London Mourns: R’ David Shimon Berger, Pillar of Satmar & Pshevorsk, Passes Away at 49
The Satmar and Pshevorsk communities of London are in mourning following the petira of renowned askan R’ David Shimon Berger A”H after a year-long illness. A central figure of communal chessed and institutions, he was 49.
A heavy cloud of grief has descended upon the Satmar and Pshevorsk communities of London following the heartbreaking news of the death of R’ David Shimon Berger, a cornerstone of the local kehilla and a tireless askan. He was 49 years old.
R’ Berger passed away on Tuesday after a valiant and dignified year-long battle with a serious illness. Throughout his struggle, he remained a source of faith and strength for those around him, embodying the resilience he was known for throughout his life of service.
A Life of Devotion to the Tzibbur
Known for his boundless energy and commitment to the klal, R’ Berger was a central pillar of the Yetev Lev Satmar institutions in London. He was renowned for his ability to bridge communities, working with seamless devotion alongside the Pshevorsk kehilla, where his family roots ran deep.
He was the son of R’ Yosef Yechezkel Berger, a respected leader within the London Pshevorsk community, and the son-in-law of R’ Avraham Schwartz, the Ma’agal Shoshana of London.
“A Heart for Every Jew”
Beyond his official roles as an askan, R’ Berger was beloved as a man of immense personal kindness. Friends and neighbors describe a "familiar face" that radiated warmth, always the first to welcome a newcomer or offer a quiet hand to a family in financial distress. His home was known as a center for tzedaka and chessed, managed with the humility that characterized his entire life.
The levayah took place at the Pshevorsk Beis Medrash in London, where a massive crowd of hundreds gathered to pay their final respects. The outpouring of grief from the tzibbur reflected the deep impact he had on the spiritual and communal fabric of the city.
The loss of such a vibrant figure at the young age of 49 has left a profound void in the London Chassidic world. He leaves behind a legacy of communal building and a family following in his path of Torah and Avodah.