By COLlive and Lubavitch Archives
R’ Mordechai Eliezer Sharfstein, a Lubavitcher chossid who lived in Crown Heights for many years and worked as a shochet, passed away on Tuesday, 5 Av 5775.
He was 88.
Born in 1927 in New York where his family had moved to in 1911, his father R’ Avraham Zev Sharfstein was the shochet from whom the Frierdiker Rebbe would rely on for kashrus during the 1928 visit and later on.
When the Frierdiker Rebbe came to America, his parents sent young Mottel and his late brother Rabbi Zelig Sharfstein, to be there for that first Rosh Hashanah.
Reb Mottel was one of the first students in the Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim in New York when it opened in 1941. Once his father asked a bracha for his children to be studious learners, to which the Frierdiker Rebbe replied, “for this I cannot give you a bracha, you have to want to be one on your own!”
A shy person by nature, Reb Mottel would keep out of the limelight. He followed in his father’s footsteps and became a schochet and a teacher. He later married Chana Zuber.
The Rebbe once asked him to say a Maamar on his birthday. Upon noticing his reluctant reaction, the Rebbe told him that there was a chassid of the Rebbe Maharash that had a hard time saying a Maamar in public. So the chassid would first tell the maamar to the trees in the forest, then to the benches in shul and once he was ready, he would say it publicly. Reb Mottel concluded that at the end, he did say the maamar and “my friends said that I repeated it good.”
He possessed a phenomenal memory and had a wealth of knowledge on Chassidic and Jewish history. He was known for his humble demeanor, wonderful sense of humor and self-effacing personality. He was a friend to everyone and prized the members of his family above all else.
He is survived by his wife Mrs. Chana Sharfstein, their children Shterna Maline, Sruli Sharfstein, Seema Gersten – California, Raizel Feder – New York; and grandchildren.
His daughter Zlata Esther was niftar in March 2014.
The levaya will take place on Wednesday, leaving Shomrei Hadas in Boro Park at 2:00 pm, and passing by 770 at 2:45 pm.
Shiva will be held at the Sharfstein residence of 626 Montgomery Street between Kingston and Brooklyn Avenue.
Baruch Dayan Haemes.
The Yalkut tells of a certain Rabbi who began his shiur with a joke, to open the hearts of his listeners and make them more receptive to mussar. My dad peppered his learning with jokes. A true lamdan, he loved life and loved people. He never complained but approached each challenge in his life with a smile and an insightful comment. Towards the end, when I asked him how he felt he always replied , “Baruch Hashem, it could be better.
I loved my dad. I miss him.
i never had the zechus to know your husband, but my bracha to you and the family is to cherish the memories you shared together as the best yerusha he could have left you.
hamakom yenachem eschem betoch sh’ar aveiley tzion virushalayim.
Rabbi sharfstein was a learned man who was beloved by all. He was kind to everyone and didn’t harbor a bad feeling toward a single being. His positive outlook on life was visible in every situation despite the sometimes more challenging circumstances. Although towards the end of his life he was given many unexpected hardships, he remained a true chossid till the end and continued to love life. He will not be forgotten in my heart and may we see him again soon in the days of Moshiach!
My daughter and I were graciously invited to the Sharfstein’s home for Shabbos on many occasions throughout the years. Rabbi Sharfstein is a kind and learned man who was a beacon light to all who knew him. Chana may you find peace in the knowledge that he was loved and cherished not only by your wonderful family but to all who knew him. I was spending Shabbos with you on gimmel Tammuz. I will never forget his face as he uttered, “He is my Rebbe and I love him.” Moshiach now!
Respectfully, Sara E
I’ll miss you so much Zeidy. You have been a great fighter since day one. You were placed in a battle which you fought with tremendous courage. You will never cease to inspire me. I love you Zeidy. BDE.
Zeidy- I will miss you so much! You always appreciated a good joke and we always looked forward to spending Pesach with you when you would share your famous Mah Mishtana joke at the Seder. It was incredible to see how you would always learn and daven despite the struggles you were fighting to overcome. We love you and you will be missed. Baruch Dayan Emes. May we merit to see you with the coming of Moshiach speedily in our days.
BORUCH DAYAN HAEMES
yinachem eschem b’soch she’ar avaylay tzion viy’rushalayim.
Rabbi and Mrs. Moshe Feller
BDE.
Seema, Mrs. Sharfstein and family, remembering a Pesach long ago… shared together in Crown Heights with your wonderful family.
Hamokom ynachaym eschem bsoch shor avaylay tziyon virusholoyim
Deena Rochel from Australia
I remember him well.
Reb Motel, you will be missed.
Hamokom Yenachem Eschem Bsoch Sharei Tzion V’yerushalayim.
Hershey Chitrik
My heart is with you in this very sad time. If we would have been in NY today, I would have been there today. May he be a guteh beter for all of you. And the good times you had with him should be a comfort to all of you.
Goldie Deutsch
I dont know him personally, just a friend of one of his children.
Hamakom Yinachem eschem toch shaarei tzion vAveley yerushalayim
~ Moshiach Now~
that was Reb Mottel.
his wife Chana cared for him at home for many years with great devotion.
I attended the same shul as r sharfstein when i was a kid. Whenever there was a question, they turned to him. He was as kind and he was wise and he was a genius.
BD”E. we will miss this legand
His devoted wife is an inspiration. May she and the entire family be comforted by the only One who can…
bd’e
a very special man, kind hearted with a gentle soul. he will be missed
Zaidy was an outstanding chossid with wonderful middos and mitzvos bihidur. I will always remember that no matter how sick Zaidy was, he would always make sure to daven. He called us over to ask for a siddur and would daven with such kavanah, pointing at each word. When his grandchildren came to visit, his face would light up. When it was time to take pictures with us, Zaidy would put on a huge smile. You will be missed Zaidy. We love you!
My grandfather Rav Mordechai Eliezer Sharfstein was a gentle and quiet warrior. He gave his life and every last bit of strength to the honor of hashems name and his holy nation. His family was one of the first to move to crown heights. He stood by the Rebbe as he he stood by the previous Rebbe before him. I still can remember him singing songs of “viahavta lirayacha kamocha”, and “a sukkalh aklain” 🙂 I hear his voice. I’m so sad and I miss him so much already. He gave his last days to create unprecedented achdus for our… Read more »
Sharfstein Family, Raizel, this is so spooky, you were just at my fathers funeral, in NY being menachem avel us, the Zirkinds, and now its our turn to you. Knowing his children, he was a good man. Hashem should give you strenght to pull through, Hamakom Yenachem Eshchem, Betoch shar aveili tzion yerushalayim.
A wonderful man, husband, father, grandfather and – to me – uncle. May he be a malitz yosher and hasten the coming of Moshiach before Tisha B’Av.
Izzy Zuber (Boston)
To have been born in America, raised through the 30’s, 40’s and emerged a chassidishe yid can only mean that he was of tremendously solid stock chassidishe parents, and that he himself must have had a wealth of perspective and experience to share with the next generation.
Wish I would have had the opportunity to learn from him.
Hamakom yenachem eschem….
BH
BSD
HE WAS A TRUE LUBAVITCHER CHOSSID….
IN ALL TIMES ,AND IN ALL PLACES,AND IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES
mendy
A lamdan, a chossid, a real person of goodness and kindness.
ושיהי׳ מליץ יושר עבור זוגתו הכבודה תחי׳ וכל משפחתו
חבל על דאבדין ולא משתכחיןץ תהיה נשמתו צרורה בצרור החיים ויקיצו וירננו שוכני עפר והוא בתוכם תיכף ומיד ממש
BD’E YOU WILL BE DEARLY MISSED