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Boruch Dayan Hoemes: Mendel Cotlar, 13, OBM

With great sadness and pain we inform you of the untimely passing of Hatomim Mendel Cotlar of Houston, TX. He passed away this morning after many years of living with Glycogen Storage Disease. He was 13 years old, having just celebrated his Bar Mitzvah last month.

Mendel’s rare condition prevented his body from properly maintaining the necessary level of glucose. After an emergency surgery this past Rosh Hashanah, Mendel fell into a coma, from which he did not awake, r”l.

A campaign to say Tehillim for his recovery swept through internet forums and social media in the past weeks, buoyed by young Mendel’s own testimony that “saying Tehillim works” (see video below).

He is survived by his parents, Daniel and Eta Cotlar, and siblings.

The Levaya will take place today, 4:15pm, at Chabad Lubavitch Center/Torah Day School in Houston, Texas.

The Shiva will take place at the Cotlar home, beginning with Mincha and Maariv today at 6:45pm, followed by visiting hours until 10:00pm tonight. Tomorrow, Shacharis will be at 8:00am, followed by visiting hours all day until Mincha at 4:00pm, when Shiva concludes due to Yomtov.

mendel-cotlar-tefillin
Mendel Cotlar putting on Tefillin with his father Daniel for the first time.

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17 Comments

  • Moish Tombosky

    My dear Classmate and friend Daniel Cotlar, BD”E, I don’t have words to describe my sympathy for you and your wife. Your son seemed like a realy incredible person, may you always have nachas from his memory. You always have support back here in Pittsburgh, we are davening for your consolation of this painful time in your life. Hamokom Yenachem Alahem B’Soch Shaar Aveilei B’Yerushalayim.

  • Judy Rosenberg Charney

    Baruch Dayan Emes. To the Smuckler and Cotler Families, may you be comforted by the memories you shared.

  • Alizah Amalia

    BDE. May his memory be a blessing and may HaShem comfort you all in this sad time. Best wishes from Sydney Australia.

  • Chaim & Sarah Forer

    boruch dayan emes. to the parents, grandparents, siblings, relatives and friends, may HaMakom comfort you among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem and may He provide support to overcome this difficult test.

  • Mendel's family

    Thank you all for your beautiful words and mitzvos over the past weeks. But it’s important for everyone to know… Mendel did not “suffer” through years of illness. His condition was background noise in a very happy, enjoyable and successful life b”h, bruchniyos uvgashmiyos. He gave us all a lot of nachas.

  • Acoca family (Vancouver)

    Dearest Cotler family,
    Baruch Dayan haEmet. Although we do not officially know each other, we feel your pain and suffering as yet another precious member of klal yisrael leaves olam hazeh. May his memory be for a blessing and may you know no more sorrow.

  • Yitzi Creeger

    Daniel, can’t express it any better than Moish did above… I was shocked to see the news…. Hamakom Yenachem Eschem…. Moshiach NOW!!!!!

  • Jeremy Gilmore

    Boruch Dein Emess I have just read about your son
    And watched his video my neshama cries out to
    Hashem that his sweet neshama rest at the throne
    Of the abisha, I too know the power of tehillim as I
    Had a major operation of my neck and have said many pital of tehillim for my friends and have seen the results my self your son was a sweet neshama that
    Needed only a short time in this world have comfort
    That his neshama reached so many people
    Celebrate his life as it was beautiful to behold

  • Kalman Weber

    Boruch Dayan HaEmmes. There are no words. We are all in a state of shock trying to process this especially Yedidya who lost his good summertime friend.
    HaMakom Yenachem Eschem B’Soch Shaar Aveilei Tzion Vi’Yerushalayim

  • BDE

    How right you are and how incredible that you already realize now how important it is that he had a happy and fulfilling life.
    This will give you nechoma and strengh to continue iiving besimcha just like he did and FOR his neshoma.
    Only der Eibershter could help you through this.

  • Alvin M. Cotlar

    Mendel’s great-great grandfather, David Cotlar, was my grandfather. His great-grandfather, Nathan Cotlar, was my uncle, and his grandfather, David Cotlar, is my first cousin. Mendel was truly a Zadik and an inspiration to all who knew him or knew of him. I wish I had had the privilege of meeting him. BARUCH DAYAN EMES.

  • The Glogauer family, Australia

    BS”D
    The Cotlar family holds a special place in our hearts ever since we had the zchus of living with the Houston community for a year. Our deepest condolences, our prayers for comfort and meaning to last and for his memory to be a blessing to all. Baruch Dayan HaEmes.
    The Glogauer family

  • Stephen Cotlar

    I am the brother of David, Mendel’s grandfather.
    It was just a couple of months ago that I was able to spend some time with Mendel. He and his family visited Colorado, where I live. We spent the day rafting and it was a good day for us all; at the time I had no idea just how special that day would turn out to be.

    Rest in peace, Mendel. You will be be so missed by all of us.