Monsey Memories: Rav Aaron Weitz

Yitzy Fried 

He was a legend in the Monsey community and the founder of a medical advocacy organization that has assisted tens of thousands in their journey to recovery. Rav Aaron Weitz founded ECHO (Ezras Cholim Organization), and humbly and dedicatedly stood at its helm for decades. 

Born in California, Rabbi Weitz traveled east to New York, where he enrolled in Yeshiva Torah Vodaas, which was then led by Rav Shraga Feivel Mendlowitz. He had originally wanted to become a doctor, but under the influence of Rav Shraga Feivel, he became enamored with serious Torah learning—a calling to which he would remain dedicated for the rest of his life. 

After receiving semicha in New York, he returned to Los Angeles, where he was instrumental—along with his wife—in founding the first Beis Yaakov in the state. 

Returning to New York, he became close to the previous Skverer Rebbe of Boro Park, Rav Dovid Twersky, zt”l, who was renowned for his askonus in the medical field, helping refer patients to physicians who could most help them, and Rabbi Weitz began to work alongside the Rebbe in this field. 

With their move to Monsey in 1978, Rabbi Weitz founded ECHO upon the guidance of his rebbi and mentor, Rav Yaakov Kamenetzky, zt”l. There were many obstacles to overcome, but Rav Weitz’s emunah became the guiding principle of the new organization. Slowly, the organization grew, and many in the Monsey community worked for it either as dedicated and selfless volunteers or as employees. With care and patience, the organization—led by Rabbi Weitz—guided patients toward their refuah. 

Rabbi Weitz dedicated his life to ECHO, taking phone calls at all hours of the day and night to assist those with medical emergencies. 

"What I remember most about Rabbi Weitz," Malka, who visited the Weitz home many times during her year in seminary decades ago shares with Rockland Daily, "was his soft-spoken and refined mannerisms. He took his calls in the kitchen, as there were no cell phones in those days, and as we were getting ready for Shabbos, we could hear his hushed, modulated tone as he spent endless hours assisting the person on the line. We couldn't hear what he was saying, but we could hear how he was saying it.

"It was the same way at the Shabbos table. I never even knew that this mild-mannered man oversaw an organization that helped so many. He was that unassuming."

When Rav Weitz was asked: “What will become of Echo when the Moshiach comes, and illness will no longer plague humanity, he was always quick to reply: “We will turn Echo into a Kollel for former physicians!”May that day come soon!

For close to four decades, Rabbi Weitz presided over this organization, and served as a beacon of light and hope for thousands of families in need. He was the consummate ba’al chessed, and always did his chessed with a smile and with patience. 

Rabbi Weitz left this World in the spring of 2016 following an illness. He was interred in the Beth Tefillah Cemetery in Monsey, following a lifetime of selflessness and dedication to Klal Yisroel.