By Phreddy Wischusen, Chabad.org
Jacob Chartoff was born and raised in Boston.
As a young man, he attended Harvard University enrolled in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, graduating with a degree in English literature. He chuckled when recalling that annual tuition back then was a whopping $500.
At 104, he had lots of stories to tell. And one of the people he told them to was Rabbi Levi Lezell, co-director of Chabad of the South Shore in Hingham, about a half-hour south of Boston.
“He was very jolly,” relates Lezell, “an indicator of how a person can reach such a distinguished age.”
Chartoff had a rich life—he was at the top of his class, he played the violin and worked as a political speechwriter—and while he celebrated Jewish holidays and learned Hebrew early on, as an adult he hadn’t been very connected to Judaism. Still, Lezell says, “he was obviously a very proud Jew.”
Like Chabad-Lubavitch rabbis everywhere, Lezell offered: Would his new friend care to wrap tefillin?
“He immediately agreed,” says the rabbi.
“He said: ‘Do whatever you’ve got to do.’ It was very heartwarming.”
After they said the Shema together, Lezell started singing “David Melech Yisrael.” Without missing a beat, Chartoff joined in.
As the rabbi prepared to leave, he says the 104-year-old became a little emotional, even though his spirits seemed to be visibly uplifted.
“It was as if I knew him for a lifetime,” says Lezell. “It was hard to leave.”
Jacob Chartoff – Yaakov ben Eliyahu passed away three days after his visit from the rabbi. May his memory be a blessing.
“Every positive action, no matter how seemingly small, has a lasting effect and eternal value,” Lezell says. “Such deeds bring much good to the world.”
VIDEO:
Prayer is a mitzvah, eating is a mitzvah, meditating and knowing H’ is a mitzvah, learning Torah, praising H’… I imaging that this man had quite a list of mitzvot. 104 years of doing mitzvot makes a Jew capable of doing many more.
From Choni Australia
Ashrei Chelkecho Vegodoil Zechuscho.
enjoyed so much, thanks for sharing, so touching!
You did the Mivtzah in a beautiful and gentle way. What a zechius.! May this bring Moshiach Now
The Rebbe thinking of a single Jew in the middle of Plymouth, MA. Heartwarming. May his Neshama have an Aliya!
for 3 days he didn’t do a mitzvah? like ahavas yisroel? kiddush Hashem? etc…? Impossible!
Zichron livracha