The name Rabbi Avraham Garfinkel brings a smile to all who knew him, especially to those Talmidim who were fortunate enough to learn in his class. Many Talmidim still have his famous stencils on the Gemarah they learned with him in 10th grade.
During Hakafos this past Simchas Torah, one of his sons suddenly collapsed and Hatzalah was unable to revive him, and a small notice was placed in 770 that Rabbi Garfinkel is sitting Shiva in Far Rockaway.
A week or two after the Shiva, with the sign still hanging in 770, one of his former students, Uri Ivry, saw the sign and went to visit him. Rabbi Garfinkel was so pleased to see him and asked about many of his former Talmidim.
Uri then contacted a number of friends, and on Thursday evening, he together with Rabbis Moshe Heber and Lazer Avtzon, drove out to see him and spent several hours sharing stories and Divrei Torah.
Just before leaving, Rabbi Garfinkel expressed his appreciation to the yungeleit by saying that it is written that when one comes to visit the sick, he takes away 1/60th of the sickness.
Rabbi Avtzon then repeated a vort he heard from Rabbi Moshe Bogomilsky, also a former talmid and later a colleague of Rabbi Garfinkel, that when a person is sick, the sickness is made up of the two letters, Samech and Mem, which represent 60% psychological and 40% medical.
So when one is sick and finds himself all alone in the hospital or in a heme for the elderly, from a psychological standpoint, the patient can be very down and feeling a sense of worthiness, no one comes to visit, no one cares chas veshalom, and this can have a dramatic effect on the patients recovery. So even though the sickness itself only accounts for 40%, however, the fact the person is all down and broken, makes it very hard for them to recover.
But when guests and former talmidim come to visit, even if it is after 30+ years, suddenly, the patient realizes that he is not alone and forgotten. he is still remembered and appreciated, so his 60% becomes stronger, and this helps him overcome the 40% of the medical side. This is then the meaning that it takes away from the 60% and helps the person recover!
Bez”h, we hope to bring Rabbi Garfinkel to Crown Heights for 19 Kislev and to invite all his former Talmidim to a large farbrengen together with him.
For those wishing to see him sooner, he is at the Long Island Hebrew Living Center located at 431 Beach 20th Street, Room 418, Far Rockaway, NY 11681. His telephone number is 718 327 2700 ext 418.
Rabbi Garfinkel was a person who was never seen without a smile on his face. the respect that he and his aishus chayil shared was something to behold and learn from. His family are all special people in the way they conduct themselves towards other people. this goes back to the parents, It’s an honor to have known this family all my life ,
and to have benefitted from their friendship. May hashem grant them many simchas
I met Rabbi Bogomilsky on Friday night and told him that I had forgotten on whose name he told me this wonderful vort, so he said that when the Rebbe sent him to visit Rabbi Telushkin, he told him this vort
Moshiach NOW
To #32 ..and to Moshe
Unfortunately, Rabbi Garfinkel’s eyesight is not so well so it would be hard for him to navigate an IPOD so tapes or CD’s might be a better option so if anyone has material that can be shared, please let us know
It’s the small things that count. Kol Hakavod to Uri and Laizer! Look how much good one small act (although time consuming) can bring to another person.
Random acts of kindness and ahavas yisrael will bring Moshiach closer.
he actually told us that night that Rabbi Marlowe a”h was one of the talmidim in his first class and many other interesting stories, we will try to add a video clip later this week bez”h
Thanks for posting – It is a pleasure to see Rabbi Garfinkel again.
I remember Rabbi Garfinkel telling us that he was Rabbi Marlows Rebbi as well.
I remember R’Avrohom Yitzchok from shul.He was a real lamdan, one of the best learners in Shangchai
Although i never had Rabbi Garfinkel as a Rebbe, I am fortunate to know him and his family for over 35 years. I had spent many hours in his home in Canarsie. I always felt welcome and part of the family. I wish Rabbi Garfinkel and his Aishes Chail many years in good health, and only Simchas in the family.
Jeff Green
I was a student of Rabbi Garfinkel in 1985, and always remember the smile he would have every morning in class. He always explained the Gemara with so much patience, until we understood it well. In Yeshiva we always focus on learning Gemara and Chasidus. There is not much focus on learning Navi, which is a pity. However, Rabbi Grafinkel was the only teacher that thought us Navi in the Mesivta years, Sefer Daniel, and his teachings are with me until today. Rabbi Grafunkel was one of those teachers that always made each of his students feel loved and cared… Read more »
Ouri Ivry can be reached at a [email protected]
Ouri, Great Job! You never know what a small in 770 can do! By the way the microphone was put in by student Eli Kreiman!
Look at the Hashgocho Pratis of this story as they visited the week of Parshas Veyira – the parsha that talks about three angles visting Avrohom Avinu
i still have shiurim papers from rabbi garfinkel and the memories of krias megila and his memories from otvotzk and shanghai ,,, looking forward seeing him again
I’m sure you brought much nachas to your zeide. may you only have good things from now on.
“Od Yenuvun Beseiva D’sheinim V’era’ananim Y’ihiyu…”
I would love to hear shiurim again from Rabbi Garfnikel
It was truly an honor to be one of his talmidim. One of the real special Otvotzker Temimim and chsidisher Yid! His love and patience for all of his talmidim and the way he could relate to us in ULY was incredible! Thank you for posting this.
Which old-timers remembers who got him a microphone and amplifier for the classroom?
Rabbi Garfinkel just celebrated his 89th birthday.
Lazer Avtzon can be reached aat [email protected]
I spent a whole summer with Rabbi Garfinkel in Morrisstown and also wasa Talmid of his in ULY The chasidcher stories and history that we heard and learned by him was real special. No Rebbe in yehivah could teach Nach and connect it to current events of our time as he did & make it so interesting.
May he continue having a long and healthy life.
he is my great zadie he is great my zadie is the who passed away i was .the last sigth he saw he callasped when i was taking to him
i still vividly remember R. garfinkel classes and stencils on mesechte gitin had a great clear understanding of gemara and rishonim loved fis small mic that at times would walk with the whole system attached (: arichus yomim voshonim tovos how old is he now?
yasher koach to all those who visited him, and plan to visit him. I already see a difference in his mood from the visits.
It gives me nechama that from my husband A”H’s death, my father-in-law is being reconnected with his talmidim.
My wife and I live out of town but Zayde’s memory is perfect. He will tell you stories of the war, of yeshiva, of the previous rebbe (with whom he was close with). My wife’s Zayde is an unbelievable person and is full of life. While he was sitting shiva, he gave everyone chizuk. When talmidim came to be menachim aviel, he remembere each one like he saw them in shuir the day before.
Everyone who visits is doing an unbelievable mitzvah!!!
Also, whoever is able to set this ipod up for him, please contact me.
Moshe or Uri if possible, get him to Farbreng in CH maybe Yud Tes Kislev…Rabbi Garfinkel, Rabbi Weinberg and Rabbi Avrohom Hecht learned in Atvotzk…
As a Tommim He was known for his wisdom
BH
Please post Ivry or Avtzons email address or phone number. I would like to chip in on the Ipod
His number is listed in the last paragraph of this article
For out of towners, is there a way to call him?
His memory is as sharp as ever, he told us wonderful stories, he has kept abreast of news in 770, Crown Heights and the Yeshiva and if you visit him, he will most likely remember you. Please prepare a dvar torah as he truly enjoys that the most. FYI, he sits and learns a whole day and listens to Daf Yomi tapes and other available Shiurim.
We are looking to buy him an IPOD and load it with Nigleh and Chasidus so if you would like to chip in, please contact Uri Ivry or Lazer Avtzon
So nice to see – How is his memory? does he still remember his student names?
Yasher koach! Although I don’t know R’ Garfinkle this is a powerful reminder to the current young and energetic generation that we must not forget about our elderly….. though we are all so busy make the time to remember your parents, grandparents and the elderly who need YOUR visit or call TODAY!!!