By COLlive reporter
Rabbi Dr. Jacob Immanuel Schochet, rabbi, academic, author and a renowned authority on Jewish philosophy and mysticism, passed away on Shabbos Ekev, 20th of Av 5773.
He was 77.
Born in Switzerland, he received his early education there and in the Netherlands. After moving to North America, he attended the Chabad Central Yeshiva Tomchei Temimim in New York from which he graduated in 1958.
He developed a relationship with the Lubavitcher Rebbe even as a young student in the yeshiva, and thereafter the Rebbe urged and encouraged his academic pursuits and literary efforts.
He received his academic education in Canada, attending the University of Toronto, University of Windsor, McMaster University, and University of Waterloo, he holds degrees of BA (Phil), MA (Religious Studies), MPhil (Phil) and PhD (Phil).
His specialties in philosophy were Logic, Epistemology, Ethics, and Philosophy of Religion. His Master’s thesis at McMaster University was titled: The Treatment of Anthropomorphism in Targum Onkelos (1966). His PhD thesis at the University of Waterloo was titled: The Psychological System of Maimonides (1974).
He was the Rabbi of the Kielcer Congregation in Toronto for 36 years before becoming the Rabbi at Beth Joseph Lubavitch in 1996. He also served as Professor of Philosophy at Humber College in Toronto, Canada for 25 years, and simultaneously taught Medical Ethics at the School of Medicine at the University of Toronto.
With the onslaught of cults in the 70’s and 80’s, especially Christian missionary organizations, Rabbi Schochet pioneered a successful network of anti-missionary campaigns which succeeded in reconnecting numerous Jews to their religious roots, literally saving their souls.
Rabbi Schochet has written and lectured extensively on the history and philosophy of Chassidism and topical themes of Jewish thought and ethics and was a world-renown authority on Jewish philosophy and mysticism. He authored 35 books and numerous articles, opinions and treatises concerning all Jewish subject matter.
As an extraordinary dynamic speaker, he has inspired thousands worldwide and traveled to countless Chabad Houses and Lubavitch institutions offering communities the privilege to experience his abundant insights.
Rabbi Schochet was an instructor of the Ivy League Program in the Catskills each summer, he embraced the opportunity to influence and challenge our finest, brightest Jewish minds.
He is survived by his wife Rebbetzin Jettie Schochet and their children Mrs. Oryah Vogel – Wilmington, Delaware; Rabbi Yitzchok Schochet – London, England; Mrs. Sharonne Zippel – Salt Lake City, Utah; R’ Yisroel Schochet – Los Angeles, California; grandchildren.
His is also survived by his siblings: Mrs. Schulamith Bechhofer – New York; Rabbi Dovid Schochet – Toronto, Ontario: Mrs. Ruth Averbuch – Crown Heights; Rabbi Yosef Daniel Schochet – Toronto, Ontario; Rabbi Ezra Schochet – Los Angeles, CA; Mrs. Batya Wagner – Toronto, Ontario; Rabbi Gershon Elisha Schochet – Toronto, Ontario: Rabbi Meir Ovadia Schochet – Miami, FL; Mrs. Amina Newman – Long Beach, CA.
The levaya will be in Toronto on Sunday, 21 Av, leaving at 2 PM from Chabad Gate to the Lambton Mills Cemetery on Royal York Road in Toronto.
Baruch dayan haemes.
The Schochet family asked that stories and memories that people would like to share with the family throughout the shiva, should be sent to [email protected]
Not only Ovad Chosid min Haretz. But we have lost probably the most eloquent and when necessary “sharp” spokesman for Torah and Judaism. His most amazing videos on” Jews for je..s, have had an affect on tens of thousands of people. The Ultimate Halachic decisor on some of the most delicate matters facing Shluchim, especially those on Campus. We had him visit and speak in Syracuse twice and he left a most amazing impression on all the people. That is besides the personal effect he had on me during my over 35 years of knowing him, since I became a… Read more »
By the families he made frum,by his congragation he led, by the 100’s and maybe even thousands of jews he saved from cults and missionaries, by the frum and non- frum-yet listeners of his debates and lectures,by the watchers of his videos, by the readers of his sforim scholar and layman alike,by all who met him and just had a short conversation with him , by Lubavitch , by chassidsm by Orthodox judaism and by Judaism as a whole and lastly he will be missed by the world he affected and changed so much -for the good.
An amazing teacher of the Mesorah to the next generation. I learned so much from him. I also had a conversation with him a few years ago about perek 1 in Tanya and the way Steinsaltz explains it, he gave an amazing explanation. Oy me haya lonu.
They are sitting shiva 55 Charleswood Dr Toronto 416 636 9709
What a loss… He was really one the greats.
His legacy,however, lives on and he will still be a major inspiration,for all, for years to come.
I heard him speak in Buffalo, I was mesmerized, in awe, I hung onto his every word, so precise, each statement backed up with its appropriate source in Gemara or Toisfos or Rashi or the Rebbe’s word, on and on… the rabbi did not tire for a second. Amazing and unreal.
baruch dayan emes.
will be missed in Beth Joseph Lubavirtch
WHERE ARE THEY SITTING SHIVA ? & A PHONE # IF U COULD LET US KNOW PLEASE THANKS
Ysher Koach for setting the record straight on the Kabbalah Fight. For sure… Rabbi Schochet was matzliach in the end
the schochet family has requested that all memories and stories be shared by emailing [email protected].
may we only share simchos!!
on some Purim Party in 1982 at Clanton Park Synagogue Toronto, I was not even frum. i had never even met a chabad rabbi. but i had this 6th sense that i have known this man since my childhood or before that, it was surreal – do you know what i mean? my gosh, talk of mystical meeting.
i was privileged to spend many shabbos meals at his home when I was young and first being introduced to chabad. I had no idea at the time of his greatness in the Jewish world. To me he was just a very kind and warm person who was the ideal of what a true rabbi should be and a wonderful role model. may his family be comforted.
Dear Rebbetzin Schochet, shetichye We had the honor and privilege of hosting you and your husband for Shavuos just a few years ago and it was a Shavuous that we will always treasure. It was probably one of the last times, if not the last, that your husband left his shul for Shavuous. Our entire kehila and everyone who joined from the other neighborhood shuls enjoyed a Shavuos with a taam of Gan Eden. Shiur after shiur, we sat there spellbound listening to the pninim of Torah and Chassidus that your husband taught and with each shiur, word spread and… Read more »
Hashem’s plan is for us to make the world down here below a Dira Batachtonim! Please, may the holy Neshomos of up on High, descend, with the coming of Moshiach immediately NOW! V’hakitzu V’ranenu Shocnei Afar V’hu Besochum!
A very special leader,who was an inspiration to all of us. The Roth family
Rabbi Schochet, -as great as was his Torah so was his kindness and generosity. He greeted every person pleasantly and with wonderful cheer. He was a true נוח לבריות, loved by all. As the Gemorah promises, his reward is plainly seen in the blessing that is his wonderful family שוחיו. He also will be remembered for having the attributes of a genuine תלמיד חכם, in the sense that his perspectives were never motivated by politics. He was just as ready to defend the opinions of those who held differently than himself (e.g. he in-fact presented the most able and thorough… Read more »
My wife and I had the Zechus of hosting Rabbi Immanuel Schochet for a lecture 28 years ago… he not only moved and inspired our audience, but he touched our lives personally in a very deep way… He became my mentor, my guide, my Mashpia, the one who motivated me most to devote so much of my shlichus to adult education… His many lectures and Shabbatons in our community have never and will never be forgotten… He was a true giant amongst us… our world lost from our very best.. Our heartfelt condolences to his dear wife, children, grandchidlren and… Read more »
Do not forget one of the most monumental achievements of our times: Rabbi Schochet a”h was one of the original translators of the Tanya into English in the 1960s. (He translated Part IV: Igeres HaKodesh.) His introduction to that work became separately published as Mystical Concepts in Chassidism.
I saw Rabbi Emanuel SHochet He was Davening in His Brothers Sul!
great neice of his. he was very special.
Rabbi Schochet was one of a kind. An incredible Rabbi, speaker, teacher, debater and chossid. He will be sorely missed. May his neshama be a mailitz yosher for us all and bring Moshiach now!
I have been privileged to be in his presence in Toronto and Salt Lake City. Our thoughts are with his wife, children and grandchildren. May they know of no more sorrow.
Ad mossau????!
We have 12 of these haggadahs and they have become a staple in our home every Pesach. Story: He once gave a lecture on Counting Sephira in front of a huge crowd, when all of a sudden he gave an example by reciting “Hayom … and by mistake he said that night’s sefira”… so he quickly backtracked, saying Boruch Sheim Kvod L’oilam vaed and said the sefira with a brocha etc etc… everyone was overwhelmed by the rov’s quick thinking of that moment.
there was Rov Immanuel Schochet, a shining introspectful smile, with his famous pipe… you could sense an ohaiv yisroel right off the bat, no words were exchanged… you could sense that getlecheit of a pintele yid !!! And talk of closeness to the Rebbe… he received special brachas from the Rebbe, special horayuz in his teachings for Canada…that we can’t imagine. Such was the man, the chosid, HaRov Immanuel Schochet A”H.
What vikuach are you referring to? Can I read up on it somewhere?
BD”E from Chabad of Poway
to Reb Chuni & Oriah
I met him at the Ivy League program for college students in the catskills. I was amazed at his brilliance, but more impressed by his incredible character and love for each student. I remember him saying the haftarah on shabos nachamu and seeing the tears in his eyes. He is one of the greatest of this generation.
#45
To set the record straight, he did NOT lose the lawsuit to the Kabbalah Centre. The reality is that our of fear of being exposed by Rabbi Schochet they dropped the lawsuit.
Baruch Dayan Haemes.
Here is a link:
http://www.chabad.org/search/keyword_cdo/kid/4382/jewish/J-Immanuel-Schochet.htm
baalat tshuva, for a very small crowd, as if it was an audience of 100’s, and was blown away by his brilliance. I could have listened to him for hours. The best speaker I ever listened to .
A huge loss. May he comes back to us soon and his family would be consoled among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.
Who can forget his famous public Vikuach (with the Rebbes blessing) he once had with a Galach for 8 hours straight – where the entire audience remained speechless. Who can do such a thing nowadays?!
In Toronto is so physically simple and yet so warm, with serious davening. He was the towering presence there.
The recordings of his debates and talks have taught me so much.
made a lasting impression
He fought tooth and nail, single handedly against Dr. Berg’s Kabbalah Centre back in the 90s… The rov even mortgaged off his house for this just court case… unfortunately the evil kipa of Dr. Berg and his society won the case. Nebuch.
May he have lots of Nechas from his children who where Extremely Dedicated to him and the rebbe we will miss you greatly
as I hear this sad news a tear falls from my eye,,, he was a man of true greatness and a pillar of what a chosid is, He was a lecturer, fighting missionaries, he spoke much about JC, I bring this up, because it was asked by the Rebbe to tell him not to read the New testament, ( my apologies I do not remember the story exactly please correct me) I think,,,,, the rosh Hayashiva in 770 caught him reading the (bible new testament) it is told that the Rebbe allowed it, we can see the foresight of how… Read more »
and may we have the merit to see him ASAP when very soon Mashiach reveals himself.
Dear Schochet family,
We mourn with you in the loss of rabbi Schochet. He has given us so much to think about.
To the non Jews He authored teaching instructions and prayer books. Its only last week i watched one of his videos. BDE
Rabbi Shochet was a giant. He was able to take complex concepts and allow us to understand them. I vividly remember listening to his lectures at the JLI a few years ago. He will be sorely missed.
Baruch Dayan Emes to the entire family.
Hensha Gansbourg
A man of great humility and great inspiration, a leaders’ leader and a blessing to Jews everywhere. Very sadly missed.
BDE!!!
Moishe and Avremi, come back soon and both of you keep doing an amazing job and making your Zaidy proud!
He changed my life. I will always remember him.
Not only for Israel is this a loss, but also for the non-Jews, since he was deeply involved also with the Noahide movement as well… Baruch Dayan Emet!
His brother the Rosh was at the Yarchei Kallah in NY when he got the news. So sad. He was one of a kind…
What a loss! Bde
BDE, a great man and inspiration!
Boruch Dayon HoEmes. Hamakom Yinacheim Eschem Bisoch Shaar Aveilei Tzion ViYerushalayim.
What a great man, one of a kind. I learnt a lot from him; not only from what he did, also from the way he lived. May his family, friends, and all Bnei Yisroel be comforted, VeHekeetzu Veranenu Shochnei Ofof Vehu Besoichom.
Motti, may your grandfather’s Neshomoh have aliyah and may we see him very soon, I remember when you would go to your grandfather, and he would take you in his car (on Motzoei Shabossos I think 🙂 ) YYF
All the comfort to his family. BDE.
I am deeply saddened… This is a sad day for klal yisroel.
We are priveliged to watch the naarated video of trhe Rebbe by Rabbi Emanuel Shochet in 770 playing on the 60 inch monitor in the hallway everyday
Such unfortunate news. He was the most brilliant chabad teacher- no one came close.
He wrote, taught, lectured…etc. he used all methods for the furtherance of yiddishkyt and chasidus.
There are no words. All of Lubavitch morn with the Schochat family.
One of the best and brightest. BDE
I’m shocked! He’ll be missed.
Bde!!
Very easy going chabad leader in canada
A great Rabbi. He will be missed.
Bde!
Knowing Rabbi Emanuel
He would enjoy your discreet sense of humor
May we soon be reunited here on earth with all”sheinei ofur”
By the way, the ball is in our court (as of 28 nissan nun beis)
Its up to us how easy or difficult this last threshold stage of galus/geula will be
Geulah now!!
I am so sad to see this. When my father got sick last summer, Mrs. Schochet was a pillar of strength to me. Her husband and her whole family fought an epic battle against this horrible disease. May they be comforted with the incredible legacy he has left behind. המקום ינחם אתכם בתוך שאר אבילי ציון וירושלים
FV
Left his mark on mankind.
May he be back with us soon.
harav emenuel shochat a”h was rav down south at the lubavitcher shul on edinborogh.. you must of seen in thornhill his brother harav dovid shochet should be well laarichus yomim veshonim toivois.
The world has lost a great light… may he be an advocate for us on high to get mashiach to come NOW!!!
I brought our son to Toronto for camp from Detroit. I stayed a few days in Thornhill and was happy to see and give and receive a warm , friendly shalom aleichem to Rabbi Schochet Thursday in the shul there. I feel very privileged and blessed to of had that moment. I am back in Detroit reading this sad and shocking news. I big loss for KLAL YISRAEL. Boruch Dayan HaEmes.
What a devastating loss! A giant of a man in so many ways and totally ibergegeben to the Rebbe. He has given clarity and direction to countless people, more than he ever imagined.
May he storm the heavens in his inimitable way for an end to this long and bitter golus…
I brought our son to Toronto for camp from Detroit. I stayed a few days in Thornhill and was happy to see and give and receive a warm , friendly shalom aleichem to Rabbi Schochet Thursday in the shul there. I feel very privileged and blessed to of had that moment. I am back in Detroit reading this sad and shocking news. I big loss for KLAL YISRAEL. Boruch Dayan HaEmes.
Rabbi shochet was In my opinion the biggest gaon chabad had. He brought so much honor and respect to chabad. This is a sad day for all. I will deeply miss him.
המקום ינחם
B”H
BD”E
he was a great man and he will be deeply missed.
What a loss… We need to bring Moshiach now!
Ovad(iah) Chosid min ha’aretz.
BDE!!
Clearly a monumental loss for klal yisroel…BDE.
Very shocked and sorry to hear this news!! The Lubavitched world is dimmer today because of this loss. Rabbi Schochet was a great thinker, courageous and brilliant. May Hashem comfort his wife and children and community. So sad to hear this. BDE
A brother BDE
Baruch Dayan Emes. So sad.
what a great rabbi