Monsey Scoop regrets to inform you of petira of Reb Julius Behrend Z”L, who was niftar on Wednesday at the age of 93.
The niftar was born in Hamburg, Germany, in November 1932, and witnessed the horrors of Churban Europe as a young child. In 1941, he and his family miraculously escaped. Throughout his life, the niftar vividly recalled the events of Kristallnacht and often spoke about his father’s mesiras nefesh in rescuing Sifrei Torah from their burning shul.
Following his marriage to his wife, Mrs. Gita Behrend, in 1954, the niftar and his family settled in Monsey in 1966, making their home on Emes Lane. Shortly thereafter, he founded Emes Heating & Plumbing, a business that faithfully served the Monsey community for decades.
A true askan and builder of the growing Monsey kehillah, the niftar devoted himself to countless community needs. He was a longtime member of the Monsey Chevra Kadisha and was instrumental in the purchase of the Bais Hachaim on Brick Church Road. As president of the Mikvah Committee in the early 1970s, he helped lead the construction of the women’s mikvah on Maple Leaf Road, a lasting zechus that continues to benefit the community until today.
In recent years, after moving to Union Road in New Hempstead, the niftar davened at Knesses Yisroel under the leadership of Harav Chaim Schabes and spent his mornings learning at the Wesley Hills Kollel for retirees under the leadership of Rabbi Gavriel Fried.
The niftar leaves behind generations of Yiddishe nachas—children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren—together with a remarkable legacy of Torah, chesed, and unwavering devotion to the Monsey community. The institutions he helped establish and strengthen continue to serve Klal Yisroel and stand as a lasting testament to his life’s work.
The levaya was held on Wednesday, where family, friends, and members of the Monsey community gathered to pay their final respects to the niftar.
Baruch Dayan HaEmes……..
A true legend, he will be missed