By COLlive reporter
Mendel Cotlar, an upbeat 13-year-old Chabad boy from Houston, Texas, passed away on Tuesday, Tishrei 13 5775.
Mendel was a popular, fun-loving, active young boy who had Glycogen Storage Disease (GSD). “My glucose gets very low and that could be very dangerous for my brain and body,” he said in a video he created in 2011.
He retold that after once not taking the cornstarch drink that levels the blood sugar in his body, he had a seizure “and fell into a deep sleep and could not be woken up.”
“My father davened for me at the Ohel. My friends and their parents said Tefillim for me and gave tzedaka and asked their friends and their parents to do the same,” he said.
Cotlar woke up 2 days later and went on to create an inspirational video titled “The Power of Tehillim” as his entry for a Tzivos Hashem contest, which was featured on COLlive.com.
“I want kids all around the world to know that Hashem really does watch over us and that saying Tehillim really helps,” he said. At the end of last year he started putting on Tefillin at 770 Eastern Parkway and later celebrated his Bar Mitzvah.
On Rosh Hashana 5775, he underwent an emergency surgery and remained in a coma from which he never woke. Tehillim was said and Mitzvos were done in his merit in a global campaign.
“With gratitude to Hashem for the 13 beautiful years He allowed us to have Mendel… and with deep sadness… we inform you of the passing our son Menachem Mendel,” his parents Daniel and Eta Cotlar wrote on Facebook.
The funeral procession will pass today at Chabad Lubavitch Center/Torah Day School in Houston at 4:15 pm and will proceed from there to Beth Jacob Cemetery at HWY 288 and Almeda Genoa in Houston.
Shiva will be held at the Cotlar’s home, beginning with Mincha and Maariv Tuesday at 6:45 pm. Visiting hours until 10 pm tonight. Wednesday, Shacharis at 8 am. Visiting hours all day until Mincha at 4 pm, when Shiva concludes due to the yomtov of Sukkos.
Baruch dayan haemes.
bde
bde so sad
i fell so bad for the family i hope moshiach will come soon,.
where can i take a mesechte
a friend
He was in mine class and when he passed away I was in shock Moshiach now
We mourn the untimely loss of a great friend. We can never forget the weeks you spent with us during our summer school program in July over the past few years. You were a good friend, a great sport, gentle and kind with a pleasant smile. Your Toronto friends will miss you. We hope and daven that by the time summer comes you will joins us with moshiach.
So saddened. May Hashem give you koach. Thinking of Bubby Chaya, Ita and the whole extended family.
Oy vey when will we see moshiach already! Ad mosai?! Hamokom yenachem eschem…
I’m so heartbroken to hear that. May Hashem comfort the family botch evlei Sharey tzion veyerushalaim with moshiach now!!!!
ad mosai!
hashem yerachem. he was my principils nephew!!!
Baruch Dayan Emes. Mendel was such a special boy! We are so sorry for your loss. May Hashem comfort you among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.
With our sincere condolences, Donna Karmel and my 11-year-old son, Daniel
Reb Daniel and family,
I am in complete shock and heartbroken by Mendel’s loss. He was a complete tzaddik. May H’shem comfort you and your wife and family in these hard times. I feel your pain at this moment and I wish Mendel was still with us.
Natalie “Ora” Garson from Miami, Florida, originally from Houston, Texas
I am 51 I was born with the same disease I am of a different religion but I will pray that his family is somehow comforted
Hashem Why so young?!
I’m are heartbroken for your loss. There’s no adequate words to console. May G-d almighty consul you with the coming of Moshiach Now!!
An admirer of yours from London yeshiva days.
I go to school with Nosson, and we spent Rosh Hashana together at Penn State University helping out the shliach. On erev Rosh Hashana, Nosson got a call that his brother was in the hospital. From that point on, He wasn’t himself. He was more withdrawn, and quieter than usual. When we arrived back in Pittsburgh after yontif, he disappeared, and later, we found out that he had gone home, to be with his brother. I never had the opportunity to meet Mendel, but I have heard many things about him. I know that there are no words that can… Read more »
May hashem comfort you- We need moshiach right now to end all the pain and suffering
a great lost to this world
Hashem bring Moshiach right now to much suffering and pain.
Ad Mosai!!! Dear Chaya im so sorry to hear this saddest news! May Hashem comfort you and whole family and send Moshaih now! Geula now, no waiting!!!
so sad, may hashem comfort you
Baruch Dayan HaEmes Here is to a great friend who i loved and cherish. M merry was the only way he could ever be E exceptional at whatever he did N nurturing for all that was good D delightful to be with no matter what E enriching for all who knew him L light for the entire world to see by These are only a few of the things Mendel was to everyone he met. In all the years I knew him he was never sad and always saw the best in people. He was always there to shine light… Read more »
I’m so sorry for your loss. Moshiach should come now!
A Pittsburgh classmate
Mendele will certainly continue his work to scream before the Kisai Hakovod We Want Moshiach Now !!!!
May Hashem bring Moshiach now, and we will be reunited with your son!
Boruch Dayan Haemes.
We are all with you in your pain.
Like Aharon HaKohen after the histalkus of Nodov & Avihu!
המקום ינחם אתכם בתוך שאר אבלי ציון וירושלים
A 13 year old boy SHOULD NOT have OBM under his name this is more sad for words 😢
may we have an end to this galus now
A few summers ago, I had the great privlage of being Mendels counselor in camp, he is the camper that is every counselors dream, full of chayos, warmth, smart, fun, excellent natured and so much more. I miss you a lot Mendel!
I had the price large of staying at the Cotlars home years ago for a weekend when Mendel was very young.They made such a special impression on me and I will never forget it.I am so very sorry for their loss.
he must have been a wonderful boy
hope mosciach comes now,and techiyas hameisim also soon
yehuda
This is just too much to bear! We are crying with you. Mendel has inspired and affected so many all across the globe. Dear Daniel and Eta, may Hashem comfort you and your family and give you the strength. Hamakom Yenachem eschem bsoch shaar aveilei tzion v’yerushalayim.
May Hashes bring you true comfort
so sad, such a beautiful neshama.
To Menachem Mendel’s a”h parents:
You don’t know me but I want you to know I care.
May Hashem comfort you among the mourners of Tzion and Yerushalayim.
Hi, I have never met your family and/or your son, but your son looks like he was a real beautiful person. Hashem likes to take the best of the best back home. None of my words can help, but I will bli neder daven for your family to find comfort. 99% of the time when a family goes through such a grave tragedy, the family is a very special and unique unit of people, you guys are definitely very unique and special and May Hashem shower you with many revealed brochos. May you guys feel the ultimate comfort that can… Read more »
Our hearts bleed profusely and there are no words-no consolation- nothing because right now we are in shock and the pain is overwhelming.No family should ever go thru something like this.H’ you alone must be there for the grieving family-
Your entire class feels for you. We Just don”t know what to say
May Hashem comfort you and your family.
Moshiach now!!
Losing a loved ones. I cant. Im crying. Mendele please tell Hashem to bring Moshiach. Tell him that we cant take it anymore! I beg you!
Boruch DAyan Haemes
Your son was so holy he completed his tikkun here in such a brief time. We are all grieving with you. But we smile knowing he will SURELY be a meilitz yosher for us and help bring the geulah shleimah.
הלב נישבר הכאב עצום מנשוא מי יתן ולא תיראו עוד צער
so sad….
I am sobbing
how could such a wonderful chayisdike boy deserve this?
I did not think that this glucose disease would kill him
oy!
I feel terrible for the boy’s family
my heart goes out to you with sincerity
may his precious neshama reach the heavenly gates of Gan eden and may we all be reunited with him with moshiach now!
Amen!
BDE
And only more simchos for the family.
Amen
May Hashem comfort you among the rest of the mourners of tzion, and may you all have a peacful , and uplifting sukkos
only good things
I’m deeply saddened for your loss. As I do not know you or your son, I can only say, I wish I would’ve met him and appreciated him in his short but very precious life! What your son accomplished in his 13 years many don’t accomplish in their 70-80 years!! To the parents of this young man, may HaShem grant you strength through these horrific days ahead! May you know of no more loss or pain!! You were blessed to have had this precious soul in your care! המקום ינחם אתכם בתוך שאר אבלי ציון וירושלים!! We mourn with you…… Read more »
We are all crying with you. I didn’t know Mendel but his uniqueness and special light came through in the pics and videos. What a special neshama. A loss for everyone but unimaginable for your beautiful family
So upset to hear
During Mendels short life he has inspired so many people to do mitzvos and say tehillim.
I will personally try to complete the tehillim once a week for mendles holy neshoma.
May the entire family be comforted.
Fellow shliach from Australia
This is so sad!! moshiach now!!!!!!!!!!!
There are no words sufficient to answer the magnitude of the pain and the questions. I can only add my voice to those pleading for Mashiach, so that these terrible decrees can end.
May Hashem com for you amongst the mourners of Tzion and Yerushalayim, and may you know no more sorrow.
To be menachem ovel Eta?
Terribly sadden by the news. May the aibishter give the family strength at this terribly trying time!!
I only learned about Mendel these past few weeks, but from the moment I saw his face in a picture, I knew he must be the sweetest and most aidel boy. I learned from Mendel to have trust in Hashem, and to be grateful to Him. Mendel’s sweet Panim and voice has left a deep impression on me. I will continue saying Tehillim with Emunah! Dear Cotlar family, I am at a loss of words. I can’t begin to imagine what you are going through. May Hashem comfort you! Moshiach now!
Ad Modsai!! We need the Geula to come quick!
i knew mendel such a nice kid always smiling plesent to be around
a friend
I was a counselor in Gan Izzy in Houston and my friends and I ate at the Cotlers’ house on shabbos. They are such amazing people!
We are so sad to hear the news
Nothing more to add, BUT we need MOSHIACH NOW!!!!!!
May your family have Great Zechus and only simchos.
AD MOSAI!!!!
hamokoim [only, only He can] yinachem eschem btoich sharey aveiley zion v’yirushalyim
efraim &chana schmukler
How sad 🙁 what a special boy
we need moshiach
So hard to bare! Cannot believe it!!! We need Moshiach now!!!
My heart goes out to the family. May you only have revealed good from now on!
So sad!!!
Ive known ita growing up in high school, although i never met her little tzadikel. He cane to this world pure and was taken back pure, right under kise hakavod directly under the wings of the shchina. May hashem give ur family much needed strength and comfort and may we hear of no more tradgedies.
Ad mosai
May your son’s memory serve as a source of inspiration to your family and may God comfort you. Baruch Dayan HaEmet.
Isser and I are so very saddened by this news!
May H-shem hold dear Mendel in his loving embrace and do the work so needed to bring Moshiach ..
Our prayers are always with you,and your entire family!
Sarah Goldstein
HAMAKOM YENACHEM ESCHEM.
AD MASAI!
So devastating! My heart goes with the families
we should continue doing things on the zechus of this tzaddik
May the Aibishter & our Rebbe grant you an abundance of strength needed now during this very sad time of your lives. Hashem takes back his Neshamas that are “pure” & have totally fulfilled their Tikkun in Olam Hazeh. May this beautiful Neshama of MM (Menachem Mendel/Melech Moshiach) reach the highest realms in Gan Eden – Olam Habah.
With warm hugs & love,
The Kessler family (LA)
So sorry for ur loss. Such a sweet looking boy.
How can this happen to such a cute boy
It just doesn’t make sense.. After all that read done for him, all the mivtzoim, tehilim etc. To the Cotlers, I’ve never met you before but hearing of Mendel’s truly effected me like that of a close relative. Wishing you all my love and to manage to grow from this, a fellow yid.
I was a counselor of Nosson’s way back in CGI of Houston. That family is unbelievable. Ita is the most warm and giving person coupled with Daniel’s great personality. Hashem gave them such a zchus of having this incredible spirited Mendel. He was absolutely the cutest, most positive and loveable child. Everyone knew that. The other children in their family are just as well behaved and wonderful. We cannot understand why bad things happen to good people. And the Cotlars sure are AMAZING people. Ad MOSAI? We can’t anymore! The best of the best are being taken from us!! Please… Read more »
?
My heart goes out to the entire Cotler and Smuckler familes, may yuou be comforted in your time of need, and see only blessings from hereon in.
We await the moment when Moshiach will be here, and be reunited with your son and all our loved ones, may it be now mamash!
May Hashem comfort you.
so broken to hear about your Mendel. He inspired so many. May we merit the coming of mashiach now!
My Dear Classmate and friend Daniel, My heart aches for you and your wife Eta, I cannot fathom nor empathize with your pain at this delicate and fragile time in your lives. I can only sympathize and ask Hashem to grant you a quick consolation as we enter these next weeks of Tishrei. Your son must have been very special to have been born to parents like yourselves and I am sure he will be missed greatly. You will always have our support back her in Pittsburgh, Hamokom Yenachem Eschem B’soch Shaar Aveilei Tziyon B’Yerushalayim. May you elevate from this… Read more »
wishing the family only good
Ad mosai????
How sad
There are no words
No words
Just Aibishter please end the suffering!!!!
Dear Cotlars,
I don’t know what to say or write
It’s unbearable pain
May you find the strength
With love
The tears dont stop falling! What a tragedy! My heart goes out to the Cotlar family, may Hashem give you the strength to continue. The Chabad family worldwide is crying and grieving with you.
May we speedily merit Moshiach and you will be reunited with Mendel.
bde
Ad Mosai?!
i don;t know this tsaddik but i cannot stomach this, no no, i can’t this is such a tragedy!! Hashem give strength to the family to carry on, comfort us comfort us WE CANNOT HANDLE ANY OF THESE TRAGEDIES, Hashem Please!!!!