By COLlive reporter
Chazan Efraim Fishel Silber of Chicago, Illinois, descendant of early Chasidim and a fervent chossid of the Rebbe, passed away Motzei Shabbos, 10 Sivan 5784.
He was 96.
After surviving slave labor during World War II, the murder of his father and all his grandparents, and escaping Communist Hungary in 1949, Chazan Silber eventually found his way to Chicago where he married Judy Steinmetz in 1953.
Through his father-in-law, Rabbi Lipa Steinmetz, and his connection with Chabad mosdos starting with the Rebbe in Paris, he met Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Hecht in 1960 and became his close talmid and mushpa.
Through his extensive background in Chazanus and Chassidishe niggunim, he eventually became a teacher of Chassidus and niggunim to many over the past 45 years since Rabbi Hecht’s untimely passing. He was well known in the world of music as well as his success in the field of financial planning.
He is survived by his children Dina Chaviv of Yerushalayim, Brookie Silber of Monsey, and Rabbi Mayer Silber of Chicago.
He is also survived by brothers in Williamsburg and Rechovot.
The levaya took place Sunday morning in Chicago outside the Lubavitch Mesivta where all present sang niggunim he often sang to uplift others. The kevurah will take place on Har Hazeisim on Monday night.
Baruch Dayan Haemes.
So sad, may the entire family receive much comfort & we hope for the Geulah & final redemption so we can be reunited together with him & all of our loved ones!!
Chazan Silber had a trove of chasidic maisehs and anecdotes as well. After my father retired, they learned bechavrusa in the evening. They learned from a variety of seforim, and Chazan Silber would add chasidic anecdotes – parperaos lechachma. My father enjoyed the learning very much.
Our condolences to the Silber family.
How would I get in touch with R’ Mayer?