By COLlive reporter
Rabbi Mordechai Belinow, the most senior Chabad rabbi and halachic authority in France, passed away on Wednesday, 13 Teves 5777.
He was 78.
Rabbi Belinow was born in the Chassidic village of Klimovitch in Russia and was able to escape the country with his family in 5707.
They settled in Paris, where he met the Rebbe for the first time and enrolled in the famed Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim Lubavitch in the town of Brunoy.
His teachers, Rabbi Nissan Neminov and Rabbi Yisroel Noach Belinitzky, reported to the Rebbe about his dedicated studies. The Rebbe instructed that he spend his time learning practical halacha.
After marrying Sheina Rivka, daughter of R’ Chanan Levin, the Rebbe instructed him to travel to the city of Marrakech in Morocco, and study to become a shochet. During his time there he delivered a daily shiur to locals.
On the holiday of Purim in 5721, Moroccan authorities accused Rabbi Belinow of engaging in forbidden “Zionist activities” and he was banned from the country back to France.
Once he returned, Rabbi Belinow started working for France’s Chief Rabbinate was later appointed as the head shochet for the organization. He also taught in the Brunoy Yeshiva where he was once educated.
The Rebbe highly regarded Rabbi Belinow and his halachic knowledge and integrity. One comment the Rebbe made in 5724 when two institutions had a dispute was that they should turn to him because his rulings an “absolute psak halacha.”
In 5748 Rabbi Belinow was appointed as deputy head of the Committee of Lubavitch Rabbis in Paris, as well serving as the Rabbi and head of the Chabad institutions in Aubervilliers, France.
He was the surviving member of the three senior Chabad Shluchim –alongside Rabbi Shmuel Azimov and Rabbi Hillel Pewsner, of blessed memory– who led Chabad in France and helped shape French Jewry.
He is survived by his wife, Rebbetzin Sheina Rivka Belinow and children, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Belinow – Rav Merkaz Bnei Brak, Israel, Sarah Labkowski – Brunoy, France, Chaya Tiechtel – Pavé, France, Rabbi Yerachmiel Belinow – Menahel Cheder in Bnei Brak, Israel, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Belinow – Shliach in S. Denis, France, Rabbi Avrohom Osher Belinow – Menahel Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim Elad Israel and Rabbi Yisroel Belinow – Rosh Kolel Baal Shem Tov and Shliach in S. Denis, France.
He is also survived by his siblings, Rabbi Yitzchok Belinow – Milan, Italy, Baila Bronstein – Crown Heights, Chana Marasow – Crown Heights and Fruma Greenberg – Crown Heights.
The levaya will take place tomorrow, Thursday, in Bnei Brak at 10:30 am, to Har Hazeisim in Jerusalem.
Shiva will take place at 64 Chazon Ish, Bnei Brak
Shachris: 7:15, 8:15
Mincha: 4:15, 4:30
Maariv: B’zmano
Baruch Dayan Ha’emes.
the rebbe told him to make sure there is kosher meat for the yidden in Frace,not just chicken. many years later the rebbe saw him by dollars i think in תשנ”ב a day before כ”ז אדר and the rebbe asked him what’s with meat for the jews in France.
Is there anyone sitting Shiva in Crown heights and where?
BDE