prominent Monsey resident, and incredible ba’al tzedakah. He was 87 years of age. 

The niftar was born in Boro Park, and was the grandson of the legendary Rav Yitzchok Yosef Parnes who was one of the first chassidishe Rabbonim in Boro Park during the 1920’s. 

He learned in the Telzer Yeshiva in Cleveland and was very close with its Roshei Yeshiva, Rav Elya Meir Bloch and Rav Chaim Mordechai Katz.  

He married, tbl”ch, Mrs. Chaya, nee Millman, and she stood by his side in his tremendous chessed endeavors. 

Reb Mendel was a tremendous machnis orach and a great ba’al tzedakah, and was close to many gedolim—including Rav Shach, the Steipeler, Rav Moshe Feinstein, Rav Dovid Feinstein, and others— who trusted and respected him. 

A son-in-law related that he barely benefitted from this world for himself, but had the greatest ayin tovah when it came to others. For all the things that he gave to others, he never wanted anything in return.  

He would always say that “the kuntz is to give more than ma’aser, and he carried this out in practice. Acquaintances relate that for all the giving that is known, there is even more that is not known. He was extremely close to Rav Schlesinger, and was a prominent mispalelim in the shul. He donated the building, but was anguished when his name was carved into its stone, the gabo’im relate.  

Was always b’simcha, and he always spoke about his illustrious forbears—and his simcha was derived from his tremendous bitachon. “He would always tell us, “der Eibershter firt, Hashem is running the world.” 

“He lived for his children and for Klal Yisroel,” he said. 

The Levaya took place at Khal Shaarei Tefillah, Rav Schlesinger’s Shul, where he was one of the prominent mispalelim. 

Yehi zichro baruch