By COLlive reporter
Rabbi Eliezer Wenger, author of of halacha and chinuch books and a long time educator in Montreal, passed away Monday, 22 Adar 5770.
He was 62 and suffered from a long illness.
Dedicated to his work, Rabbi Wenger taught thousands of boys, girls and adults as rabbi of Congregation Oneg Shabbos in Montreal and a school teacher for over 40 years.
His students in Beth Rivkah Academy – High School and at Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim Lubavitch elementary remember him as a proactive teacher who never failed to explain a topic.
With his pedagogic talent, vast knowledge in Torah and care for detail, he wrote dozens of books in English about Chinuch and Halacha for everyday life including the ever popular Brochos Study Guide, Chagaynu and Qwhizzer.
The books were published through Ruach Hatorah Publications, an organization he opened as one of the 71 institutions worldwide established in honor of the Rebbe’s 71st birthday.
Rabbi Wenger was a judge on Tzivos Hashem’s Chidon Sefer Hamitzvos knowledge contest, and created its curriculum based on the Rambam’s teachings.
He also hosted a Jewish variety radio show, further encouraging young and old to acquire Jewish knowledge.
“Thanks to him many got to know basic halacha, such as laws of waking up in the morning and laws during traveling, before Artscroll and the others started publishing English Jewish literature,” a student of his told COLlive.com.
He is survived by his wife Raitzel and their children: Rabbi Mordechai Wenger, Mashgiach Roshi at Yeshiva Zal in Montreal; R’ Yossi Wenger, administrator of Chabad Chai Center in Montreal; R’ Shmuli Wenger of Montreal; Rashi Bortunk of Miami Beach, FL; Tova Nelkin of Montreal; Chanie Tzfasman of Crown Heights; Rivkah, Simcha, Mendy and Hudi of Montreal.
The funeral will be held today, Monday in New York: Leaving Shomrei Hadas at 11:45, passing by 770 at 12:30.
A minyan is needed in Crown Heights at Mincha and Maariv (Bizmano) at 466 Crown St.
The family will sit Shivah in Montreal starting Tuesday at 5176 Bourret, Montreal QC H3W 1L5. For Nichum Aveilim: 514-737-5446 or [email protected]
Shacharis 6:30, 7:15, 8:00, 8:45, 9:15
Mincha & Maariv (bizmano – 5 minyanim)
Baruch Dayan Haemes.
What a wonderful, awe inspiring, devoted, caring, and humorous man who gave his all to all his students. May his memory be a blessing to all who were fortunate to know him. As a former student of Rabbi Wenger’s in Brookline, MA at New England Hebrew Academy I become more firmly entrenched in Yiddishkeit. Oh the Shabbatons he would chaperone were just super!
we will never forget the movie that we will watch….and we’ll say, shut it OFF!!!! what an important life lesson that we’ll always remember! thank you! we all miss you very much! moshiach now!
ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh……………
May he rest in peace
The number above to be menchem avel is wrong, the correct number is: 514-739-5446
Rabbi Wenger was an amazing teacher and an amazing person. I learnt an immeasurable amount of knowledge from him . He always had something insightful to say and added a touch of humour to everything he did. He will be sorely missed!
Very sad to hear this terrible news. As one of his kehilla at Oneg Shabbos I know he is irreplaceable. A great teacher
and wonderful person. May the family be comforted.
Very Saddened.
Rabbi Ari Enkin
Ramat Beit Shemesh
he was such a great man,
where do I begin… When I think of rabbi Wenger obm, I remember him as someone who truly cared about us, his students. Whatever he taught, he made it seem real to us. He always added in a little sense of humor to all his classes. He answered every question with patience and took every question seriously. He was in school every day, no matter what the situation. He always had everyone in mind. I remember him once telling me that we should give the secretary a gift because she made all of our photocopies for our play! Whenever I… Read more »
i had rabbi wenger as a substitute and i learnd so much he ahnded out a sheet of scenarios of halachic questions taht come up. we learnt from his chagynu books.All the questions that we ahd we would go to rabbi wenger.The yiddiyos tests that he gave and added his own Bonus questions.bais rivka montreal will not be comlete without rabbi wenger he was a illar to of our skewl.montreal will not be the same.Moshiach now!
WE MUST TAKE ACTION- E/O MUST AT LEAST TAKE A HACHLATA- S/T IN HALACHA, DAVENING (things he excelled in among many others) AND DO S/T TO BRING MOSHIACH NNNNNNOOOOOWWWW SO WE CAN C HIM AGAIN AND ALL THE OTHER TRAGIC DEATHS THAT WE HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING. YIDDEN PLZ TAKE MY ADVICE AND PUT HACHLATOS! i will make sure to say asher yatzar from a siddur, concentrating on each word and its meaning since R’ wenger ob”m cared about that a lot and was always very thankful to hashem about his health (even though as we all could see, it wasnt… Read more »
omygoodness! i just cant believe it, its not sinking in, i keep on thinking im going 2 come to skewl 2 c him sitting in his offiice, walking up the stairs, hanging up yedios signs- i just dont believe it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!hashem!oy!
we rly need moshiach now!!!!!!!!!
btw his full name is: R’ Eliezer ben Mordechai
boruch dayan haemes, hamakom yrachem eschem besoch avalei tzion uyerushalayim
As a former high schooI student of Bais Rivkah montreal, I owe my halacha knowledge of all yomim tovim and my ability to open a kitzur Shulchan Oruch and learn to Rabbi Wenger. I have my kitzur with the many simanim and seefim circled of that which he taught me.
Moshiach now!!!
He taught with such passion – I will always remember hearing his voice down the hall in BR trying to transmit to his students his love for learning! May his neshama rest in peace and Hashem should comfort his family.
Rachel Levy
Rabbi Wenger got me interested in learning when no one else could.
What a wonderful person! Rabbi Wenger was my teacher oh so long ago in Miami Beach Florida. He always had a smile and a nice comment to make. He taught with love and compassion. He was a true educator.
Rabbi Wenger A”H will always be remembered fondly be me.
Even though he never officially taught me he substituted my class a couple of times. One thing that always stood out to me, that i think all teachers and true mechanchim should emulate, is that he truly cared for each syudent and if they had a question he would answer it truthfully and take tim eto really focus on taht question….
Rabbi Wenger, you will sorely be missed
i was a stident in beis rivka montreal, i left early because i moved away to florida…but rabbi wenger was one of my favoritest teachers!
if im not mistaken it’s eliezer ben mordechai
RABBY wenger z”l was an amazing and very courageous person. he came every day to the school and teach even though some days he physicaly was pained. the last time i have seen him was walking in to school ,. you see that he was not well but he came anyway. he was an amazing person. when he taught us the office all the way down the corridor could hear him .he was into it . the whole class was up not one with there head down. rabby wanger you taught me allot! may we zoche to see the geula… Read more »
Harav wenger O. H.was the epitomy of a mechanech, a true marbitz Torah ,a noam halichot, never a bad word about anyone a giant in his field of chinuch vehadracha he showed great strength during his terrible illness making every effort to continue his holy work of chinuch & rabbonus in the kehilas oneg shabboss where he was so loved & admired He had a tremendous work ethic & nothing was below him Besides the knowledge he imparted to his many thousands of students he also was such a great example of what a real ben Torah is he will… Read more »
whois s.suissa from montreal is it shlomo?
i think i know him.
im a student of bais rivka… in short we wont be able to survive without him. he was such a brilliant man in every sense. he lived and breethed halacha and made it understandable by everyone. every question i asked or neone else was answered entirely and was very statisfying.
he was a gaon literely he was so full of life! its we should all learn something from him. im telling u he was a hidden ztaddick! what a great loss ,may his family be comforted.
The greatest teacher!!!
Rabbi wenger we miss(ed) u soooooo much! you r like our family memeber 2 us. We had an assembly 4 u today, adn we plan on taking on a hachlatah! may ur neshama go higher and higher w/ moshiach now! so u can be w/ us again
If there were only words to express how much Rabbi Wenger “Olav Hasholom” cared about every single one of his students- what he taught me I remember till TODAY. He was a true Talmid Chacham and we dont know how to go on with out him!
WE WANT MOSHIACH NOW!
one of his students
I am so sad, I had the great zchus to learn with Rabbi Wenger. I have no words to express my deep sorrow
mircia
R’ Eliezer B”R Mordechai
Hashem Keeps taking all the ones we love
its time for moshiach now. amen
ohy vay………………..
A true Torah Scholar, Gentleman and Tzadik of our time, always had patience to explain things in class and always had a smile. Rabbi Wenger made our yeshivah experience in our childhood a little easier, may he rest in peace.
S. Suissa
May this be the last death in reality and hence reported on col, or for that matter on any other site, or in any other form.
Rabbi wenger has taught me the everlasting values and halachos I need to be a mother. he was such an incredible teacher- its heartbreaking- he was so devoted. may Hashem comfort and strengthen his family.
Rabbi Wenger had so many report cards to mark & yet he remembered each student & their strengths or their weaknesss! What a great mind! I will definitely miss him & like #13 Moshiach now -for real!!
May you be comforted amongst the mourners of Tzion and Yerushalayim. We are thinking of your family at this difficult time. May we soon witness the time when there will be no more pain in this world with the coming of moshiach now.
Swerdlov family Jerusalem
i remember rabbi wenger teaching me chumash- i was the kind of student that aced his tests but on every report card he made me pass and wrote keep up the amazing effort.
rabbi wenger didnt care for grades but for the effort u put in! he truly cared!
he gave me hope and courage! he believed i can do it!
wow!! he will be sorely missed. what an amazing man, .. so brilliant!! may his family all be comforted in this hard time.
wishing all a long life!
____ ben ____
I never knew hm personnaly but being in Mtl in sem for two years, I heard about him and having met some of his children I am sure that words can’t describe what a great man he was!
bde machiah now!!
Rabbi Wenger was a gentle giant with a warm heart. He has patience for all his students and cared so much about our studies. He was brilliant, thorough and a wonderful teacher. He was a very special person!
boruch dayan haemes. i can not believe that rabbi wenger is no longer with us. his love for learning and passion for halacha created an indelible impression on all of his students. i can remember his classes like they were yesterday, what a loss for his family and the entire community.
As a former student of BRHS, it’s so sad to see such
a gr-8 man/teacher taken from our midst. Someone who was so knowledgeable in TANACH & Halacha! He will surely be missed by all!
The last couple of times I’ve seen him, he always had a smile on his face & asked how I was & my kids.
May he beseech Hashem to bring MOSHIACH NOW!!!
Our very special teacher!!! There are no words…Rabbi Wenger, how can it be true?? To our dear friends – the Wenger family, May der Aibisher comfort you at this difficult time. We beg Hashem Ad Moai!! We need Moshiach now.. Thinking of you, Mendy and Rivky Gurevitch (Offenbach, Germany)
baruch dayan haemes!
I have such fond memories of Rabbi Wenger as my teacher in high school. This is a great loss to the everyone. the amount of knowledge i acquired throughout the years as his student is incredible. Aside from the many halachos I learnt with such a clearness , he also managed to impart to the students many important morals which have an impact til this day.
hamokom yenachem eschem besoich shearei tziyon veyerushalayim.
as a counselro in the rambam chidon hamitzvos I remember him was extremely impressed and am so sad
hamakom yenachem the family amen moshiach now
How did this happen? why this, why you and why now?
and after all that you have done for us and after all that you have dedicated. why hashem?!
reb eliezer, your children, your students and you seforim will be an everlasting monument to your great statue
Boruch dayan emes!
R. Wenger was a real powerhouse in our city. a man of iron, indispensible. It’s hard to believe…so sad for the family and community.
moshiach now – for real!!
As an old Bais Rivkah student from Montreal I am forever greatful for his teaching me Chumash and Halacha as no other teacher has taught me before. Because of Rabbi Wenger, I am able to open up a Chumash or Shulchan Aruch and read any Meforash. He was a brilliant educator and will be sorely missed.
bde
He will be greatly missed.
Oy!!!
he was a unbelievable person….what a loss… b.d.e.
What a great man!
he was a very dedicated teacher, extremely organized and wanted the best for his students. He will be missed.
i cannot believe that such a powerhouse is not here with us, i remember his love for halacha and the excitement with which he taught it, he has left an indellible mark on hundreds of students, we will never forget him!
a true tzaddik has been taken from us.
he will be greatly missed by all.
As on of is students, I can attest to his amazing knowledge and wiiling to pass it on to his students. My heart feels broken. He should go up and tell the Rebbe (because he will surely have a place near him) how his children are suffering in Golus and Moshiach must come right away.
Boruch Dayan Haemes
I was a student in Bais Rivka montreal and can truly say what a special person he was! He will be missed by all!
baruch dayan haemes!!
may the family find true comfort with the comming of moshiach now!!!!