By COLlive reporter
Rabbi Lipman Schapiro, the oldest Chabad-Lubavitch rabbi and patriarch of a large chassidic family, passed away Sunday, 28 Adar 5770.
He was 97.
He was the Rabbi of the Empire Shtible in Crown Heights and a prominent member of Vaad Rabonei Lubavitch, Chabad’s central rabbinical court in North America.
A scholar who lived through the hardships of Lubavitch in the Soviet Union, he witnessed the movement grow in the U.S. under the leadership of the Rebbe.
Born in Kralevitz, now in Ukraine, he learned in the many underground Chabad Yeshivos, traveling between branches when one was discovered by the infamous NKVD / KGB secret police.
He later married Chana Vilenkin, daughter of chossid Reb Zalman Vilenkin, the childhood teacher of the Lubavitcher Rebbe.
Living in his mother’s home in Ekaterinoslav, today Dnepropetrovsk, he met the city’s Chief Rabbi and kabbalist Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson, father of the Rebbe.
Rabbi Schapiro vividly recalled his memories of those days at his annual speech at the rabbinical summit Yarchei Kallah in upstate New York.
While living in Leningrad, today St. Petersburg, he ran a Yeshiva called Tiferes Bachurim, along with Reb Chonye Marozov, for working youngsters.
When the Second World War broke out, he fled with his family to Tashkent – Uzbekistan, Poking Pine City Displaced Persons’ camp in Germany (where he was a member of the Vaad to aid Jews) and later Paris, France.
Upon emigrating to the U.S. he worked as a Schochet slaughterer in Cleveland, Ohio, where he also reached out to local Jews, encouraging them to strengthen their spirituality.
In Crown Heights he assumed a rabbinical position, as mentioned, and often spoke about the Chassidim of years past, such as the Mashpia Reb Itche Der Masmid whom he personally served.
His wife passed away 2 years ago.
He is survived by his children: Rabbi Sholom Ber Schapiro, Mrs. Raizel Goldberg – both of Crown Heights; Rabbi Leib Schapiro, Rosh Yeshiva Gedola Rabbinical College of Greater Miami, Florida; Rabbi Gavriel Schapiro, member of the editorial board of Otzar Hachassidim; and Rabbi Nochum Schapiro, secretary of Vaad Rabonei Lubavitch.
The funeral will be held today, Sunday, leaving Shomrei Hadas at 1:30pm, passing 770 Eastern Parkway at 2:00pm and arriving at 2:30pm at the Old Montefiore Cemetery in Queens.
Shiva will be held at 553 Montgomery St.
Shachris: 7:00, 7:30, 9:30
Mincha: 3:15 and Bzman
Maariv: B’zman
Tuesday-Rosh Chodesh: Shachris: 9:30 and Mincha B’zman
For nichum aveilim: 718 774-1840, Fax: 718 735-6825
Email: [email protected]
Boruch Dayan Haemes.
dear reizel..i will never forget your father’s davening rosh hashana in detroit, all those years ago…it was a real old time, hartzige davening and was wonderful.’
i always tell people that he was a rare breed of baal tefillah which sadly no longer exists….
may he be a meletz yosher for your family and klal yisroel..and he will surely be davening for the ultimate omud this yom tov…
fay kranz greene
Bde a great holy person one of the few left today moshiach now
MY GRANFATHER, ZAIDY SCHAPIRO, WAS TRULY SOMEONE WHOM I LEARNED ALOT FROM ALL THESE YEARS. AN EXAMPLE OF A TRUE CHOSSID IN ITS REAL MEANING. A PERSON WITH TREMENDOUS KNOWLEDGE IN ALL AREAS, WHO SHARED IT WITH ALL.
ZAIDY, WE WILL ALL MISS YOU.
Was also an active member of the Agudas Harabonim of America for over 30 years…
it was a zchus to know Rabbi Schapiro.
Baruch Dayan Emet
What a tremendous loss!! BDE
I think it needs to be mentioned the tremendous kibbud av vaem the schapiro family had for the their parents- kibbud av vaem of the old era
How petty can people be! Who cares who is older? I’m sure they are both amazing elter chassidim. BDE.
hashm so much ppl r passing awy last week 3 ppl!!!
True, no one is arguing, collive reported correctly, he is the oldest ROV in Lubavitch. That comment #4 was not necessary.
May Hashem be Menachem the Schapiro family, and Anash Hachasidim for the great loss.
To #4 Read the article. The oldest Rav in Lubavitch not necessarily the oldest person. May Reb Light have arichas Yamim
They said that. He was the Rabbi of the Empire Shtible in Crown Heights and a prominent member of Vaad Rabonei Lubavitch, Chabad’s central rabbinical court in North America.
Refua shlaima for Rabbi S.Z. Y. Light.
During the war he fled to Tashkent (not China) after the war he was in Poking DP Camp (in Germany) and then 6 years in Paris. Afterwords he came to America.
= = = = =
COLlive: Thanks. Fixed.
boruch dayan haemes
look at his family and see how special the person was! yehi zichro boruch
He was the oldest Lubavitcher RAV. (R’ SZ Light is a few months older – but doesn’t serve a s a Rav).
I had no clue he was that old!
Reb Lipa was a tomim and learned in chabad!
The article said oldest Lubavitcher ROV not oldest Chossid.
Rabbi Schapiro just celebrated his 98th birthday a few short weeks ago. He also participated in the wedding and Sheva Brachos of one of his grandchildren just 2 weeks ago.
Rabbi Lipa Schapiro,is not the oldest Lubavitch rabbi.
Rabbii S.Z.Y.Light is 98 years old.
its the father of Reb shmuel Light ,beral Light,Brenda Eber,gity Wingarten,rifkah Rappoport.he lives in crown heights,and he needs our prayers now.
he was also the rov of empire shtible
A true Tzaddik, Rov and chossid
we are all left yesomim!
To my Dear Rosh Yeshiva,
Hamakom Yenachem Eschem Betoch Shear Evlei Tziyon VeYerushalayim.