By COLlive reporter
Leo Zisman, the Long Island resident whose miraculous survival of the Holocaust inspired many around the world, passed away on Shabbos morning, 14 Tammuz 5773.
He was 82.
Aryeh Leib Zisman was born to a family of illustrious Chabad chassidim in Kovno, Lithuania. As a young boy, at the age of 10, he was uprooted by the Nazis and forced to move to the Kovno Ghetto.
About to be sent to the Stutthof concentration camp in Poland, the Zismans hid in an underground bunker they built. Upon discovery by the Nazis, his father told Leibel to run. He managed to escape. His father and younger brother were soon killed.
From there Leibel was sent to the Auschwitz extermination camp, where 1 million Jews died. After being liberated, he made his way to the United States with his only surviving immediate relative, his older brother, Berel.
Leibel received rabbinic ordination from the United Lubavitch Yeshiva in Brooklyn, and earned degrees in mathematics, architecture and engineering. He was also a professor of math at the CUNY School of Engineering.
He spent the majority of his professional life running Elzee Construction in Brooklyn, and became a well-known builder and developer throughout New York City.
Zisman was married to his wife, Myrna for 54 years and lived in Long Island’s Cedarhurst village in New York and was a pillar of Chabad of the Five Towns, directed by Rabbi Zalman and Chani Wolowik.
His life story of miracles and bravery became world renowned thanks to the autobiography he authored in 2011 titled “I Believe, The Story of One Jewish Life,” and his lectures for Jewish communities at Chabad centers worldwide.
He often recalled how he visited the Frierdiker Rebbe when he stayed in Riga. But instead of blessing the boy, the Rebbe just stared into his eyes. Only after a tearful plea from Zisman’s father was the blessing given.
“Why did he hesitate? What did he see? What forces were arrayed against me? Is this why I and my brother, who also got a blessing a few years prior, survived when everyone else in our family perished? I will be asking those questions to my dying day,” Zisman wrote.
He was the main subject of the award winning documentary film The Lion of Judah (2012). “Leo is the epitome of Jewish strength and survival – that’s why I call him ‘The Lion of Judah’,” said Matt Mindell, who wrote and directed the film.
In the film, Zisman leads a group of young adults back to Poland and Auschwitz, where he suffered through humanity’s darkest period, hoping to help the next generation better understand the incomprehensible, and turn their knowledge into action.
He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Myrna Zisman, their children Mrs. Leba Koren, Mrs. Karen Portal and Mrs. Chanie Greif; 10 grandchildren, and 5 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother Reb Berel Zisman.
LEVAYA & SHIVA
The levaya will be held Sunday, June 23 at 1:00 PM from Shomrei Hadas Chapels, 3803 14th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11218.
Procession will pass 770 Eastern Parkway at 2:15 PM.
Shiva mourning will be observed at the Zisman Residence – 40 Maple Avenue, Cedarhurst, NY 11516 (until Friday afternoon, June 28).
R’ Berel Zisman, (brother of Leibel) will be sitting in Cedarhurst through Tuesday morning and from Tuesday afternoon at his home at 1266 East 24th Street, Brooklyn, NY.
Baruch dayan haemes.
If anyone would like a CD of Mr Leibel Zismans speech that he gave in Crown Heights for the women, its available for $10, all proceeds go to to help poor families in CH, leiluy nishmas Leibel Zisman a’h, call 9172142043 for a CD
I used to work for Leo he was a great man, he had a big influence on me and I will always remember him..very sad.
I read his story in neshei ch news letter I admired him so much. I tink he’s one of the only people on earth who had met most of the lubavitcher rebbes and their wives.
Was it recorded??
Link??
Myrna, may the Ribbono Shel Olam grant you nechama, in the knowledge that your great loss is felt by all that came to know leibel. He was a man of great and significant impact. we will all miss him and wish you no tzar , ever, in the future, but lots and lots of good health and nachas. Yaakov And Sheba Berkovits
He was a person that Spoke of Emunah. He had such strength and belief more than any one else i knew. He will be so missed by all.
A true inspiration!
where can we see the film? will it be screened in israel?
I was there too when he spoke in CH. He had us mesmerized. He was so alive, so inspiring! I couldn’t put down his book till I finished it, loeaned it to a neighbor and just tonight gave it to my daughter-in-law to read, and now I hear he’s gone. He won’t be forgotten. To his wife Myrna, and their children Leba, Karen and Chanie, He told us how much he loved each one of you and all the greand and great-grand kids. He was so proud of all of you. And of course his beloved brother, Berel, without you… Read more »
I had the zchus to know him and hear first hand the many stories he went through in Germany and his close relationship with both lubavitcher rebes.
i am very sad
He was a great man! left a huge impact on me, and I will remember him for the rest of my life…
I feel so fortunate that I had the zchus to hear him about 2 months ago here in CH. What an inspiring story. what a special tzadik. He spoke for so long yet we wanted more. After speaking he stood for hours listening to all of us and giving us chizuk in emunah and bitachon. BH we were lucky to also buy his book with his autograph. he sold the books for pennies and all the money was being donated, what a tzadik!
we should ask for moshiach now, but not only now! lets do this for real and ask for moshiach when its good as well.
lets cry out to hashem and bring him now
Sorry to hear the your loss. He made a great impact on me from his book. We knew both brothers and their families due to family relations and neighborhood proximity. He truly inspired me with his great fortitude. May Hashem comfort you with the comfort he knows you need.
I saw the movie in a cruise, where he was also participating, it was very special, as he was very special, the way he discussed afterwards and his smile at every question. Baruch dayan haemet.
Enjoyed hearing about his experiences as Baal Koreh for the Rebbe and how he was shaking,,a true Chossid bde
so sad
he left an incredible legacy
BDE, i will order the book. Moshiach now.
He overcame a lot of hardships and things were not always perfect for him.
Yehi zichro boruch
you will always be our friend and inspiration.
Reb Leibel was supposed to speak at Bais Rivkah about a month ago where my 11th grade daughter, who had just finished his iconic memoir, was anxiously awaiting his lecture with his book in her hand hoping to get an autograph, only to be told that he unfortunately was not able to make it!
If only Reb Leibel would have lived to know how his experiences impacted even our pop cultured, media influenced youth!!!!!
May his holy family know of only joy and nachas!!!!
dear Myrna, Leiba,karyn and Chanie. Klal Yisroel just lost a very special man. There are many special things that i can say about Laibel but the one that has affected my family the most is how his mission in life was to make sure that no one forgets about what was done to the jewish people as a whole during the war. I especially remember last Succos at Karyn and Davids house how my children wanted to come to Simchas beis hashovah to hear Leibel speak. His stories that he told of the war and how he and his brother… Read more »
Those of us that know you, know that you are a true soldier in the Rebbe’s army. A staunch and proud chasid that went all out for the Rebbe.
I am sure that you are beside the Rebbe pleading for the geulah shaleima and will not rest until you succeed.
To his dear family,
Be proud and stay strong.
Hamakom Yinachem Eschem…
Dear Myrna,Leiba,Karyn and Chanie
Your father was a true hero and insperation.
I will not forget all the stories your father has told me over the many years about his past during the war. My children have heard these unfortunate details if your fathers past. It was his goal that our next generation never forget about the holocost. This will be his legacy.
Raskin Family London
Hamokem Yenachem Eschem Betoch Shaar Avelei Tzion Veyerusholayim
He was a Jewish hero who worked all of his life for the Jewish people. We have lost a great man with his passing.
He was so full of life! Such a fighter.Was he sick?
Yehei zichro baruch
How can we email the family?
Thank you
What a special, unbalievable person. To be where he had been and to see the things he had seen – he not just survived but was a positive, happy individual.
Read his book and if you ever think you are having a hard day or you can’t go on, think of young Leibel in Aushowitz and you’ll realize how much you have to be thankful for.
this man had a great impact on me through the autobiography that he wrote. He has a special soul.. bde
if you havent yet read it its called “I believe” by Leo Zisman.
He shared a very special relationship with the Rebbe & Freidiger Rebbe