A 101 -year -old Jasidic family matriarch who fled from Russia after World War II, and was “extremely independent until the last day”, was fatally beaten by a driver without a license, according to the police and their family.
Taibel Brod was walking home from a birthday party for a Rebe around 8:25 pm on April 8, when a 65 -year -old man at the wheel of a 2023 GMC SUV approached when he crossed in the corner of Brooklyn Avenue and Montgomery Street in Crown Heights, authorities and relatives said.
Brod was urgently taken to the Maimonides Medical Center, where he initially appeared in stable condition, but succumbed to his wounds less than two per week, on Sunday, police said.
Brod left five children, three sons, two daughters and several granddaughters and great -grandchildren, according to their loved ones.
Born in Kremechuk, Ukraine, Brod was among many of Hasidim who fled Russia in the escape trains to Poland, according to an online obitarian.
She with her husband, Reb Chatzkel Brod, in the camp of displaced people in Germany, the Obit said.
They married there and two daughter before moving to the United States in 1951, according to Brod’s relatives.
The growing Chabad family lived in Brownsville before moving to Crown Heights in the mid -1950s.
Brod lived only after her husband died 20 years ago.
On Thursday afternoon, his house at Crown Heights’s house, short walk, from the deadly shock, was filled with afflicted relatives sitting to Shiva, a seven -day Jewish mourning ritual.
His son, Yosef Brod, 73, who works as an engineer of buildings in Los Angeles, said his mother spent decades feeding patients at the Brookdale University Medical Center Hospital.
“For more than 50 years, I would feed the patients,” said Yosef, while he sat next to three burning candles. “Approximately 50 years after day.”
Yosef said his mother, that he was “very active in the community”, had “goodness and goodness for her.”
Another son echoed his feelings.
“My mother was deeply committed to the community as a volunteer in many areas. He prayed a lot daily,” added son, Yisroel, 69, or Israel. “A very open house and visitors would come from other countries to be in this community. I would welcome them for a weekend, a holiday. It was a very generous person.”
The great grandmother walked alone with the light in her favor, when the driver Menachem Shagalow tried to make a left turn to the east on Montgomery Street and hit her at the crosswalk of pedestrians, according to the police.
“She was [a] Very independent woman, “said his 38 -year -old grandson, also called Yisroel, or Miami, who works in commercial development.” Extremely independent and strong. She would take the bus alone. She was extremely independent until her last day. “
Shagalow was arrested on the scene and accused of aggravated operator without a license, not exercising due care and operation without a motorized vehicle, the police said.
He was released in a desktop appearance ticket and is scheduled to be prosecuted on April 28, according to the Brooklyn district prosecutor’s office.
Shagalow only has a previous trial, for the large theft in 1998, police said.
The family refused to talk about the driver, and old Yisroel only said: “It was an accident.”
Yosef said he had the opportunity to visit his mother at the hospital on Thursday and Friday, days before his death.
“From time to time, she opened her eyes,” he said. “I felt that he didelized. The day he died, my brothers and two sisters walked from Brooklyn to the hospital and she smiled at them. That was before he died.”
He said he looks at his faith while regretting his mother’s death.
“I don’t know the mystery of God, how he hears the world,” said Yosef. “We are taught that everything that happens in the world is called divine providing.”
