As a native of Montreal, I want to tell you that the article about the Ani Maamin campaign spearheaded by Reb Shloimi Steinmetz brought tears to my eyes. Having spent many years davening in Mesivta Reishis Chochmah (under the leadership of Rav Unsdorfer), I am zocheh to be well acquainted with not only Reb Shloimi, but also with his father-in-law, Reb Icu (who served as gabbai for close to 30 years), and even his father, Reb Avraham Kornfeld, as well.
There is a special feeling of satisfaction one derived watching Dovi a”h sitting next to his great-grandfather in shul every Shabbos, davening side by side, watching the mesorah being passed down from generation to generation before my very eyes.
Reb Avraham was the quintessential heimishe Yid: a Yid who exuded emunah peshutah. He didn’t need much for himself; nothing made him happier than sitting in shul with a sefer in his hand, a smile on his face, and perhaps a small Danish to offer a friend from the yahrtzeit tikkun that morning.
Reb Icu is known throughout the Montreal community as a pillar of chesed. You may not see his name on the letterheads of any organizations, but it would be hard to name an organization or institution in town in which he played no part. Without any fanfare, numerous gemachim are run out of his giftware shop (where he worked alongside his father for close to 50 years) and his dedication to Hatzolah and Chesed shel Emes are legendary.
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