SECOND INSTALLMENT RE ZAIDY'S AGE

 

Dear Family,

 

I hope that you have read the first installment.

 

I have taken the Liberty to scan and send the following documents:

 

The first page (labeled page 2) is a list of the Bochurim in the Lubavitcher Yeshiva in Vilna on the 25th of Sivan 5696- 1936. It says there that Zaidy was 13 years old, which was the average age of his class, the second class. If so, then Zaidy would have been born in 1923. In the second attached page it quotes Zaidy, saying that shortly after his Bar Mitzvah he went to Vilna, after Pesach. This would seem to indicate that they did not make a mistake by a year, since his Bar Mitzvah was in 1936-5696. Unless we will say that Zaidy remembered that he went to Vilna shortly after his Bar Mitzvah, and he did not remember which year it was (as is probable). It was the interviewer that inserted 5696, since we have a document saying that he was in Yeshiva during that year. Possibly, he was born 1922, Bar mitzvah 1935-5695 and entered the Vilna Yeshiva in 5695 shortly after his Bar Mitzvah in the first class, and the document that we have is of his second year there.

 

The next two documents state that Zaidy was learning in Vilna after the war had begun. They had left Otwock before Rosh Hashana to Warsaw, and had managed to escape from the Germans (see Tanta Fruma's letter). There is a lot to talk about in the details of their escape. We will have to leave that for another time. Actually these documents do not add much to this discussion of Zaidy's age. I included them by mistake, and did not want to omit them, in case anybody was interested.

 

The fifth document gives an overview of Zaidy's history, as well as some of his family. It mentions that Uncle Chaim was born in 1915 and learned in Vilna 1929-1931.f so, he entered Yeshiva when he was 14 years old. So too with Shmuel Avrohom (incidentally, he was called just Shmuel in one of the documents). He was born 1917 and entered the Vilna Yeshiva in 1931 when he was 14 years old. Though Zaidy went to Yeshiva when he was 13 years old.

 

In the 5th document it says that Zaidy learned in Glubocke during the years of 1935-6 until Pesach. Zaidy told us many times about the simple Bar Mitzvah that he had while learning by his Melamed in Dukshitz. It seems that the family's house was quarenteened at that time because of (the typhus?) disease that was spreading. Though a Yeshiva did start in Glubocke during those years, and Zaidy's Father Reb Ben Zion was very much involved with this amazing undertaking, it would seem that Zaidy did not attend. possibly because the Yeshiva was not well organized or at an appropriate standard.

 

In the 6th document, it says that Zaidy was learning in Otvock during the winter of 5698, and was 17 years old. It is possible that this was before or after his Birthday on Chanukah. Yet, if Zaidy was born in 1922, the years would not fit?? Unless we say that they made a mistake? Incidentally, it says that Zaidy had just arrived in Otvock that winter. Apparently he was in Vilna for the 3rd class too.

 

I also reviewed a 100 year calendar. Though Chanukah can never fall on October, it is possible that it should really have said December 20th. They mistook a 10 for a 12.

So 12/20/ 19 falls on the 28th of Kislev, Zaidy's birth day is on the 3rd Lichtele of Chanukah, or the 27th of Kislev. In 1920 it fell on the 9th of Teves. In 1921 the 19th of Kislev. In 1922the first of Teves, or the 6th Lichtele of Chanukah during that year.In 1923 it fell on the 12th of Teves.  

 

Please review this and share your comments with us. I am inclined to settle on the 1922 date. What do yoy think?

 

All the best

 

Have a wonderful Shabbos, especially as today is The Alter Rebbe's Yahrzeit.

 

Ben Zion

 

 

 

Dear Family,

 

Please pass this on to whomever you think would be interested in this info.

 

Many of us have wondered about Zaidy's real age.

 

In most of the legal documents, it says that Zaidy was born on Oct. 20th, 1919.

 

I have taken the liberty to enclose a copy of Zaidy's passport, a letter from Tanta Fruma, and a letter from The Freerdiker Rebbe.

They all say that Zaidy was born in 1919.

 

Now the letter from Tanta Fruma was written from Vilna to relatives in America, begging for help in order to emigrate.

The letter is interesting on its own. I rewrote it in Yiddish. Though my handwriting is much worse than hers, the lettering is somewhat closer to today's writing.

I hope you can decipher it. There is one word at the end which I was not able to decipher. I therefore could not understand whether she was blaming herself or others for not emigrating to America earlier.

 

I also enclosed a letter from The Freerdiker Rebbe saying that he knew Zaidy personally.

 

Yet, there is one exception, Zaidy's marriage certificate, which states that he was born Oct. 20, 1922.

 

So, which year is correct?

 

(one possibility is that Zaidy wanted to minimize his age, somewhat. Though, I would have a hard time accepting this, unless there was a discrepancy with his age.)

 

Now, Zaidy often said that his brother Sholom Ber was older than him. I imagine that Sholom Ber was named after The Rebbe Rashab who passed away the 2nd of Nissan 1920. If so, than Sholom Ber had to be born after t Nissan 1920. So that Zaidy could not have been born before 1922. 

 

Unless we say that Zaidy may have gotten confused with the dates during the war as many others have, who did not either remember their dates of birth. It would seem most logical that Tanta Fruma should not make a mistake in his year of birth. Especially when we take into account the birth of the other children. I believe that Meir was born on 1911, Tanta Fruma in 1913, Chaim in 1915, Shmuel Avrohom in 1917, Sholom Ber after 1920, Afterwards Asneh Merah, then Uncle Yisroel in 1925. It would make most sense if Zaidy was born 1919, Sholom Ber in 1921, and Asneh Merah in 1923.

 

Incidentally Sholom Ber does not appear in the picture of Tanta and Uncle Rodshtein in Glubock, while Zaidy does appear there. Is this a proof that Sholom Ber was younger and therefore couldn't be in the picture as he needed to be watched? I do not think so, as Asneh Merah who was even younger was there, sitting on Bubba Reicha's lap. Probably the reason was because he was suffering from health issues.

 

Maybe to clarify things, I would like to introduce a copy of the roster of Yeshiva Bochurim in Vilna (under Rabbi Ushpol) written on the 25th day of Sivan 5696-1936, it says that Zaidy was learning in the middle class (2nd year of Mesivta?) and was 13 years old! This would mean that Zaidy as born in 1923!

 

I do plan to scan and send this and a few other documents too, but because I am technologically challenged, I have to wait for Simcha to return and help me.

 

Now, I would find it very hard to believe that a 17 year old boy (if he was born in 1919) was confused for a 13 year old boy??? When did he start putting on Teffillin?All of the other boys in his class were 12, 13 and 14. So how could he been confused, especially since the Yeshiva was quiet organized and recorded each Bocher's age and place of birth. To me this seems to be the overwhelming proof that Zaidy was younger. Possibly the legal documents included a ficticous date, as many did during those days.

 

I would like to hear your opinions on this.

 

Though I do plan to add another installment, this would include some discrepencies in his age as they are recorded in the Yeshiva documents. During this process we will try to clarify when he went to each Yeshiva. Also, I would like to explore the date Oct. 20. Chanukah never falls during October1

 

All the best, I hope you gained from this so far.

 

ben-zion

 

 

Uncle Moshe's Hadran And Speech For The Shloshim

Hadron Uktzin

Brief introduction:

What is Uktzin?

Uketz like an esrog has an uketz on the opposite side of the pittim, it is a stem

Another familiar word that has the same root  comes in the  saying loy meduvshach viloy meooktzach”  Ooketz is a stinger or a bite

The mishneh discusses ooktzin in regard to tuma v’tahara

An ooketz, which is a stem is a significant part of the fruit, or vegetable, because it is a handle with which to hold on to it

The Mishna says that something even more significant than the stem, is the pit or the shell, in certain cases, because it guards and preserves the fruit, it is a shoimer for the fruit

Here is the last mishneh, it doesn’t seem to have much to do with the topic of ooktzin, but we will soon see a strong connection to the shloishim

The last Mishneh of the whole shass:

אמר רבי יהושוע בן לוי, עתיד הקדוש ברוך הוא להנחיל לכל צדיק וצדיק שלוש מאות ועשרה עולמות, שנאמר "להנחיל אוהביי, יש; ואוצרותיהם אמלא" (משלי ח,כא).  אמר רבי שמעון בן חלפתא, אין לך כלי שהוא מחזיק ברכה אלא שלום, שנאמר "ה'--עוז, לעמו ייתן; ה', יברך את עמו בשלום" (תהילים כט,יא).

To quickly explain the mishna, I ask the following 3  questions:

·       Why did Rebbie choose these 2 items to end the shas with?

·       What does the first item have to do with the second, how are they related to each  other?

·       What is this about 310 worlds, what does it mean and why 310?

The last Mishneh tells us, that after all is said and done, we learned the whole Torah, we do all the Mitzvos  עתיד הקדוש ברוך הוא להנחיל לכל צדיק וצדיק שלוש מאות ועשרה עולמות, שנאמר "להנחיל אוהביי, יש; ואוצרותיהם אמלא",

The Rav explains that the reward for keeping the Torah is so great, that it is “yesh” = 310 times anything on this world. This is what the Mishna means by 310 worlds.

The Rambam disagrees. He says that the world and the person are temporary (ayin,) they are not a true existance, but if someone is righteous they become a real “yesh”. They are eternal, they exist forever. ( 310, is just a large number, but you just cannot compare a ruchniusdiker reward with a gashmiusdiker world)

Whether according to the Rav  or the Rambam, רבי יהושוע בן לוי     is telling us that if you think that you are losing out by keeping torah umitzvos, don’t worry! Your investment will increase by 310 times

What is the significance of 310, it is 1/2 of kesser   310 x 2 = 620 which is kesser,.  If you take 613 mitsvos and add 7mitzvos d’rabonnon you get 620. Since Hashem is our partner so 310 worlds for us and 310 for Hashem

ואוצרותיהם אמלא"

רבי יהושוע בן לוי     is telling us that if you think that you are losing out by keeping torah umitzvos, don’t worry!, ואוצרותיהם אמלא"  , don’t worry!, I will fill your warehouses, I will fill your treasure chest. So bigashmius Hashem give us ואוצרותיהם אמלא"   and bruchnius we get shai oilumus

אמר רבי שמעון בן חלפתא, אין לך כלי שהוא מחזיק ברכה אלא שלום, שנאמר "ה'--עוז, לעמו ייתן; ה', יברך את עמו בשלום"

Rabbi Shimon ben Chalafta tells us, how do you make sure that you get this brocha of

"להנחיל אוהביי, יש; ואוצרותיהם אמלא , for this you need to have a keli machzik Brocha

Where do you get this keli? The keli is sholom

Now we will find a connection of the last mishna of shass to the first mishna

1.     The first mishna, mayaymosai starts with a mem and this mishna ends with a mem this is symbolic of a karahot, the lifecycle of a person should be bound to tora. Also, when we finish shass we should know that we are just at the beginning…. and start again. In addition the2 mems are symbolic of the 40 days that Moishe rabbenu went up to Hashem to get the luchos rishonos and shnius

2.     The last mishna speaks about shai oilomos the first mishna speaks about shma, shma is a roshei taivos= shin mem ayin =shlosh mayos olamos

3.     The last mishna ends with sholom. The first mishna speaks about the kohanim becoming tahor The kohanim become tahor and they do the bircas kohanim which ends with viyosem lecha sholom

Now we are not quite finished yet. We still need to tie all this in to the first mishna in ooktzin (remember ooktzin?) and to Daddy’s life

So we explained that an ooketz is handle, and that a shomer is even more significant.

Daddy had a chest of memories, and the chest was really out of anyone’s reach.

It contained wonderful memories, but also bitter sweet memories.

It contained very important papers.

It contained a map he got from home with a destination, a mission statement.

It contained an old passport a leather pouch little bit of old valueless money, a few pictures and some newspaper clippings

It may not have looked like a treasure chest, but to him it was a treasure chest

To me the chest looked like it was from the 1930’s -1940’s. To me the chest was dark green metal

From time to time I would see Daddy go to where the chest was closeted and reach for it and put it on the dining room table

From time to time we would see Daddy go to where the tender memories were and reach for it and bring them down for us to see

We know that when you suppress strong emotions they get bottled up and whether the dam breaks or not they find a way to ooze out

When Daddy would speak at a simcha, the box overflowed on the dining room table.

When Daddy would speak with his ainiklach the spirit that was bottled up from the alterhaim with the love and devotion to yiddishkeit would ooze out. “Affen gass gait a mabul”

Through the little snippets that we heard from him, we got a feeling, a smell and a taste of what the alter heim really was, and for a short time we were transported across the ocean

Daddy, together with Mommy’s help, inspiration and encouragement,  managed to orchestrate and effect the next 3 generation. Daddy in his unassuming way and by being a role model together with mommy dealing with issues in a direct way,  strongly affected 3 generations according to the misson statements that received during their youth.

Ooktzin- daddy had a handle to access the valuable heritage that he was brought up with.  With this handle he handed it don’t to us

Ookitz – a sting, a bite, Daddy was bitten by the bug from the alter heim

And he passed down to us the torch, the fire, not just with a handle but with a shomer  a guard to the treasure. Shomer like v’aviv shomar as hadovor, mamtim umetzape mosai yehiyeh hadovor

 להנחיל אוהביי, יש  “Yesh”, like the Rambam says he had the real existence, his accomplishments are alive, Zaidy lives on.

He was also zoche to ואוצרותיהם אמלא,  Hashem was generous to Zaidy and provided him well.

And as the Mishna continues , אין לך כלי שהוא מחזיק ברכה אלא שלום

Zaidy was a real keili machzik brocha

Zaidy left us with big shoes to fill

But, he also left us with inspiration

And speaking about sholom, may we be zoicha to what the novi  yeshaya says   “ma Novu al heharim ragli nevaser mashmia sholom

Al yeday mochiach tzidkaynu

   

Photo's Of Zaidy

Zaidy with Akiva  Fishman and Bentzion Schtroks

Zaidy in Surrey Canada (YD Schtroks In Background)

Zaidy At A Post Pesach Photo

At 50th Anniversary Near Uncle Chaim And Uncle Elya

Zaidy Holding Menachem Schtroks Sterling St Kitchen

Letters From Zaidy To Simie Schtroks

 Letter Above Is Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Dvorim 5741 When Yossi Fishman is born.

Letter Above Is Tuesday Erev Chanukah 5745

Letter Above Is Rosh Chodesh Menachem Av 5746

Historical Backround of Rabbi Gershon Chanowitz

Part 1 unedited

            Reb Gershon Chanowitz was born in Glubocke, Poland on Chanukah around 1922. (There are conflicting dates in the documents, and during the war it was difficult to keep track.)  Glubocke (written Glubokoe or Hlybokaje) is in northern Poland close to the Russian Border and in the Vilna Guberna (County).  Glubocke (which means the low land) belonged to Lithuania, Poland and Russia at various times.  (When I asked Zaidy in which country Glubocke is, he would say, “It depends when.”)

            Glubocke, although it was a small village, housed the regional government.  It had some electricity during the 1920’s and later on had some factories.  Yet by and large, it was an old backward shtetl.  The Jewish people lived in the center of the town.  A number of rich non-Jewish people had large estates in the outskirts of town.  Glubocke boasted a market for the farmers to sell their wares.

            Glubocke was an old Jewish town mentioned in the Vaad Arba Ha-Arotzos some 300 - 400 years ago.

            There were around 5,000 Jewish people in town, about half were Chassidim.  There were a number of shules in town associated with various Chabad Chassidic offshoots.  The Strasheler Shule, Der Liadier Minyan and Der Lubavitcher Shul including a Chabadnitzeh ( a Cheder Sheni for those who wanted to daven B’Arichus).

            (Glubocke was also a stronghold of religious Zionists, Reb Shmuel Mohiliver was a Rabbi in town circa 1850.)

            Reb Gershon’s parents were Reb Ben Zion and Elka.  Reb Ben Zion was a well-respected shochet.  In those days the shochet’s position was respected and as influential as the Rov’s position.  Reb Ben Zion was also known as a “Forshtay-er”  representing the previous Lubavitcher Rebbe, Reb Yosef Yitzchok OB’’M.  Reb Benzion inherited his Shechita position from his father Reb Yisroel who arrived in Glubocke from Sloboda (a Chassidic town with many Kopuster Chassidim). 

             The family was known to hide Chassidim who had jumped the border from Russia illegally. Glubocke was close but not that close to the border. Disna (or Dzisna) was very close to the border, Dukshitz (or Doksycy) was a little further. Both were considered too dangerous to hide people. One of the people that they smuggled out of Russia was Reb Berel Kurnitzer (later on the Mashgiach in Otvock) A"H. 

            Elka was the daughter of Shmuel Avrohom Hellman from Liepla, Russia.  Her brothers were Reb Chaim Meir Hellman, the well-known, highly respected author of The Bais Rebbe and Reb Moishe, The Druyer Rov.  The family boasted a yichus as eineklech of Rebbi Yayva (one of the older Talmidim of the Baal Shem Tov.)  Elka was very smart and a Bas Zekunim of her father. She was also quite a lemdanis.  Reb Itche Masmid said that he spoke with her in learning and Reb Yossel Wineberg said that she was known as a Lamdanis. 

             Most women at the time as well as many men were illiterate.   When they needed to write a letter to the Rebbe, they would ask Reb Ben-Zion to write it for them. If he was busy then he would ask his wife Elka to write, which she did quite often.

            Reb Gershon was one of ten children. In his younger years, Reb Gershon learned from the famed Melamed Yossi Tishes (who passed away when Reb Gershon was 12 years old.)  Reb Yossi was an excellent Melamed who also taught him Nach thoroughly, which remained with him throughout his life. Afterwards his father sent him to Dukshitz, because he felt that the Melamed there would be better.

            Glubocke to Dukshitz is about 30 Km or 20 miles.  Yet in those days, the trip took about a half a day by horse and buggy. The roads were probably not the most direct or paved so it was a difficult trip.

            Reb Gershon learned in Dukshitz through Bar Mitzvah age.  During his Bar Mitzvah his family was quarantined because of the Typhus disease, so he could not come home.  His mother prepared a large fluden (kugel of sorts) and his father sent some money to buy schnapps, cake and other goodies. I imagine that much of the food was not used for the celebration. The poverty was such, that the Melamed needed to keep the money for his regular expenses. At Dukshitz, his Rebbe promised him a reward if he would learn Uva L’tzion Go-el by heart.  He mastered the T"fileh, though I’m not sure if he received the reward.

            A few months after his Bar Mitzvah he traveled home and then left to Vilna (after Pesach) to learn at the Lubavitcher Yeshiva there in the Apotov Shul. His name appears in the list of Talmidim (in the second class) on the 25th of Sivan 5696.  His Rebbe was Rav Gustman and Rav Ushpal (and the famous Reb Yudel Eber, author of Shaarei Yehudah).

            In the following year (for Tishrei 5698), he traveled to Warsaw and from there to Otvock (a suburb of Warsaw about 30 km-20 miles away) to learn at the Lubavitcher Yeshiva there.  The Lubavitcher Yeshiva at Warsaw had recently relocated there (in summer 5695).  The previous Lubavitcher Rebbe, Reb Yosef Yitzchok lived about a half mile from the Yeshiva (the address was Prussa Zeks [6].)  The Yeshiva was in a country-like atmosphere with trees and a few bungalow style buildings on Slowacka 1 (their address).

            Rev Gershon started off learning in the Kita’s (the younger classes) where he received a daily shiur from Reb Yudel Eber and Reb Boruch Friedman.

            Later on he learned in Zal where he also received a shiur from Reb Dovid, who eventually became the Kotzker Rebbe.

            Reb Gershon did not go home at all during his years in Vilna and in Otvock from 1936 – 1940.  He would say that the reason that he did not go home was because his uncle lived there.  This uncle Reb Moishe Leib Rodshtein (or Reb Zushe Shifrin) was the secretary to the Rebbe and as such lived in close proximity to the Rebbe.  During the Yomim Tovim, the Rebbe would have a minyan eating by his seudois.  Reb Moishe Leib was part of the minyan – so Reb Gershon decided to stay at his uncle and aunt's house. It would seem though that he did not have the money needed to travel home (even though most of the bochurim went home).

            Since he was a nephew of Rabbi Rodshtein, he was able to come to the end of the Rebbe’s sederim during Pesach.  Reb Chatshe Faigin would allow him to come into the Rebbe’s minyan more easily because of his connection.  He was also friends with Reb Chatshe Faigin’s son as well as the Rebbe’s grandson, Berka.  Since he hung around the shul he merited to observe various older Chassidim (including the Mashpia Reb Itche Masmid – a relative) and participate in their farbrengens. At his own sedorim, Reb Gershon used to repeat some of the Toirois that he had heard from The Rebbe at the seder during those years. He used to repeat them verbatem, with the same niggun every year.

            In Otvock, Reb Gershon learned to have a Geshmack in learning both Nigleh and Chassidus, and he developed a close kesher with his Rabbeim and Mashpiim.

            Towards the end of the summer 1939 the peace and harmony was rudely disrupted by the German planes dropping bombs in their midst.  As soon as this happened, the Yeshiva dismantled.  Many of the bochurim from Poland went home.  Those from America returned there as soon as possible.  Reb Gershon went with the horse and buggy that was carrying the Rebbe’s possessions to Warsaw.  The Rebbe told the bochurim to go up north, so Reb Gershon started traveling north.

            The Germans had already captured Poland, and were in the process of enforcing their dictatorship all over. Once during his travels he was locked in a church along with many other Jews for two days. The people were starving there and very very thirsty. Finally the Germans ym"sh gave each person a cup of water. Reb Gershon took the one cup of water that was alloted to him, and used half of it for negel vasser! Certainly a super-human act that we simply cannot fathom. A while before he was trapped in the church, his aunt had given him a Kichel to use in case of starvation. He kept it in his pocket for a long time. Now the starvation was unbearable, so he took it out to eat. An older man saw him holding the Kichel, and he begged him for a piece. Reb Gershon gave him a piece. He then asked for each of his children who were all starving. At first he tried breaking off small pieces. Eventually when there was little left over, he could not see himself eating any of the Kichel while the little chidren were starving. So he gave him the rest.

            Afterwards Reb Gershon tried to dodge the German troops. He went to the town of Druyer where the Rov (his uncle) helped him find someone to smuggle him over the river.

            Eventually, he made his way to Vilna (after stopping at his parents’ house in Glubocke.). The borders were somewhat fluid, and it was easier to go through them in those days. On Jan. 31, 21st day of Shvat 5701, he is listed as a Bochur in the Yeshiva in Vilna. He learned there from Reb Yehoshua Aizik Baruch and others.

            In Vilna the Lubavitcher refugees gathered to learn in the Lubavitcher Apotov shule (that had housed the Yeshiva earlier.)  Reb Chaim Oizer was in charge of the Vaad Hatzalah in Vilna, and he helped the Yeshiva exist during those months. When it came time for Pesach, he allowed them to buy new Keilim, out of respect for the Chabad minhag of not Kashering Chometzdiker Keilim for Pesach. During those months Reb Boruch Ber was niftar as was Reb Chaim Oizer.  It would seem that Reb Gershon was at both levayas and possibly served as a shomer for Reb Chaim Oizer.

            Reb Gershon had come from a family of shochtim, and was quite familiar with shechita.  In Otvock, though it was not usual for bochurim at that age to learn Hilchos Shechita, he started learning it (with an older man) during his free time.  In Vilna he started learning it in earnest (together with Rabbi Yossel Wineberg. See Igros Koidesh of The Rebbe Rayatz.)

            In 1941, things had gotten worse for the Jewish people in Vilna, and miraculously he found out about Sugihara. Mr. Sugihara, the Japanese ambassador to Kovna, was signing visas that saved around 2.000 lives. Reb Gershon miraculously procured visa # 1785 for himself, # 1836 for his oldest sister Fruma, # 1841 for his brother Shmuel Avraham, and #2027 for his brother Yisroel. The last visa was # 2039! Ud Mutzal M'Aish! An ember saved from the raging fire!

            He even smuggled his way to his parents, begging them to join him on his trip to Kobe, Japan. He offered to find a forger to change Yisroel’s visa to a family visa, but they did not agree; they were too scared.  While at home, he also learned shechita from his father and he borrowed his father’s Pischai Tshuva. He also took his father’s Sefer Torah to try to smuggle it out. The Sefer Torah was confiscated by the Russians at the border. The typewriter which was used to type many Maamorim, made it through the borders and later on reached New York City.

            Reb Gershon boarded the trans-Russian train and traveled across Russia to Vladivostock (arriving the 2nd of Shvat 5701- Jan. 30th).  From there he took a boat to Japan the next day.  In Japan he learned in the Lubavitcher Yeshiva that was there for a few months until they were deported to Shanghai.  Though it was tough to live in Shanghai, they still overcame all of the obstacles in order to learn B’Hasmada Uvishkida. Incidentally, the Chinese food that we enjoy  today, in no way resembles the meager subsistence upon which they lived!

            While in Shanghai his brother Shmuel Avraham got sick, and Reb Gershon worked very hard with the doctors and hospitals.  The Amshinover Rebbe got involved. He once walked with Reb Gershon the long distance to the hospital, in order to insist that Shmuel Avrohom eat on Yom Kippur. Rebbitzin Rishel Kotler was asked to translate.  It seems that the doctors in the hospital could not communicate in Yiddish or Polish, and she was able to translate into a language that they would understand. Reb Gershon also raised money for food for his brother, who was not in Yeshiva during his illness, and did not receive a food stipend. He did the same for his sister until she was married. It would seem that he felt that it was his personal responsibility to take care of his siblings as his dear parents would.

            His uncle and aunt had also gone to Kobe, Japan (they left Riga 19th of Elul 5700, arrived in Vladivastak on the 27th and then in Japan the 4th of Tishrei. Since they had received American visas, they immediately transferred to USA. They travelled by boat to San Francisco and then to New York on the 30th of Tishrei 5701).  Chabad had received nine more visas to Canada, which were given to the oldest nine bochurim.  His older sister Fruma roomed with (the future) Rebbitzen Kotler, who was engaged to Rabbi Shneur Kotler at the time.  During their stay in Shanghai, Reb Gershon helped find her a shidduch.  Since the Lubavitcher bochurim were much younger, and the Mirrer bochurim were much older, a shidduch was made with an outstanding bochur, Reb Michel Berenbaum (who eventually became the Mashgiach in Tiferes Yerushalayim.)  The wedding seudah took place in Reb Chetzkel Levenstein (the Mirrer Mashgiach)'s house on Shabbos.  There were very nice interchanges between the Lubavitcher bochurim and the Mirrer bochurim during those days.  Reb Gershon spoke during the Sheva Brochos.

            Reb Gershon helped his brother Yisroel, who had contracted an eye disease due to malnutrition, and did as much as he possibly could to help him recover. He also received semicha from Rabbi Ashkenazi in Shanghai.  During the war days, the information that was received in Shagnhai was very limited.  After the war, Reb Gershon wrote to friends and relatives repeatedly asking where his parents were.  Eventually he realized that they were all murdered around the 19th day of Menachem Av, 1942 by the Germans, YM’’Sh.

            On the ship ride to San Francisco, (the future) Rebbitzen Kotler became very sick.  Reb Gershon made sure that she had proper foods and meds. The Rebbetzin was always very thankful to Reb Gershon for this. After the war, Reb Gershon came over to America without most of his family and started a new life for himself.  The previous Rebbe had sent Rabbi Wineberg to welcome him and the others at San Francisco, as well as a large delegation who welcomed them at the train station in N.Y.C.

            Reb Gershon went to Lubavitcher Yeshiva in 770 Eastern Parkway.  During those years he went out to make various appeals for Lubavitcher Yeshivas for Rabbi Gurary (The Rashag).  Reb Gershon was blessed with oratory skills, which he used these skills often to speak at various shuls about the importance of chinuch and living a life of Yiddishkeit.  He also started working in Shechita in Rock Island, Illinois and other places.

             As the years progressed, it became the time for Shidduchim.  It was rare to find bochurim in general, because of the War.  It was much harder to find a frum Chaddishe Bochur with a full beard. To add on to all this, Reb Gershon already had a job at Shechita. He too was very careful to find an ehrliche frum girl from a good family.

             In 1950, Reb Gershon got engaged to Lea Goldwurm.  The Chassuneh was on the 11^th of Kislev, 5711, 1950.  Since it was during the year of Aveilus, the Lubavitcher Rebbe did not attend.  Reb Shmuel Levitin was M'sader kiddushin.  The Rebbe spoke during the farbrengen on Shabbos about the “Oifruf” of the chosson.

            Shortly after the Chassunah, Reb Gershon purchased his first house on 1007 President Street, near Franklin Avenue.  Later on he was instrumental in helping (his Uncle Rodshtein) build the Mikva at the President Street Shule, nearby.

            Reb Gershon, together with (Tibadel L'Chaim Toivim) his wife, Mrs. Lea Chanowitz were Baalei Hachnosas Oirchein (welcoming guest). He was also involved in one of the first Lubavitcher G'milas Chassadim (free loan society) with Reb Yochanan Gordon and later on with (Yibadel L'Chaim Toivim) Reb Shimon Goldman.

            In general he was very close to Reb Yochanan, because the Gordon family came from Dukshitz. The family had a close Kesher going back a few generations, and they were neighbors in Europe. He also worked with Reb Yochanan in Shechita in America.  He enjoyed doing a toiva to another Yid, and was especially kind to his family.

            Reb Gershon used to get up very early each morning (a trait that he had inherited from his father.)  Before he would leave to shechita (around 5:00 AM) he would chazer over (review) Hilchos Shechita.  On his days off, he would also get up early to continue other learning.  Even after retirement he would continue getting up early to learn.  It would seem that he felt that these were his best hours of learning.                                                                                                            

            Reb Gershon was a “Yodea Sefer” who learned all of his life.  He went through Shas a number of times.  He learned Torah Ohr and Likuttei Torah of the Alter Rebbe regularly.  He would chazer (repeat by heart) various maamrim publicly at different times and would regularly go to the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s farbrengens.  He remembered a lot of Tanach verbatim from his “Girsa D’Yankusa” (younger years learning).  He would also regularly quote large parts of Gemara by heart.  He would always enjoy a Geshmake vort found in the various sefarim that he was learning.

            Reb Gershon especially enjoyed farhering (testing) his children and grandchildren, and speaking with them in learning.  He loved giving them a “chayus” a Geshmack in learning.  He cared deeply about each child’s progress.

            Reb Gershon was close with Reb Zalmen Shimon D’vorkin, the Lubavitcher Rov, Rabbi Berel Rivkin as well as Reb Moshe Feinstein, the Tzelemer Rov, Rabbi Teitz, and the Bobover Rov, and the Novominsker Rebbe.

            As mentioned previously, Reb Gershon had tremendous skills as an orator.  He spoke very powerfully.  When he would speak, it was often about der Alter Heim, recounting stories of various Tzaddikim and older Chassidim. He also spoke in front of a crowded auditorium of 800 students at Boulder, Colorado together with Mr. Sugihara's son. During the event, aside from thanking Mr. Sugihara publicly, it brought out his memories of being saved from the inferno of  Europe. This opened a floodgate of emotions which was palpable at the speech. Many participants walked away visibly moved, and were inspired to grow in their Yidishkeit. Many a time he would be extremely instrumental in inspiring another Yid to find his way back to Yiddishkeit. In this way, he was involved in the Chabad work of his children.

            Hearing him speak, one would feel as if he was living in another time and place.  It sounded like he was describing a scene that was unfolding in front of his eyes.  He was merely recounting to us what he saw.

            His stories made a deep impression on those who heard him.  He was not a lecturer, he would not tell others what to do, rather the stores themselves were lamplighters, illuminating beautiful paths in life.

            Reb Gershon together with his wife were zocheh to raise a large family KA"H including Elky Elbaum, Boro Park, Moshe Chanowitz, Montreal, Shifra Kohl, Boro Park, Ben-Zion Chanowitz, Monticello, Esther Fishman, Boro Park, Simie Schtroks, Surrey, British Columbia, Yisroel Chanowitz, Monsey, and Chany Scheiner, Boulder, Colorado.

            Reb Gershon was always very financially responsible.  He never wanted to take anything from anybody else.  The family lived a simple life in order to live within their means.  Later on in life, Reb Gershon got involved in selling insurance (and mutual funds for a few years).

            During this period some of his clients lost some money on an investment.  Reb Gershon took upon himself a number of difficult side jobs in order to make his clients whole.

            Reb Gershon stayed far away from machloikes.  It there would be a discussion about shule or community politics, he made sure to stay far away from this discussion.  He was well-respected by his friends and colleagues.  He was known as an honest, straightforward, kind, caring and ehrlicheh Yid.

            Later on in life, Reb Gershon started giving a shiur in the local shul in Daf Yomi and other topics.  He also helped others prepare for their shiurim.

            Reb Gershon had a knack for respecting and gaining respect from people in many types of communities. He had a special way of connecting with people of the Litvish, Chassidish, Poilish, Hungarish, Yekki, Sefardi and those who were starting their path in Yiddishkeit. He'd often have a story about their mentors, that they themselves had not yet heard. Reb Gershon was asked to Chazer Chassidus (repeat a maamor) in all kinds of Shuls, and was highly respected for this. Everybody respected his sincerity, his Yiras Shomayim, his Chassidishe Geshmack and his love for all people.

            During his short Levaya- funeral (as minhag Chabad is not to have Hespedim eulogies), the funeral home was packed with a cross section of the Jewish Community. Each person felt like they had lost a personal friend, a personal mentor.

            Burning fire is usually a destructive force. Yet when steel is put in fire in a certain way, it becomes tempered and is much stronger. The horrible fires of the holocaust caused so much internal destruction even to the survivors! Reb Gershon though, was able to turn the negativity into his tremendous personal strength!  For years he could not bring himself to face those brutal memories. He once said " I am afraid to open up the windows after the flood, and breath in the air, after such tragedy". Perhaps he was worried whether he would ever be able to stop the pools of tears from his own personal losses. Yet in his later years he struggled with the fact that his own dear Father had never been Zoicheh to be at the wedding of even one child, while he was Boruch Hashem able to celebrate so many beautiful simchos in his family! 

             Reb Gershon lived his life without excuses, trying to accomplish as much as he possibly could. He was a driven man, perhaps driven to make up the tremendous loss of the previous generation. Perhaps his perseverence and his positive demeanor masked the silent pain that he was experiencing. Surely his life can serve as tremendous inspiration to those who open their eyes and soul, that no matter what we are dealt with in life, we can pick ourselves up and rise to tremendous heights!

            Yesoimim Hayeenu V'Ain Av! We have been orphaned and are left without a Father! Reb Gershon left this world when the whole Jewish community cries out these same starkly powerful words! The loss to the family and close friends is tremendous!

            Reb Gershon passed away on the second day of Menachem Av. May we be Zoicheh to experience the real Nechama which will come from Avinu Sh'Bashamayim our dear Father in heaven, as we say Anoichee Anoichee Hu M'Nachemchem with the coming of Moshiach! May it be speedily in our Days! Amein!

            Y'hi Zichroi Boruch May his memory serve as a blessing