By Aryeh Levin, COLlive reporter
Rabbi Chaskel Besser, a prominent haredi activist who enjoyed close ties with the Lubavitcher Rebbe and the Chabad movement, passed away Tuesday, 25 Shvat 5770.
He was 87.
Rabbi Besser became known as a leader of the American Agudath Israel in the aftermath of World War Two and was the subject of the book ‘The Rabbi of 84th Street’ by Warren Kozak.
A resident of Manhattan’s Upper West Side, he led the B’nei Israel Shul and was the founding Chairman of Daf Yomi, helping to promote the daily study of Talmud.
Born in Katowice, Poland, to a successful businessman and a Radomsk Chossid, he lived there until the Nazi and Soviet invasion in 1939.
His family, which changed their name from Koszycki, moved to pre-war Palestine. After escaping Poland and Europe in 1939, Haskel was reunited with his family in Tel Aviv.
When he immigrated to New York in 1948, Besser brought an envelope from R’ Yisroel Aryeh Leib Schneerson, the Rebbe’s brother, with photos for their mother Rebbetzin Chana Schneerson.
Besser later developed a close connection with the Rebbe, hurrying to Crown Heights whenever he got a call from the Rebbe’s Chief of Staff Rabbi Mordechai I. Hodakov.
In an interview with JEM in 2005, Besser shared stories and recollections from the Rebbe, including the acquaintance of the Rebbe with businessman Yitzchok Meir Ferstenberg.
Reb Chaskel was especially impressed with the Rebbe’s gentle attention and care to Jewish children.
Besser was the leader of the renewal of Polish Jewish life, and until recently traveled there frequently to teach.
He helped to find Jews and rebuild Jewish life in Poland towards the end of the communist era, partnering with Ronald Lauder and his foundation.
In addition to his work to restore Jewish communal life, he also helped restore many Jewish holy sites in Poland, negotiating with the Polish government on preserving the legacy of Polish Jewry before the war.
He is survived by his children Rabbi Shlomo Besser, an activist for Jewish cemeteries of Eastern Europe; Aliza Grund, President of the women’s division of Agudah. His grandchild Yisroel Besser is a noted writer for Mishpacha Magazine.
The funeral will take place Tuesday, 6:45 pm, at the Shomrei Hachomos Chapel in Brooklyn, 43rd Street and Fort Hamilton Parkway, and head to Israel.
In Jerusalem, the funeral is scheduled to be held at Shamgar on Wednesday, 6:30 pm, followed by kevurah on Har Hamenuchos.
Shiva will be held at 118 Riverside Drive Apt. #2B (corner 84th Street) in Manhattan until Tuesday morning 2 Adar/February 16.
i find it really great his efforts about the Jews in Poland and on restoring Jewish patrimony from before the war – not every jew has the wisdom to overcome his prejudice against poles and poland and focus on the hundreds of years of jewish polish legacy
A Gehoibener Yid! You don’t find Yidden like him anymore. Moshiach Now!
We had the zechus to be closely connected to him: over the past 20 years, we have interviewed hundreds of singles for shiduchim purpose, with his blessings and support, in his shul on W.84th St. We continue to do so to this day.
Hearfelt condolences to his rebbetzin, tichye.
Oy oy yoy
I highly reccomend the biography written about R’ Besser, I found it amazing and inpiring. A truly great and special person. May he be a mailitz yosher.
Boruch Dayan Emes.
It would perhaps be more respectful to refer to Rabbi Besser as Rabbi than just referring him as some of the article does by just his last name.
not just a freind of chbad, his wife is a granddaughter of rebitzin minucha rochel and he has a granddaughter with the name.
I spent a Shabbos at this time of year, before Purim, in the 80’s and was a guest in Rabbi Besser alav haShalom’s home. He did his work with emunah and will be missed. May he be an inspiration, a man of peace.
May his wife and children be comforted among the mourners of Tzion and Yerushalayim. may all exiles be ingathered now.
Boruch Dayan Emes
his recollection of the rebbe in berlin was truly beautiful poignant and did not mince words when recalling the rebbes gadlus and bekias. literally a one off was how he described the rebbe, utterly unique.