Editing Avrohom Dovid Wilhelm (section)

== Life History ==
Born to Rabbi Moshe Yehuda Aryeh (Leib) Wilhelm and Mrs. Reizel on 19 Shevat 5689 in Mihalifalva, Romania.

At age two, he became an orphan from his father. When the Holocaust broke out, he was taken with his family to labor camps until they reached Auschwitz, where he lost his mother, brother, and two sisters. He miraculously survived after being sent to the gas chambers when a sudden order came requesting 50 strong workers for a coal mine. Due to his physical strength, he was selected and his life was saved. With mesiras nefesh, he did everything possible to continue observing mitzvos even within the camp, and even managed to build a sukkah during Sukkos.

He was later sent to Bergen-Belsen, where he stayed until the end of the war. He then moved to a displaced persons camp where he studied in the temporary yeshiva established there (which later moved to Paris and became known as 'Beis Yosef - Novardok'). Later, when his friend got married in the Pocking DP camp, he first came into contact with Lubavitcher chassidim and was captivated by them, which led him to draw closer to chassidus until he himself became a Chabad chassid.

On 3 Tammuz 5714, he married his wife Mrs. (Chana) Rivka, daughter of the chassid Reb Mordechai Dober Lokshin in Paris. They lived in Paris for three years, and in 5717 immigrated to the United States and settled in Crown Heights, where he became known for his acts of chesed and involvement for the benefit of all neighborhood residents.

He was known for his simchas hachaim and refused to speak about his wartime experiences. He also refused to accept reparations offered by the German government.

When he went into yechidus for his eldest son Moshe Aryeh's bar mitzvah, he asked whether to send his son to study English after finishing his studies at Oholei Torah. The Rebbe rejected this, saying that Moshiach is coming and therefore there is no need.

On Friday, 4 Tammuz, he was involved in a car accident and suffered broken ribs. After several hours, there was a sudden deterioration and he passed away at age 74 on Shabbos night Parshas Korach, 5 Tammuz 5763 in Crown Heights. He was buried in Montefiore Cemetery, New York.