Rav Meir Zvi Ehrentreu, Manchester Yeshiva Rosh Kollel and Rosh Yeshiva (2000). Among his descendents are four sons - his bechor and successor as Rosh Hakollel Rav Moshe Yitzchak, Rav Shloime Zalman, Rav Aharon, and Rav Avraham Ehrentreu of Antwerp. His brother is HaRav Yonah Yosef Ehrentreu, zt"l, the rav of the Adas Yeshurun community of Bnei Brak.
Rav Meir Zvi HaKohen Ehrentreu was the son of Rav Yisrael Ehrentreu. He was born in Frankfurt in 5690/1930.
In time, he went to England and learned under Rav Moshe Schneider in London and later in the Gateshead Yeshiva. Quite rapidly, he became known for his outstanding hasmoda, unique character traits and in-depth studying.
He married the daughter of Rav Yehuda Zev Segal, the Manchester Rosh Yeshiva, who recognized his greatness in Torah and Yiras Shomayim as well as his outstanding middos. After his marriage, he continued to learn with hasmoda, acquiring vast knowledge in the sea of Talmud.
He served as a Maggid Shiur in the Manchester Yeshiva, greatly influencing his talmidim, who regarded him as the transmitter of the legacy of his illustrious father-in-law. He guided them along the Torah way with his pleasant manner and speech.
Friendly and approachable, he was beloved by everyone. He was revered by his talmidim, who were aware that beneath his friendly exterior was a phenomenal Talmid Chochom, Yerei Shomayim and Oved Hashem. He was thoroughly proficient in Shas, Medrash, Rishonim, Acharonim and sifrei Shu”t, Meforshei HaTorah and Derashos.
His father-in-law would say that he could come home at night with a question anywhere in Shas, and Rav Meir Zvi would resolve it.
An aura of excitement pervaded his shiurim, when, in addition to the standard meforshim, he added tidbits from the Avnei Nezer, Sedei Chemed, Oneg Yom Tov, Chiddushei HaRim and countless other seforim.
Frequently, he would quote from the introduction or a footnote in a sefer. He repeated with relish Divrei Torah from Gedolim he had met, and his delight in a chiddush was palpable.
His talmidim learned to study the same sugya with different approaches. They were inspired by Rav Meir Zvi, from whom they received instant answers to their questions.
Rav Meir Zvi was also known for his greatness in halacha. It is related that upon his leaving for Eretz Yisrael to serve on the Bais Din of the Eida HaChareidis, Rav Yitzchok Yaakov Weiss, former Rav of Manchester, said that the community could rely totally upon Rav Meir Tzvi.
As widely acclaimed as he was for his knowledge of Torah, Rav Meir Zvi was equally well-known for his tzidkus, his exceptional middos and his humility.
He honored everyone and shunned honor for himself. For many years while his father-in-law, the Rosh Yeshiva, lived with his family, he relinquished his position as head of the household. As Maseches Sanhedrin 88b states: “He entered quietly, he exited quietly, learned Torah constantly and did not think he deserved credit for this.”
When his father-in-law was niftar, many people turned to Rav Meir Zvi for counsel.
When asked for a beracha, he would respond humbly, as though he did not understand why he was being asked. But from a man regarded as a Tzaddik whose words were measured, even a short response was sufficient.
In the last decade or so of his life, Rav Meir Zvi suffered severe ill health, in particular a number of debilitating strokes, which significantly affected his ability to learn and teach at the same exalted level as before. Only on rare occasions did one see brief flashes of his earlier brilliance.
However, there were indications that internally Rav Meir Zvi still retained much, if not all, of what he had previously known.
When speaking with someone in learning, he would indicate that he was aware of the sugya, wanting to go straight to the chiddush. Similarly, his letters and notes contained quotations of Ma’amorei Chazal, even without the original sources in front of him.
Rav Meir Zvi was niftar on the sixth of Elul 5760/2000 at the age of seventy.
He left a devoted Rebbetzin, who shouldered much of the family responsibilities to enable her husband to grow in Torah, sons, daughters and sons-in-law and grandchildren - all Talmidei Chachomim and Yir’ei Shomayim.
He was buried in the Manchester cemetery beside his father-in-law, Rav Yehuda Zev Segal.
Zecher tzaddik livrachah.
