Kosher Supermarket Owner Mourns His Wife: ‘I Have To Do It All Without You’
A screenshot of a video showing the funeral of Mindy Ferencz in Jersey City on Wednesday night. Image by Molly Boigon
By Molly Boigon December 12, 2019
On a Jersey City street, a crowd of men dressed in black hats and coats stand on the sidewalk and flood out into the street. A white bus stamped with “Chaverim of Rockaway” flanks the crowd. Speakers tower over them, projecting a tremulous voice.
That voice belongs to Moishe Ferencz, the husband of Mindy Ferencz, 32, who was one of six people killed in a shooting that ended at the couple’s kosher supermarket. This was the scene of his wife’s funeral.
“You gave me everything I ever wanted,” he said in Yiddish, sobbing and gripping the podium, leaning on it like a walker. “And now, I have to do it all without you.”
Unconsolable father eulogizing his murdered wife tells of his daughter Devoiry asking him “I want to go to mama…”
Adding “But we [believers] don’t ask questions” submitting to the will of God #JerseyShooting pic.twitter.com/z70sCpVnlb— ????? ???????? (@YosefRapaport) December 12, 2019
Moishe opened JC Kosher Supermarket on Martin Luther King Drive in 2017, the sole incorporator and the only member of the board of directors, according to filings with the New Jersey Department of the Treasury. He and his wife moved from Brooklyn searching for more financial stability and space for their three children.
Moishe and Mindy Ferencz ran a successful business together, putting out hot kugel and cholent for their customers each Thursday and selling at least five different varieties of yogurt.
But on Tuesday, Moishe stepped out for a moment to bring some cake to the synagogue, his mother told the Daily News. Mindy filled in behind the counter, only to be ambushed by two gunmen who were out to kill Jews.
“I feel sorry for my son,” Moishe’s mother, Victoria, told the New York Times. “She’s going to heaven, but he and his children will have it hard.”
At last night’s funeral, Moishe Ferencz expressed regret for ever including her in the operations at the market.
“When I asked you to help out you were ready,” he said. “And perhaps if I had never asked, then you’d…”
He was unable to talk through his tears.
The store was a gathering place where customers came to talk politics. Children came by in masks and princess crowns to collect Halloween sweets from Moishe, who handed out individual pieces of candy from a clear Tupperware container.
This is Mr. Ferencz. The shopkeeper of the JC Kosher grocery store
who’s wife was killed yesterday in the attack on his shop.
Here he’s seen in his shop giving out candy to trick or treaters last Halloween.
המקום ינחם אתכם pic.twitter.com/0qkt7dkLNm— Meyer Labin (@MeyerLabin) December 11, 2019
During his eulogy, Moishe said his wife told him to get more rest, but she herself never slept for how busy she was taking care of the family.
And yesterday, when Moishe’s young daughter asked to see her mother, he was forced to explain.
“She’s gone. But my children, my treasures, the Lord always said ‘Mommy will take care of it. Mommy will get it done,’” he said. “Now, children, God has said ‘No children, Daddy is going to take care of you alone.”
Jordan Kutzik contributed reporting and Yiddish translation.
Molly Boigon is the investigative reporter at the Forward. Contact her at [email protected] or follow her on Twitter @MollyBoigon
A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.
At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse..
Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO
