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Hundreds Attend the Levaya of Benny Keller OB”M

Family, Friends, Teachers, Mashpi’im and people that didn’t even know Benny, gathered around his Aron in front of 770 to ask Mechilla and say Tehillim. He was then escorted by a Hatzalah Ambulance along with many friends and members of the community to the Montefiore Cemetery in Queens where hundreds were on hand for the Kevurah.

The family will be sitting Shiva in their home at 935 Eastern Parkway between Troy and Albany in Apartment 1C [entrance from the right side of the main entrance]. Shacharis will be at 7:00am, Mincha and Maariv will be Bizmana.

Hamokom Yenachem Eschem Besoch Shaar Avaylay Tzion VeYerushalayim. Vehakeetzu Veranenu Shochnay Ofor VeHu besochom.

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63 Comments

  • pini

    Hamokom Yenachem Eschem Besoch Shaar Avaylay Tzion VeYerushalayim. Vehakeetzu Veranenu Shochnay Ofor VeHu besochom.

  • Yid

    You and I both don’t know what other "important" evnet the Rav had to attend. I certainly agree with you that a rav should make very effort possible to be availabke at such important times. However Pirkei Avos enjoins us not to judge others, util we are in theri shoes. I too was unfortunately able to make it to the funeral on time. Instead, I drove to Montefiore Cemetery, where I spent a few minutes at the place where Bentzi was laid to rest. Baruch Dayan HaEmes. May we only know of simch. The Keller family should never have to knwo of any more sorow, pain or suffering. The pure soul of dear Bentzi will hopefully be a mailitz yosher for us all and be the final advocate to urge Hashem to rescue His children from galus.

  • a observant citizen

    if you all remember the summer the child drowned, there were fights in the community between if i’m not mistaken rabonim or community council, the rebbe said that if the fighting doesn’t stop there will be tragedy, and look whats happening now just tragedy after tragedy when will the machloikes within our community end

  • benifet of dought

    att pained
    give the rabbi the benefit of dought…maybe he had somewhere imp. to be, or an emergency happened. you cant just make a statement like that, especially that u know evreyone will be reading this….you can think it, u dnt have 2say it…he IS a rabbi

  • YB

    Look at the positive. Look at the turnout, that is a true testament to who Benny was and the profound affect he had on so many individuals of diverse backgrounds. I dont think I have ever seen such a diverse group get together in harmony as they did. It is sad that it takes such an occasion, but only Benny merits such a crowd. G-d Bless Him, and may G-d Bless him with favor.

    T.N.T.B.H

  • Pirkei Avos

    Attn: Pained
    "Don’t judge your fellow untill you have reached his place"

  • TROUBLE

    any one who know benny will tell you he NEVER had a bad word to say about any one.
    With this in mind, benny friends are all trying not to speake lashon haroh in bennys memory.
    We ask that in memory of our friend that EVERY ONE join us in comitment.

  • Chosid

    ,We as a communitty must come together and and behave like true chassiddim, We must respect each other and love each other and Hashem will see this and take pity on us and stop this insanity. And send Moshiach now!

  • friend

    this is so sad and the worst part was he wasnt at home when it happened only share simchos and the imdiate redemtion of moshiach hi nechama dina

  • Chaim

    I just came from the Keller home
    it is so sad!
    i was pretty close with benny OBM

    any w ay for all those who care enough to do something please go to there home, visit them be menachem the family.
    and most important, add your self on the growing list of hachlatas that people took on mishnayos to learn and if you ever saw him or knew him a bit right it up in the book that is being made…

  • NO COMMUNITY

    To all in this community that like to live in denial there is no leadership there is no community all there is are a bunch of selfish people all we do is complain and mope and blame every one else I guess that is what makes the people in this community feel better about them self (not realizing that all we are doing is hurting our selves maybe you didn’t get hurt yet but when it hits not if it hits all I can you is it hurts) it is disgusting to watch how tragedy after tragedy keeps on happening and nobody does a thing its all talk its the he said she said game the cops are still giving out those tickets the cops still respond to the shvartzes faster then to us and all we do is blame one another I think that Benny’s death should for once and for all be a wake up call to each and every one in this community we have experienced enough wake up calls so before god forbid anything else happens lets unite and not fight stop with the money power and respect B.S. leave that for the politicians I hope that change will come soon other wise this place will end up like Iraq !

    P.S. when someone passes away I think your supposed to let them rest in peace

  • ENOUGH!!

    If everyone just tried to make the best of themselves and help others then we wouldn’t be having so many crazy problems. We all better shape up or who knows what will happen next. All I can say is that we desparately need Moshiach. That’s what we should all be davening for. For the Keller family.. I am terribly sorry for your loss. May you only know of joy and happiness from now on.
    AD MASAI!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • disgusted

    Hamokom Yenachem Eschem Besoch Shaar Avaylay Tzion VeYerushalayim. Vehakeetzu Veranenu Shochnay Ofor VeHu besochom.

  • family friend

    How many people drift in out out of our lives? Do we appreciate them? Do we tell our loved ones how we feel about them?
    It shouldnt take a tragedy to remember, respect, and love a person.
    The Kellers are a special family. They take in guests with open arms and make them feel comfortable, part of the family. I feel honored to know this family and I cherish the fond memories created around their Shabbos/Yom Tov tables.
    Bentzion is a special kid. He wants us to exude only happiness and live this life to its fullest – using every moment solely for good. His love of life, of G-d, and of all people, should be an example to us all – that we too should carry this love and life within us, as well as spread it to the world.

    Mashiach NOW.

  • Yossi

    firstly as Benny would say, maybe Rabbi Osdoba had a better and important thing to do, and Benny being the holy, smiling, giving, happy, friend, brother, father, angel, mentor, special person that he was just shines as they say a person that passes on Shabbos is so holy that he doesn’t get judged and goes straight to gan eden.

    Benny we know you are looking down on us, your friends, brothers, children. Go over to hashem and beg him that through everything you have done for us through your life has led to everyone doing things in your memory "cause benny would want it" or "Benny would do it" or "this would make Benny happy" or "this is a Benny thing to do" and we, your friends, your brothers, your children have taken on hachlotos to do things in your memory. JUST SEND MOSHIACH so we don’t have to suffer anymore.

    AD MOSAI, Benny we need you back to make more peace, more people happy, to give more people advice, to give us one last hug, to tell us one more time "love and peace" to laugh with you, TO SING WITH YOU, to be with you.

    please, please, show Hashem how much we need you, how much good you do for us.

    and bring Moshiach with you

    LOVE AND PEACE
    your friend in music,
    Yossi

  • Introspective

    A father of nine; a seventeen year old boy; <i>yblc"t</i>, a 4 year old boy hit by a car!

    We all must feel the pain and scream AD MOSAI.

    But maybe…

    That is not enough. Maybe we need to stop the imbecilic fighting. Sure, everyone has good points but nothing can be worth suffering these devestating losses.

    Why can’t we restrain ourselves and stop stealing; trying to get each other arrested; running to goyim to solve our problems; <b>speaking disparagingly of our Rabbonim?</b>

    Let’s try to reprogram ourselves to act speak and blog in a manner that is responsible and be noheg koved zeh lazeh and certainly to our rabonim.

    I know that I really need some time to think and think and think.

  • an observer

    i’m just a little confused, why’s everyone talking to benny here, this is not his gravesite. Talk to the family.
    If you tell Benny things like pray for us or we love you on crownheights.info, I doubt he gets your message. If you want to write about Benny or to the family, that would make more sense. But it’s fine continue doing whatever your doing. And the main thing is that Benny should bring Moshiach now!!!!!!!!

  • Aryeh Ross

    Ben Zion was a neighbor of mine in Maale Amos, Israel, he was a sweet, loving kid. Anybody who knew him could only love him. I saw him last when he was iin Israel a few months ago, he was the same loving kid.

    He will be sorley missed, I loved him as a brother.

    Hamokom Yenachem Eschem Besoch Shaar Avaylay Tzion VeYerushalayim.

    Aryeh R.

  • *CM

    It’s comforting to see the support of who ever came to the levaya.

    For whoever didn’t know Benny, he was one of the smartest, funniest, loving, caring, amazing people I have ever met in my life. He always had a contagious smile on his face. He was an insperation to anyone who knew him. Many would think..WWBD..what would Benny do?

    Everyone should do a little something l’zechus BenTzion Berel ben Moshe. Give tzedaka, say Tehillim, anything to elevate his neshama, because he can’t do it himself anymore.

    We all know that he is up in heaven, watching over us..next to G-d..cracking a joke or two..
    As Benny would say..’peace & love’

    Moshiach Now.

  • another friend of benny

    to: an observer wrote:
    the same way you go to the garave site to pray, talk to him or whatever he hears you and writing online is the same its giving people warmth to this tragety that has happened to us im a close friend of benny and his family and his family is reading what is posted here so what ever people write up here they are talking to him and his family and its helping them live so please let people write to HIM or his family its only helping the family by giving nachas
    And every one whether you knew him or not should go over to the house just out of respect

  • i miss you benny

    in honor of benny:
    Benny with your blond/red curly hair
    i did’nt know you well , but i knew you enough to care
    you will be missed more than you know
    we’ll remember the smile that always shone

    i feel pained in your loss
    why you had to pay the cost
    what you had to sacrifice
    to make us always think twice

    but inyour memory we’ll try to get better each day
    we’ll each try to live a part of you in our own speacial way
    to a boy who embodied ahavas yisrael

    i would like to say so long
    forgive me if i ever did wrong

    when you get up to the heavenly throne
    tell g’d you don’t want to stay, you need to go home
    grab moshiach by the hand
    and dont let go – until he agrees to take us to the promised land

  • somebody

    Hamokom Yenachem Eschem Besoch Shaar Avaylay Tzion VeYerushalayim. Please everyone lets be b’achdus, stop with all the stupit fights!! All this is a wake up call from Hashem!
    Lets daven for Moshiach!

  • Fed up

    What has a Rav and Moshiach got to do with this tragedy?
    When will CH wake up?
    Stop using Moshiach as an excuse.

    It makes me mad when people have the chutzpah to preach and blame every time something bad happens.

    Are you G-d?

    Get a life.

  • The Dorfmans

    Benny was a frequent guest in our home when he attended our local Yeshiva. We connected instantly. He was such a mentch, always vey polite, played with our children, helped in the kitchen, gave D’Var Torahs at the table.

    Watching him grow from wavering to a deep committment – Benny very special relationship with HaShem. He was a leader in his Yeshiva, others looked up to him.

    Thanks for letting us get to know you.

  • ben ben

    fed up is right evry time some thing happens in crown heights evry one jumps and says mosiach and oy vay to evry thing maybe evry body should take a good look at them self before making a comment or knows what went on

    and for evry one to know no one will really know what ever happned

  • concerned Jew

    To Fed up: As Jews we are supposed to see ‘higher’ and must realize all that happens is with meaning. From hearing all these crazy stories, a Jew must take a message from them. Asking for Moshiach is a great idea, and to help that would definetly be to increase in our Achdus. I’m sure you agree.
    May Moshiach come NOW!!

  • Tami

    So I say,

    Thank you for the music, the songs you were singing.
    Thanks for all the joy they were bringing
    Who can live without it, I ask in all honesty
    What would life be? Without Benny’s song or a dance what are we?

    So I say,

    Thank you for your Music and the songs you were singing With Mayer, Rabbi Guy and Rabbi Manssuri in Tarzana during Pesach 2006. Thanks for all the joy they were giving. Talent what a wonderful thing cause everyone listened when you started to sing. You made each one of your host’s so grateful and proud. (Including Mashich for sure).

    So I say,

    I’ve been so lucky, I wanna thank it out loud just for that. What a joy, what a life, what a chance!

    Tami.

  • Saadia

    Benny its still hiting me that wen i get back to 935 i wont be seing you ther im going to miss you i hope to see you spedley whit thf coming of mosheach now

  • efi

    if anyone here goes to the keller house, tell mr. and mrs. keller im so sorry i could not make before shiva is over.
    i cant call them. tell them efi says he’s sorry.

  • i wont get over it

    dear people!
    as a person who knews bentzy, and knews the family im asking u with tears in my eyes please try to be better for his neshama,
    benny, well miss u, well never forget the smile that always was on your face…and how sweet u were.
    we want u back here and fast we need you!!!
    benny, i hope u forgive me and all of us………

  • a friend

    It’s Parshas Shelach,
    The week Benny was buried,
    The week the spies brought back a report,
    But Benny will bring a good report to Hashem,
    Because he was a mentch and a friend,
    Who didn’t say bad about others,
    But only gave others a smile,
    He’ll tell Hashem his children are good.
    May we have the geula now.

  • JOE

    Benny’s age confirmed his greatness, he was too good for this world and he is in a better place right now, let his positive loving memories ferment in your heart and soul because his purpose in this world was to inspire you and now he has fulfilled that purpose.

  • freind

    its a new day I just got up and for the first time I will pray Benny with out you all I fell is sorrow you wore the shining light in my sole ill never let you go my hart is in pain I know your life was not the same you all ways smile make other people feel good whatever it was I know its from up above god loved you like know other you are truly a brother you whore like a father and mother that people don’t have with out you the hole world is said just know this that you’ve changed the hole world in your own way it will never be same some people say that 17 is young to pasoway but up in the sky age is no deal its what person does and his true love for the god up above that at 17 he forefeel what a man of 200 years would take to do you where the greatest Jew ;people cry and look to the sky
    and say why did Benny say good buy and I here no reply I say to god why he was the happiest kid in town all the people new him all oround you can still here is vice calling me on the phone its the sweets tone there will never be another brother like to all the people you loved it came from you hart and you hart is true will pray fro you neshama as much as I can R.IP

  • RACHEL

    the last time i saw benny was at 2:15 am, hours before he passed. i was about to go to sleep in my tent and his tent was right behind mine, so i said good night and he looked so peaceful and had such a nice smile on his face when he said good night. i didnt know him personally, but thats what i remember of him.

  • a very sad community member who will lea

    What in the world would our Dear REBBE think about our Community of dissension and constant political fighting?

    When will we learn?Why can’t we remember what a LIGHT UNTO THE WORLD we were with our Rebbe at the helm…. Has he left behind SUCH A DISFUNCTIONAL FAMILY????? Nebuch!!!

    May all of our precious young ones who have left this world help to bring Moshiach NOW!!!!!!!

  • a very sad community member who will lea

    What in the world would our Dear REBBE think about our Community of dissension and constant political fighting?

    When will we learn?Why can’t we remember what a LIGHT UNTO THE WORLD we were with our Rebbe at the helm…. Has he left behind SUCH A DISFUNCTIONAL FAMILY????? Nebuch!!!

    May all of our precious young ones who have left this world help to bring Moshiach NOW!!!!!!!

  • Rachel Hughes Weisel

    i didnt know benny well, but the last time i saw him was on friday and he was smiling and he looked at peace with himself.

  • Riks

    Dear Benny,

    *Its because of you I have strenghend my Love and Fear of G-d
    *Its because of you that I will keep shabbos
    *Its because of you I will dress more modestly
    *Its because of you that I will try not to say Lashon Hara
    *Its because of you that I will not judge anyone
    *Its because of you that I will respect the elderly
    *Its because of you that I will love everyone as myself
    *Its because of you that I will keep kosher

    Benny, I never knew you personaly, but you will always be in my heart.

    Thank you for being such a special soul, and for giving us the chizuk.

    It will be in YOUR merit that Moshiach will come!!!

    HASHEM!! WE WANT MOSHIACH NOW!!!

  • Liseli Cruz

    The last thing Ben said to me, he was standing by the copier at work and he looked at me and was like, L you are beautiful. ITs like he knew I needed to hear that since I was having a really bad day. I turned back and all I saw was a sincere smile and I will never forget that look. Now as I sit here writing this I can see the copier from my desk, and I can still see that smile.
    I don’t know why things happen so fast, I don’t understand why is has to happen to certain people, but I do know that Ben will be missed here at work. All of his coworkers are sad and its been hard to concentrate at work. My heart is with the Keller family and all of his friends. God Bless you Ben!!

  • LA

    OPEN LETTER TO MYSELF, AND EVERYONE

    I am Faulty. I don’t even serve myself well. As a human I have the ability to forget, to ignore. Yet here it refuses to kick in. I can’t go very long without feeling that unbidden storm of tears well up within me again.

    Now I realize. What good do my tears do? What purpose does my sorrow fulfill? I knew Bentzy as he grew up. I knew him less as of late, yet the one thing that sticks out in my mind is the happiness and the joy that he kept as his constant companions. If I truly care for BenTzion and everything that he stood for and still stands for, I must continue to live the way he did and the way that he undoubtedly wants us all to: With happiness and with joy.

    Lakol Zman VaEis Tachas HaShamayim, For everything there is a time and place. The words of the wisest of men, Shlomo HaMelech, live with us until this very day. There is a time for tears and yet we must grow past the tears come through this difficulty the way Bentzy wants us to.

    I can’t deny my sorrow, sorrow for those of us still in this world, still hidden from G-d and truth. Yet I must express my sorrow in the way that Bentzy wants me to. With life, and with joy.

    That goes for all of you as well. Bentzy, or Benny, will live as deeply in my smile as in your tears. Make the choice for him. Make the choice that I can see him making without a moments thought. The choice that he lived by. The choice that he would tell you to make with a smile and a grin.

    Bentzy, I love you and will forever. Bentzy, live on with me, with the smile that I bear for you.

  • ab friend of benny

    for benny-
    there were times when your dreams were so real
    just out of reach but not too far to feel
    with your courage youd make them come true
    anything was possible when i was with you
    i wish you could just glance down and see
    somehow you changed who i used to be
    not sure of which way to go
    what you left here is what made me know
    but now with g-d your soul is complete
    it is up in heaven where your destined to be
    now we shuold take whats within our grasp
    to do all that we can and make it last
    and to ecourage others the same too
    benny this is in honor of you

    i luv you,ull definitly be missed by all
    please beg for us the coming of moshiach

  • no one important

    WOW! that was strong…im almost crying.. i can feel how gr8 a boy he was this is really sad…but now is the time that everyone should continue with their lives..although i know he is still in everyones hearts….never forget benny but dont dwelll on the fact that hes not here anymore…its time to move on…

  • mms

    Hamokom Yenachem Eschem Besoch Shaar Avaylay Tzion VeYerushalayim. … I don’t think i ever met such a kind hearted individual such as Benny. To all his friends and family lets all do something that Benny would want- Smiloe because Benny is davening for us.
    Benny i will miss you dearly. I beg michila for any wrong doin. Dude!!! i’ll miss you!

  • caring...

    its soooooo nice that alot of people were by the levaya.
    it shows how people care for each other!

  • slrubinstein

    SLR writes..
    Dear Rochel and Moshe and family, What a zchus to have known BenTzion. I go to sleep every night with a heavy heart that this has happened. I am B’N taking upon myself to have shiur for young girls and women on wed. nites in BenTzions honor. It shames me to say that I need everyones help to get thru this. You can email me slr3426@msn.com

  • h.c

    after reading everyones comments i again broke down for the 3rd time today.. benny is the most amazing person i have ever known in my life. he always had a smile on his face and was never stressd .. when i helpd him out a bit with yidstock everything that could have stressd me out he took as a breeze and fixed the situation. my hachlata now is that whenever i may get stressd i stop myself and fix the situation with a smile and think of benny who was a caring person and only cared for others and them being happy. benny i miss you so much and I know your up there watching over us all – we wont ever forgive you .. and to the keller family you have an amazing son .. and i write the word "have" because benny is still with us in our harts and we live our lives like he lived his -with a smile on our faces and always happy.. benny this year yidstock will have millions.. !!! we will do it again – luv your freind hadassah

  • im still cant belive it

    its been almost a week since benny past away and i still cant belive it. when i see some of his friends in the street i look to see if his there and it hits me that no his not untill moshiach comes……benny, u teached me a lot to smile, not to talk bad about other people. i wish u were here…will never ever forget u benny. and pray for us all up there that mashiach shuld come and will be abele to see u smiling again!!!!!

  • dontworrybehappygirl

    Its been a week today since the lavaya and i still have tears in my eyes everytime i think about Benny. He was such an amzing unique neshama with so much good stuff to offer to the world. I dont think i ever saw him without a smile on his face, or even in a bad mood. He was a rare diamond that sparkeled even if u saw him from far away. The way he danced…the way he spoke so spirutully about G-d…the way he was soo committed to everyhting he did….YidStock-"the greatest concert ever" was AMAzing thanks to him and the way he always thought to keep everyone around him happy. he was only 17 when he passed away that shaboss morning. Benny loved Shaboss …..Shaboss was his day…wow i can’t believe he’s gone!!! He;s missed soooo sooo much by so many peopleBUt his neshama and legacy will live on ,and thats what makes me think about smiling for Benny and not being so sad anymore.Benny, Please come back and bring moshiach with u!!

  • dontworrybehappygirl

    Its been a week today since the lavaya and i still have tears in my eyes everytime i think about Benny. He was such an amzing unique neshama with so much good stuff to offer to the world. I dont think i ever saw him without a smile on his face, or even in a bad mood. He was a rare diamond that sparkeled even if u saw him from far away. The way he danced…the way he spoke so spirutully about G-d…the way he was soo committed to everyhting he did….YidStock-"the greatest concert ever" was AMAzing thanks to him and the way he always thought to keep everyone around him happy. he was only 17 when he passed away that shaboss morning. Benny loved Shaboss …..Shaboss was his day…wow i can’t believe he’s gone!!! He;s missed soooo sooo much by so many peopleBUt his neshama and legacy will live on ,and thats what makes me think about smiling for Benny and not being so sad anymore.Benny, Please come back and bring moshiach with u!!

  • ( the jew just like you)

    It was that motzei shabbos that I got a pain strickening call from a friend of mine. Without realizing it tears were falling from my eyes.
    I know Benny is in a very special place right now looking down at us. With his huge calming smile.
    This is deffiantly a wake up call for me..
    yechi hamelech !
    bring us the ga ulah now!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Aryeh Ross

    It is now several months since we lost Ben Zion (Benny) I cant forget the warm and wonderful smile that he always showed us.

    He was a person that every Yid could only love.

    I know that he is in a better place, but he is sorely missed.

    To his parents, brothers and sisters, ETC,
    May we only grow in the ways of Hashem, and be worthy to see the Geula.

  • DAVIE

    I LOVE YOU BRO, MISS YOU LIKE YOU DONT KNOW. UR MY THOUGHTS MY HEART MY HOMIE! I WISH U WASNT GONE BRO I FRIKKIN WISH U WERE STILL HERE, I DONT CARE WHAT ANYONE SAYS YOU WERE MY BROTHER AND I’LL NEVER STOP TRIPPING OUT FEELING LIKE, MAN I WISH BENNY WAS HERE RIGHT NOW. I LOVE YOU BRO, UR MY HOMIE TILL DEATH. I LOVE YOU, SEE YOU REAL QUICK HOMIE MWA