By Aryeh Levin, COLlive reporter
Levi Dubov, the son of the Chabad Shluchim to Mercer County – Princeton in New Jersey, was back home for Purim, reaching out and spreading joy to local Jews.
One of them was an elderly Jew at the University Medical Center at Princeton. Dubov wished him a Happy Purim, brought him a Mishloach Manos basket and offered to read the Megilah.
The man agreed. “He was extremely excited,” Dubov told COLlive.com.
As the conversation progressed between the two, the man told the Lubavitch bochur that his name was Aharon Moshe Halevi Raichik and that his family originated from the Ger Chassidic dynasty.
Dubov immediately contacted his scholarly father, Rabbi Dovid Dubov, to share the interesting tidbit.
“Clearly this person has a connection to the famous Raichik family,” Levi Dubov said. “He’s a Levi and the name Aharon is popular in the family.”
The newly found Raichik said his family emigrated to the U.S. in 1893 and never heard of Rabbi Shmuel Dovid Raichik (1918-1998), a personal emissary of the Lubavitcher Rebbe in California.
The young Dubov, who knows two Raichik bochurim from Yeshiva, asked COLlive.com to put the Raichiks in touch with him.
So we spoke to Rabbi Sholom Raichik, Director of Chabad of Upper Montgomery County in Gaithersburg, Maryland.
“That’s very interesting,” he said after hearing the few details we had for him.
“My father didn’t tell us that much about the family. The only Raichiks we know are from Chicago. It is very possible that he is distant family. How many Raichiks are there already?”
He added that a few years ago he read in a newspaper about a person named Mort Raichik, a resident of Monroe Township in New Jersey. “I tried calling him, but got no reply.”
COLlive will update if anything develops.
There is also a Dr. Rychik in CHOP in Philly. He is chief of the cardiology department there. He grew up in Boro Park, and is also somehow related. Our family is from the Chechenower chassidus. I grew up in Chicago, and currently live in Lakewood. I remember Reb Shmuel Dovid zt”l from when I was a little boy, and he would come to Chicago to give chizuk, and visit. He got my father to start wearing Rabbeinu Tam Tefillin. Kol tuv.
is he related to me
B”H
I have to say YASHER KOACH to the amazing Bochurim who are showing such Mesiras Nefesh to go to hospitals to read Megillah for 1 person at a time.
Its humbling to know that there are people who do this.
i know levi from camp
Rabbi Menachem Shmuel David o.b.m ben Shimon haLevi’s family were Amnishover Chassidim. The Amshinover told MSD to go to Lubavitch. His wife, Rebbitezen Leah o.b.m. bas Avrahom Abba (nee Rappaport) was a Gerrer Chossid. However, the Polish chassidim often “intermarried” with other chassidic groups. Also, remember, the Frierdiker Rabbe told the Lubavitcher Yeshiva in Shanghai that if they had questions, and communication with the Rebbe was impossible, to ask the Amnishover the shalias. Also, the Raichik name in Poland was spelled “Rajchik” with a “j”. remember, all of us has yechus from Avrohom, Yitzchok and Yaakov. Pretty good, huh? The… Read more »
Ok just to Clarify… There are No Aharons in the Raichik Family… Rebbitzion Raichik comes from Ger Chasidim Rabbi Raichik From Amshinover…but thanks for the update
i’ve also never heard of a Raichik and even found it interesting. Just like you!
To all just stop arguing and live ur lives peacefully
COOL
and what about the name avraham? i think that is also a popular name for the raichiks. i dont from which side it comes from, but…
who is “Even I” who is this i that it is a chidush if he is interested.
Didn’t the Lubavitcher Raichiks trace their lineage to the Amshinov dynasty? You wrote that this guy traces to Gur Chassidim. It doesn’t negate the possibility, it justs makes it a drop less plausible.
Why is this bad on a public forum if it is a human interest story?I never heard of a raichik and even I found it interesting.
The relatives in Chicago spell their name as Raitzik- Aryeh, Chaim Tzvi and Micheol
sorry to burst your bubble but the name shmuel is from Rabbi Raichk’s maternal grandfather,not the “Raichik” side of the family.
Thank you COL for keeping us informed.
that said why is this something that should be publicized on a public forum? it may be intresting but that doesnt make it something for the world to see.
what news, amazing, keep it up COL for keeping us informed
ZOL ER HOBEN A REFUAH SHELAIMA!
UPDATE: his grandfathers name is avraham shmuel. the name SHMUEL is popular in the raichik family.