By COLlive reporter
Three short weeks before his passing, known mashpia Rabbi Elimelech Zweibel traveled to Ashland, Oregon, to attend the Bar Mitzvah of his grandson, Moshe Zwiebel.
“How can it be that Moshe Rabeinu was so humble?” Rabbi Meilach, as he was known by his many students, addressed the crowd of over 150 community members in English. “Didn’t he know his great achievements?”
In his classic style, Reb Meilach clarified the concept by relating a story that the community could appreciate, later applying the idea to Shlichus and the Bar Mitzvah boy.
Rabbi Meilach visited Ashland, Oregon many times throughout the thirteen years that his son, Rabbi Avi Zwiebel and wife Faigy have moved on Shlichus. Community members were always drawn to hear Rabbi Meilach speak and his English farbrengens made a powerful impact on many people.
Rabbi Meilach enjoyed going to Downtown Ashland on Sukkos. Jews would flock to him just to make the bracha on the lulav and esrog with this holy man. He inspired everyone.
Rabbi Avi Zwiebel has begun daily minyanim in Ashland so he can say Kaddish for his dear father, of blessed memory. He is in need of 10 pairs of tefillin, more siddurim, chumashim and other items to set up a proper shul. He also will be starting a mezuzah and tefillin campaign with the vision of installing 200 Mezuzos and inspiring ten men to put on Tefillin daily.
Two generous donors who were deeply touched by Rabbi Zwiebel OBM will be matching every dollar that comes in for the shul items and mezuzos. The rest of the funds will go to the operating costs of the new center.
VIDEO: A clip of Rabbi Zweibel’s last speech
VIDEO: Rabbi Zweibel speaks at the dinner marking 10th years of Chabad of Ashland
To donate to this campaign – click here
what a loss?!
but his message was so simple and yet so powerful!
Reach each and every Yid to do at least one mitzva and thus bring Moshiach! It is possible! and we must all do our little bit to bring this about!
A kind and holy man. I sent my kids to Morristown to be able to see his radiant and holy face and now what…
Very very big loss, but ashrenu to those who got to learn from Reb Melech a malach of Hashem.
goes beyond his capacity with true humility and bitul just to get the message across in quite a good English – wow how inspiring!
I never met Reb Meilach. Now, seeing those beautiful eyes filled with powerful Ahavas Yisroel, I am incredibly inspired. May his neshama have an aliya and come back right away with Moshiach. Wishing huge success to The Ashland Zweibels in your important work!
Pure kedusha no self. May his neshomo have a lichtige gan aiden.