Apr 22, 2012
Rabbi Yeshaya Schtroks, 55, OBM
London born Rabbi Yeshaya Schtroks, a beloved senior teacher in Morristown, NJ, passed away suddenly in his sleep. Levaya: Monday in New York.
By COLlive reporter
The Lubavitch community in Morristown, NJ, found itself in deep devastation Sunday morning after hearing about the sudden passing of its long-time role model, Rabbi Yeshaya Schtroks.
For over 26 years, Rabbi Schtroks has been the teacher of grade 6 at Cheder Lubavitch in the town and was highly regarded and respected by parents and students alike.
"Many of our children were students of Rabbi Schtroks," one mother told COLlive.com, still shaken by the news. "He was more than a teacher. He was a mentor and an inspiration."
Thousands have come through his class over the years, learning and looking up to him as a Chassidish man who has conducted his life with sincerity and integrity.
Rabbi Schtroks taught his students to love Torah and Mitzvos and was known as a gifted baal menagen with a beautiful voice, all while he himself was not a stranger to challenges and struggles in his life.
Around 8 years ago, his wife Mrs. Leah Schtroks (nee Greenwald), who also was a dedicated teacher in Morristown, passed away from 'yene machla.'
Teaching and educating was a duty he learned from his parents who were of the founding families of the Chabad in England after immigrating from the Soviet Union. His father, Rabbi Ovadia Schtroks OBM, taught for many years at Bais Lubavitch in London.
New Jersey Shliach Rabbi Mendy Solomon, who directed the Morristown cheder for many years, described Rabbi Avrohom Yeshayah Schtroks as "the quintessential melamed that is hard to find today. He was very 'old school' in the good sense of the word."
This past Shabbos, Rabbi Schtroks fulfilled his regular duties as Gabbai of Congregation Levi Yitzchok, the Chabad shul in Morristown which has seen recent growth with the dedication of a new Torah. He was chazzan for musaf and inspired congregants with his davening.
On Motzoei Shabbos, he went to sleep and didn't wake leaving a large Chabad family, students and alumni and many friends from around the world in a state of shock and devastation.
"The loss is immeasurable," one of his friends told COLlive.
Levaya
A funeral procession took place in Morristown Sunday with students of his grade joining community members coming out in the rain to bid him farewell.
Educator Rabbi Zalman Markowitz, who has worked closely with Rabbi Schtroks, spoke to boys and explained how to ask mechila - forgiveness.
He reminded them of their dear teacher's last words when he spoke with great passion and emotion about the 28th of Nissan, the day the Rebbe "gave over" responsibilities to the chassidim.
The body was taken to New York where a levaya will start on Monday, 9:30 am from Shomrei Hadas Chapels in Boro Park and at 10:30 am will pass by 770 Eastern Parkway.
He is surived by his children Mrs. Tziporah Klein - Detroit, R' Yosef Yitzchok Schtroks - Crown Heights, Mendel Schtroks, Sholom Ber Schtroks, Schneur Zalman Schtroks, Shmuel Schtroks and Levi Schtroks, all of Morristown.
He is also survived by his second wife Suri Schtroks (nee Raskin) and her children, his mother Musia Schtroks and siblings Rabbis Yosef Yitzchok - London, England; Nochum - Crown Heights; Yonason Falik - Surrey, BC; Mendel - Kolon, Germany; Mrs. Bluma Perl - Long Island, NY; Mrs. Fruma Weg, Mrs. Sheindel Levertov and Mrs. Nechama Dina Reinitz, all of Crown Heights.
Not all family members (including his mother) have been notified yet about the tragedy. The family asked to please use caution when calling the family till Monday afternoon.
Shiva:
Mrs. Suri Schtroks and his children Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Schtroks, Mrs. Tzippora Klyne, Mendel, Sholom Ber, Shneur Zalman, Shmulik, and Levi
and siblings: Rabbi Falik Schtroks, Mrs. Bluma Perl, Mrs. Sheindel Levertov, and Mrs. Nechama Reinitz will be sitting at 12 Tikvah Way, Morristown NJ
Shacharis: 6:45, 8:15, two minyanim at 9:15, two minyanim at 9:45
Mincha: two minyanim at 2:00pm, two minyanim at 3:00pm and two at 7:30pm
Mariv bezmano
Mrs. Sheindel Levertov and Nechama Reinitz will be sitting in Crown Heights at 1572 President street on Friday and Motzei Shabbos until 10:30 pm.
Mrs. Bluma Perl will be sitting in her home - Chabad of Mineola, 261 Willis ave, Mineola Friday and Motzei Shabbos: until 10:30pm
Rabbi Yossell and Mendel Schtroks and Mrs. Fruma Weg will be sitting in London, England
call 44 208 806 1674 for location
As of now his mother and parents-in-law have not been informed yet. Please use caution when speaking with the family.
For nichum aveilim or to share stories please email: schtroksfamily@gmail.com
Baruch dayan haemes.
its hard to think of this as a reality
i am thinking of all of you
what a shock
a niece
a family member
Our hearts go out totally to his wife,Suri and his family; we cannot begin to fathom the extent of their loss and pain at this tragedy; its almost unreal, a nightmare that we would want to wake up from now;
We are with you, broken hearted, sharing your tears and your grief, we have cried today with you like never before;
May Hashem give you the strength to bear this tragic loss, so that you'll be able to continue your lives until the coming of Moshiach, NOW; We feel sure that Shaya, will storm the heavens and demand in his kind,warm, gentle way that the Aibishter bring Moshiach NOW; May you know of no further pain ever;
Ad Mosai Ad Mosai Ad mosai????????
Your family in London.
Dear dear family, May you know no more Tzaar amd may we be zoche to the Geulah haamitis vhashleima NOW NOW NOW
Hamakom Yenachem Eschem Bsoich Shaar Aveiley Tziyon V'Yerushalayim
For years, Rabbi Schtroks stood across the Bimah from me during Kriya at Congregation Levi Yitzchok in Morristown.
My last memory was late last Thursday night when we "ran into" one another at Kol Tuv in Crown Heights - his warm smile and embrace along with his sweet voice, "Gut Shabbos."
May G-d Almighty PLEASE immediately bring Rabbi Schtroks back to his dear children, mother, siblings, students and friends with the reality he so longed to see - and will soon see - along with all of us - the coming of Moshiach Tzidkaynu and the Geulah Shlayma miyad mamosh mamosh mamosh!!!
Ad Masai, hashem please bring the Geulah, enough is enough.
Suri you should only know simchas
BDE
Rabbi Schtroks will be forever remembered by the Morristown and CH community and Chassidim and Shluchim worldwide; a huge loss for the whole Chabad world. Ad mosai Hashem???
Now the words of 'Mode Ani' "thank you Hashem for returning my neshomo" each morning take on a new meaning.
The neshomo of Avrohom Yeshiaye Ben Ovadia Schtroks should have a alia. His children, siblings, wife and mother should find comfort amongst the mourners of Tzion and Yerushalaim.
Hashem, look down. See the pain of all your children. Enough is enough! Forget about the buttons, we have waited to long. Send us MOSHIACH and the return of all out lost loved ones.
His absence will truly be felt and his memory will truly inspire.
may hashem give strength to the whole family to bear this terrible loss. Hamokom.................
Warra tragedy !
Suri you should only know simchas.
Hamokom yenachem aschem besoch shear avlei tzion beyerushalaim.
Lancrys
Suri, you are in my, OUR, thoughts, may Hashem guide you and help you through this pain and may you and your children and Shaya's children and family only know of simchas!
MOSHIACH NOW!
Ad Mosai!!!!!!!!! Baruch Da'ayan Haemes!!
schtroks for a few months he was a chassidshe yid betzem blev ubenefesh such a nice man with ahavas yisroel so loving and caring he loved his family so much he was so proud of them all every single member of his family he would say a chassidshe vort to everyone and a kind word, oh reb we"re not going to have you to guide us to give us counsel but the lessons you taught me and us till now will stay with us for life hashem please bless this family
Now I have a huge ego but back then he noticed and made sure to include me in the game. You can't forget things like this.
demand moshiach where well all be reunited with our
loved ones.
bde. blessed is the true judge
addd mosssai!
hamakom yenachem...
your cousins in paraguay
Moshiach Now!!!
I hope we can all step up our Ahavas Yisroel. This is really a shock. HaShem, OY.
:'(
To my father, Shaya was an exceptional man, and even though I only knew him through my father, I think children can sense these things, and I could tell that he was a great Chossid.
When my father told me stories about the great Chassidim of old, I always pictured the faces of Chassidim from our days to put a picture to the names.... Pinchas Reizes, became Mendel Futerfas etc, etc,...
One of the people whose face graced my stories was Shaya Schtroks.
His every action WAS Chossid.
How lucky I felt when eventually I became his cousin through marriage, and this afforded me the opportunity to get to know him on a personal level.
How sorry I feel now that I did not use this opportunity more often. That my children will not know Shaya Schtroks.
Today Lubavitch has suffered another unimaginable loss with the passing of Shaya Schtroks.
WE NEED MOSHIACH NOW!!!!
Levi J.
you were the one that always remembered my birthday and taught me so much about life! may my dear special cousins find the strength to continue and may the schtroks family only hear and share simchas!!!
a neice of shaya
I know that after enduring so much pain, suffering and hardship, your world must feel so lonely, desolate and sad. Know this: There are truly hundreds of us throughout the entire world who love you dearly and care very much about you and your well being. We love you... and we commit.... YOU CAN COUNT ON US. We are here for you.
Their are no words to describe r'shtoks, he was the best teacher that we will all remember always, he's smile he's eyes evrything about him is everlasting, a real chosid, a real yerey shomaim and a real lamdon.
he's first wifes passing is still fresh in our minds... and now him?! AD MOSAI HASHEM?!
(a morristowner)
Terrible...heartbreaking.
'A 'Tzadik,'
"Ha'makom yenahem etkhem betokh she'ar avelei Tziyonvi'Yerushalayim."
Your neighbor.
With all due respect to COL, if you're aware that not all the immediate family have been notified, how can you take the decision to post this publicly? And what if someone from the family finds out the sad news by reading COL...? Could you imagine the shock?
Can't you wait to be sure that all the family have been notified...?
I don't understand....
==========
COLlive response:
The family asked that a notice about the passing be posted online and the family also asked that the above mentioned line be written as well.
As a general rule, COLlive has and will always be in contact with the family before a notice about a passing is posted.
==========
This was the first time I've ever spoken to him and shocking it's the last I hope he will be a good better" for all of us and my chance encounter was hashgacha protis and he should pray for me and my family as well bd"e
To my dear cousins, there are no words to say. May Hashem give you the strength to deal with this and may you not know of any more pain. We are thinking of you and crying with you.
Hamokom yenacheim eschem besoch sha'ar avlei tzion veyerushalayim
Such a sad day!I was one of Rabbi Schtroks's students--now almost 25 years ago-- both in a classroom setting and also in a private tutoring setting. And while I was not in contact with him over all these years, he definitely came up in my memory every so often, and I use him as an example when discussing “good teachers.”
All I can say at the moment is that this man was a real teacher; passionate, fair, prepared, and wise. He always came into the classroom knowing his stuff, and he came up with all kinds of devices to teach it well and to have his students know the material thoroughly.
He would also be involved in the "recess" part of our day, as he was our pitcher when we played baseball, and would also instruct the kids who were not as adept with a bat how to hold and swing properly.
He also instituted a once-a-week “Yiddish day”, where all that was allowed to pass our lips throughout the day was Yiddish. To drive the point home, he would give us a 5-minute penalty during soccer if we said as much as “pass me the ball” in English. We all took it in stride and laughed about it, as it made us think about speaking in Yiddish conversationally.
If all the teachers in Lubavitch would be as dedicated and as passionate about teaching as he was, the community would look a lot different. People would be healthier.
While going online to find out more about this tragedy, i discovered his profile on Geni.com. I thought, "how like Rabbi Schtroks to make a genealogy map of his family. He was quirky like that; interested in history and anthropology, mostly, of course, within a Jewish context.
I remember him being fascinated by the fact that Rashi used the French noblewomen as an example for the look and style of the Eifod in Parshat T'tzaveh. He also would relish in all the French words that Rashi used to explain so many Hebrew words and ideas throughout the Torah.
He was a humble man and a man who knew his place in society as a teacher of young children. He seemed to be very content with that and didn't want for more. In fact, he seemed like the kind of man who knew the importance of that position and was not only content but proud of that position.
May his family be comforted in this time of sorrow.
We are with you in your loss. We will be in pain with you with this untimely loss. We in Flatbush Chabad will take upon ourselves to increase in Ahavas Yisroel and not to hurt another person in hhonor of this special Neshama. We davened very hard for your dear mother AH and we will observe the Mitzvah of Ahavas Yisroel in honor of your father AH.
We want Moshiach now.
We need Moshiachh now!
Chabad and Anash of Flatbush
love a niece from australia
Mes condoleances. Tres attristee par le deces de ton frere, Rabbi Yeshaya Schtroks, OBM.
Patricia (de tes annees a Beth Rivka, France)
Hamokom Yenachem Eschem, and may you never know of any further tzzar.
The world of Chabad mourns with you, as does your families, you are not alone
To the family, I share in your pain, the loss for me is great I cannot begin to understand what it is for you, my heart bleeds for you all, may the woundelful memories we all had of the late Rabbi be of comfort.
My request to the almighty is, as He sees the Rabbi come forward, just like the Rabbi cared so much for all who had the Benifit of his teaching, and mentoring, etc, the Almighty should respond the same way and do what he promised us all, to take us out of this exile NOW NOW NOW.
Thank you,
Yehuda
What an unbelievable man! I wonder how many of us had no idea at all of the extent of his popularity and goodness . . . until now
this is so much for them to bear
boruch dayan haemess Hamokom Yenachem Eschem, and may you never know of any further tzzar.
Family friends from Surrey
A truly special person, with truly special middos and character;
May Hashem give his wife and family the strength to continue, and may the knowledge of who their father/husband was, help carry them through the following most difficult months;
Ad Mosai? MOSHIACH NOW
here is some stuff he mentioned on friday, his last day of teaching: 1) he spoke about how this was his year of Koach( 28 ).
2) Rabbi Schtroks was telling us about (where we were up to) in Chumash where yaacov asked for a sign before he passed away.
3) He ended off the day with "tut altz vas eer kent" I'm giving it over to you
A student of his
Please tell us some more of what he said....
A fund has been established and run by Reb' Shaya OBM, it will continue to be administered by the family. You may contact the Greenwald family for further details...
The family have indeed setup a fund managed by the 'Zichron Shaya Schtroks Committee.'
Zichron Shaya Schtroks Committee
Rabbi Zalman Wilshanski, Rosh Yeshivah and Rav of Congregation Levi Yitzchok Morristown, neighbor to the Schtroks Family
Dayan Levi Yitzchok Raskin, London England, Brother of Mrs Suri Schtroks Shetichye
Reb Naftalie Greenwald, Brother of the Childrens Mother obm
Mrs Shaindel Levertov, Sister of Rabbi Schtroks
Rabbi Mendel Klyne, Son in Law
DONATE AT www.ZichronShayaSchtroks.com
Please note all funds donated to "The Shluchim Fund" for the family are being coordinated together with the family fund.
May we share Besuros Tovos, teikef umiyad.
simply an unbelievable person!