By COLlive reporter
R’ Yosef Eliyahu Dunin, a Lubavitcher chossid in Jerusalem who manned the Tefillin booth at the Kotel for 17 years, passed away on Thursday, Iyar 4 5775.
He was 55.
Sunshine or rain, and on the occasional snow days, the red-bearded Dunin would be at Chabad’s stand welcoming visitors of all backgrounds and interests to the Western Wall, the Kfar Chabad magazine reported.
With sincerity and charm, he was able to put on Tefillin on an estimated tens of thousands of Jewish men and boys above the age of 13. When fellow activists weren’t able to convince a visitor to do a Mitzvah, they would call for him.
One story is told of an Italian priest who came to the Kotel with his community and mentioned in passing that his mother was Jewish. Dunin took him to the side to explain about his Jewish ancestry and the opportunity he has to make a Bar Mitzvah.
“The priest agreed and left the group to do so,” Rabbi Naftali Rot, director of Tzeiri Chabad in Jerusalem, tells. “The priest departed with tears in his eyes and returned a few months later wearing a Yarmulka and holding a Tallis and Tefillin bag. He came to Israel wanting to live fully as a Jew.”
In his youth, Dunin was a member of the household of the great Sephardic rabbi and kabbalist, Rabbi Israel Abuhaṣeira, known as the Baba Sali, of blessed memory. Dunin merited to bring him a bottle of ‘mashke’ from the Rebbe and on the Baba Sali’s instruction, organized a Lag BaOmer parade in Netivot.
In recent years, Dunin lived in the Pisgat Ze’ev neighborhood in Jerusalem where he often assisted the local Chabad center. “On Fridays he would go to bakeries and groceries and collect their oversupply for families in need,” Shliach Rabbi Ariel Pozilov said.
He is survived by his wife and 7 children.
Baruch dayan haemes.
A full profile about his personality and unique dedication to helping others appears in this week’s Kfar Chabad magazine
Yes, all donations are tax deductible. Make all checks out to Emunas Yisroel D’Yerushalayim. Mail all checks to the care of Rabbi Yitzchok Gottdiener, 1431 41st Street, Brooklyn, NY 11218 This is the correct zip code. My previous one was incorrect.
Such a horrible story. What a loss…
Yossi/Jeffery is my only brother. He was a fun loving great guy. Always full of life, always there to lend a hand to whomever needed. Thank all of you for your warm words of consolment, they really help. Yes, to those of you who would like to help the family, please send all contributions of checks to either Doris Donen, 623 Kahn Drive, Baltimore, MD 21208 or Rabbi Yitzchok Gottdiener, 1431 41st Street, Brooklyn, NY 11219. All checks shoiuld be made out to Emunas Yisroel D’Yerushalayim. If you can spread the word about this collection we would greatly appreciate it.… Read more »
Very sad to hear that,
May we see him soon with MH”M ASAP AMEN,
Moshe Halfon.
You can donate to his mother (Devorah- Doris)
Or his uncle Rabbi Gottdiener from Torah Vadaas
I also remember him when I was in Yeshivah in Kfar Chabad in 1981-82. He was so goodhearted and had so much chayus. He told me excitedly a lot about the Baba Sali. After I left Israel I thought of him many times and missed him a lot. Now I’ll miss him even more. May he storm the heavens to bring Moshiach NOW!
#13
his father was a first cousin of Reuvin Donin A”H
#7, #9, #15
his family can use ALL the help you can give them
WE WERE ONE! HE ALWAYS LOOKED OUT FOR ME AS WELL I FOR HIM. WE HAD THE BEST TIMES IN LIFE GROWING UP. BEFORE HE BECAME THE PERSON HE WAS. HE ASKED ME ONE DAY,NOT SURE IF HE SHOULD BE RELIGIOUS. I TOLD HIM HE HAD TO MAKE THAT CHOICE ON HIS OWN. AT THE AGE 18 HE LEFT BALTIMORE,WENT TO ISRAEL AND YOU KNOW THE REST OF THE STORY. HE WAS MY BROTHER,BEST FRIEND AND EVERYTHING TO ME AND WILL ALWAYS BE. I COULD WRITE A BOOK ON OUR LIFE. HE WAS ALWAYS THE LIFE OF A PARTY. YOU… Read more »
One time I left my Chitas at the Kotel and Reb Donen made the effort to track me down and personally send me my Chitas back. When I thanked him and told him that he didn’t have to he said something like “you can’t be with out your Chitas.” He was very special and will be missed.
BDE this is a tragedy!
This is Devora Donen, Jeffries mother. He was the most wonderful son Who loved his family his children. He said he was so blessed to have seven beautiful children. I loved him with all my heart and soul, but I have comfort knowing he’s with hashem now. For those of who inquired in the comments about donating or helping the family as well as anyone else who could help us in collecting funds for his widow and 7 children he left behind with no father. Any and all help, would greatly appreciate it. You can make checks out to Doris… Read more »
Was he son of the late chosid reuvain dunin?
BDE
in 1983 I was in Kfar Chabad yeshiva with him . We had a blast, he always wanted me to meet Baba Sali, but I never did, MAY G-D COMFORT HIS FAMILY, MOSHIACH NOW!!!
he was an amazing person but an evin better uncle any time i need some one to talk to i could call him up and he was thier for me i will miss him greatly but i will cherish his memory
how can we help?
He was a real trooper. A shining example what a chosid is supposed to be like.
No words
.
I had zechus so many times to do mitzva tefilen with him
Link to donate ?
I remember being at the Kosel on a rainy and cold day and he was standing there outside under the Tefillin booth.
So sad.
such a special yid BDE may his neshama be bound up in shamoyim with the other tzaddikim
He always had such Chayus!
A real chasid.
BDE
I KNEW HIM PERESONALY, WAS A CHARMING AND GREAT JEW, WILL BE GREATLY MISSED
So many zchusim to accompany him up to Beis din shel maaleh.
May he be a gutte bette and help bring moshiach and be reunited with the young family left behind.