R’ Eli Lipsker, a renowned musician and Baal Menagen of Chasidic music, passed away on Thursday, 20 Shvat, 5777.
He was 76 and suffered from a terrible illness in recent years.
Eli, longtime Crown Heights resident, was internationally known as a leading exponent of Chassidic music.
He was born in the former Soviet Union, where, at an early age his unique musical talents became apparent.
His family emigrated to Israel in 1948. The Lipsker home was always filled with an abundance of Chassidic singing, and he developed passion for Chassidic Niggunim. The young Eli taught himself to play the recorder and accordion by ear. Through these media, he was able to express himself musically.
In 1957, Lipsker was enrolled in the Lubavitcher Yeshiva in Brooklyn, N.Y. where his dream of living in close proximity to the Lubavitcher Rebbe was finally fulfilled.
The Rebbe offered much encouragement and blessing for Eli to develop his music skills alongside his Talmudic and Chassidic studies.
At Manhattan School of Music, and under the tutelage of leading music teachers and professors he studied piano, accordion, theory and composition.
When the Lubavitcher Rebbe asked that recordings should be made of the Chabad melodies, at first Eli took part of the choir. However, later he became its musical director. From the late 1960’s, as Chabad’s presence began to be established across the globe, Lipsker led an adult and a children’s choir, travelling to lead concerts in Chabad melodies. The evenings became known as “An Evening with Lubavitch.”
Eli Lipsker became a pathfinder, paving the way for other observant musicians to follow. For many years Eli taught music in Jewish Day Schools, where he served as a music director and choir leader.
Eli, whom the Rebbe referred to as “my Baal Menagen,” was known for his devotion to the propagation of Chabad Niggunim, and his vibrant tenor voice and accordion have appeared on many beloved Chassidic recordings. He served as soloist and musical advisor for the recordings of Lubavitcher Chassidim.
Most recently, Eli produced tapes designed to teach Nusach Hatfillah, which help youngsters and adults conduct synagogue services for weekday, Shabbos and holidays.
He is survived by his wife, Leah and children, Yosef Lipsker – Reading, PA, Mendy Lipsker – Crown Heights and Shani Katzman – Omaha, Nebraska.
He is also survived by his siblings, Batsheva Feigenson, Zehava Perlow, Tzivia Grossman of Crown Heights, Rabbi Zalman Lipsker of Philadelphia, Menachem Mendel Lipsker, Yosef Yitzchak Lipsker, Psachia Lipsker and Motti Lipsker of Israel.
The levaya will take place today, Thursday, leaving Shomrei Hadas Chapels in Boro Park at 11 am and passing by 770 Eastern Parkway at 12 pm.
Shiva will take place at 822 Montgomery Street, between Albany and Troy.
Shachris: 7 am, 8 am
Mincha: 5:15 pm
Maariv: 6:15 pm
Baruch Dayan Ha’emes.
1981: Maple St. Shul Concert from COLlive.com on Vimeo.
The best simchas bais hashoeva was with Eli and the Piamentas after 3 am. On one occasion the crowd was
“flying” – a real ruchnius and feeling “high”. Thank you
Eli – may the time of all Jews meeting up again happen
straight away!
Thank you for opening the doors of your house for me and never saying “no” when I needed a place for shabbos meals. Thank you for your kindness and your teachings!!
G-d bless your soul
We created an email to share memories with My Dear Father
Eli Lipsker
: please submit to [email protected]
Please pass this on
Boruch Dayan Haemes
So sad to hear
We want Moshiach Now!!!
Ad Mosai
So so sad. We will miss you at Reines Shul
We will miss your hayom yom. : (
He uplifted all of us with his beautiful music and brought a mandolin to enhance the simcha ! It was a real awesome chassidishe wedding BH !!our hall was pumping with simcha and dancing from his incredible music !
Thank you for posting this beautiful rendition with piano and flute. If you want to really “hear” the niggun, above clip a must see!
I’ll never forget him.
Soooo sorry to hear. He will be sorely missed. A special person, who added something special to our generation.
He will be sorely missed. A pillar of Jewish music for all time.
One for the ages!
Yossi Newfield
Yeisef invited me once to the house for a Shabbos meal, and it never stopped…….. Beautiful memories…… warm house…..hachnosas orchim on a LARGE scale…..
Zol er zain a guter beter
המקום ינחם אתכם בתוך שאר אבילי ציון וירושלם
R. Eli was always very welcoming, genuine and down to earth, and a real mensch.
When he was baal tefilla in 770 for yomim noraim after 27 Adar, I was moved by his special feeling towards the Rebbe, when he added a new Avinu Malkenu: that Hashem should send a refua shelaima to the Rebbe.
יהי זכרו ברוך
Following his spirit, may the entire family have only happy occasions.
Yisroel Sandman
HE PUT ALL THE CHABAD SONGS ON TAPE , ME AND MANY OTHES NO ALOT OF CHABAD OLD SONGS FROM THE TAPES HE MADE, YHEI ZICHRON BORUCH
Where can i listen to his choirs and compositions…
Besides for lubavitch music
I am very saddened and placed on notice and I am not much younger than Eli. I fondly recall him and his accordion in a small room in back of the shul the year Pomerantz drowned in the lake. I went over to him recently when much to my surprise he played the piano at a siddur party at YCQ for one of my grandchildren..
Me and my brother and father were all in his choir a very special man.
He has been in our lives all my adult lives!
He played at our wedding in 1980! Eli introduced the Piamentas to the wedding scene at our wedding.
May he be a “Gutter Better”
My first Shabbos family that welcomed me into their home and included me in family events. Eli played at my wedding and with Leah as his lefetime partner, they helped me grow. Together they took a personal interest in my life. May their family be consoled. הדסה אסתר לאה בת שיינא
My heartfelt condolences to every family member. Eli will be sorely missed by everyone. Most from my generation grew up with Nichoach music and listening to Eli Lipsker’s work brings back a flood of wonderful memories. May the memories Eli created with his family, bring them comfort at this difficult time.
Was part of his choir in Camp Gan Israel in summer 1965.
v’Hokitzu Viraninu Shochnei Offor- teikif um’yad mammosh!
The later it got, the faster he played. The best music from three o’clock to six o’clock in the morning.
He orchestrated for my chasunoh (buddies with my parents)
There should be only simchas
Moshiach Now!
electrified Minnesota Jewry with its first Chassidic concert
five decades ago, and subsequent concerts held in the Twin
Cities. He played at our children’s weddings. Yehei zichro
baruch.
Rabbi Moshe and Mindy Feller
What a gentle and warm person.
Hashem yenachem his family and community.
Eli Lipsker demonstrated time and again that music is the pen of the soul. I miss him already!
For a few years, my kids and I were guests for shabbos meals and yomim tovim when visiting CH. One erev RH, my son lost a tooth, and Rabbi Lipsker surprised him with a dollar. I also remember how fondly he spoke of his mother, a”h. Such a special person. May be be a ‘gutte beter” for us! Moshiach now!
He was baal tefilah in 770. I remember coming for Tishrei to the Rebbe and hearing his voice selichos and Rosh Hashana.
He played at countless weddings.
Every Yiddishe chabad house and pre-school had Eli Lipskars tape.
part of our childhood!!
Will miss the Hayom Yom
Eli played and countless Tzivos hashem rallies with the Rebbe that is an everlasting legacy recorded on countless videos.
BDE wow I remember he played at Simchas Bais Hashavah I remember he played at weddings as well Eli is a very kind and sweet person
I will sorely miss Shabbos mornings at the house learning Likkutei Torah and Tora Ohr.
Only simchas!
Paved the way for music as we know it
Eli played and countless Tzivos hashem rallies with the Rebbe that is an everlasting legacy recorded on countless videos.
My first experience with Chabad was at a recording of the second Lubavitcher record,where my brother sang in the
Silbermintz choir.
Eli brought Chabad music to the Jewish world.
It is so apropos that these pieces are posted .
Leah ,we all love you and we
e encourage you to keep up all your wonderful projects !
May you have Simchas and Moshiach Now!
Rabbi Eli Lipsker was such a special man, always had inspiring stories to tell at his Shabbos table and had a great sense of humor. His devotion to the Rebbe was incredible to see and he always cared so much about each individual.
BDE 🙁
That he played at our chosunah! There were no worries: Of course the music was appropriate at all times, beautiful, and never at an oppressive volume.
And his two-volume “Chabad Melodies” is used all the time by our musical family. It is one of the most valuable items in our home!
Rabbi Lipsker will always be remembered for a huge and joyful brachah! BDE!
He played music for my wedding! Was a wonderful man
Eli is from a very large family KA”H and most of his siblings are alive and well he has many brothers in EY
It was so sad to see this. May Hashem comfort his entire family. He brought such joy with his music to so many.
A great tzaddik and friend who will bring the geulah with MHM mamash now⚓⛵
BDE, he was a beautiful and gentle soul.
Special special man. We grew up with Eli Lipsker as part of our lives in many way, the nichoach records, lag bomer marching bands, rallies at 770. Definitely a pivotal part of our generation. I also had opportunity of taking one on one music lessons with him for a period of time which are memories I hold dear. Good, sweet chassid who will be missed, until Moshiach comes very soon.
Another one of yaisephs classmates and a friend of Mendy!
Love u guys!
so sad to see
I remember 3Tammuz him walking into 770 in total shock breaking down and sobbing with true devotion..
as a class mate of Yaiseph Lipsker i was invited many times to his home,, not from CH the Lipskers “Eli & Leah” always made me feel as one of theirs. Reb Eli you will be missed. we will always remember you,,, Please remember us over there
Yaiseph, Hugs Chassidishe Kushin be strong