Doby Emanuel, a beloved young husband and father from Chicago, IL, passed away on Wednesday, 11 Teves, 5786.
He passed away two weeks before his 31st birthday after a battle with cancer.
Doby’s parents, Menachem ob”m and Devorah Emanuel, settled in Chicago after their marriage, enjoying the advantages of the strong Chabad community, including Cheder Lubavitch of Chicago. Following cheder, Doby learned at the Mesivta in Chicago, followed by Zal in Montreal, New Haven, Yeshivas Ohr Elchanan Chabad, Yeshiva Gedolah in Melbourne, and Morristown.
Doby had a magnetic personality. Wherever he went, he made friends. As a dorm counselor, he inspired the younger students to daven and learn with passion, to attend farbrengens, and to go on mivtzoyim.
In 2015, COLlive published an article about Doby helping a fellow bochur in Morristown Yeshiva track down the origin of a Rebbe Dollar which he had received in a store by Hashgacha Protis.
After his years in yeshiva, Doby returned to Chicago and became very active in the Chabad community in Chicago in general, and Cong. Bnai Ruven in particular. Working closely with Rabbi Hertz and Rabbi Markowitz, he was at the forefront of arranging new shiurim, organizing farbrengens, and launching new projects. He helped organize, got other people involved, and saw the programs through to success.
Doby was dedicated to the Rebbe, and joined his shul’s trip to the Ohel for Shabbos.
Doby led the push to restart Shabbos kiddush after Covid.
He joined a Daf Yomi class, and, when he was short on time, he listened to a shiur while he drove to work.
Together with his wife Chaya (nee Kosofsky), he also took a leadership role in getting help for people and families, whether it was financial assistance, or other pressing needs. They anonymously sponsored people in need to attend events such as Shabbatons.
Doby liked to see people happy, and he went out of his way to make that happen. He had a discerning eye and a sensitive heart to notice when people needed help, be it financial, emotional, or a friendly call.
He was the go-to guy for new ideas. When other people had ideas for new projects, they would turn to him to help get the project off the ground.
People knew they could turn to him to discuss their ideas. He was ambitious and determined to succeed. At the same time, he solved problems, was generous, and remained calm.
When he had radiation early in the day, he would first go to shul at 5:30 to daven. His plans were to beat this disease. When he finished a successful round of radiation, it was not enough to sponsor the kiddush and make a seudas hodaah. He brought Rabbi Zalman Leib Markowitz to farbreng for the community.
At that time, he made an offer on a house that was accepted. As he underwent treatments, he discussed his plans to grow at work and go into business for himself. He made plans for a family vacation after the treatments would be done.
He made things happen and he got things done.
His passing leaves a large void in the Emanuel and Kosofsky families. His passing leaves a large void in Cong. Bnai Ruven. His passing leaves a large void in the anash community of Chicago.
The family thanks all the people and organizations who have assisted them the past year and one-half, such as Cong. Bnai Ruven; Chicago Mitzva Campaign; The Chicago Center; Chai Lifeline; RCCS; his doctors and the teams at Rush and at the University of Chicago. They are also deeply grateful to his bosses at work, and for all the people who stood by him and his family and assisted in many ways.
He leaves his wife, Chaya Emanuel (Kosofsky); a 3-year old son and a 7-month old daughter; his mother, Devorah Emanuel, and brothers Meyer and his wife Ellisa, Chaim, Avi, and Shmuel, all of Chicago; a sister, Rivka and her husband Gil Shoshan of Tel Aviv; his in-laws, Chaim and Rochel Leah Kosofsky of Longmeadow, MA, and their children; nieces and nephews on both the Emanuel side and the Kosofsky side; and his bubby in-law, Joanne Brown.
Doby’s father, Menachem Efrayim Emanuel, passed away in 2021.
The Levaya will take place on Thursday, Jan. 1, at noon at the Bnei Ruven section of Waldheim Cemetery, 1303 S. Des Plaines Ave. Gate #5.
A special fund will be set up in his name to sponsor people to attend programs. Donations should be made to Cong. Bnei Ruven, 6350 N. Whipple, Chicago, IL, 60659. https://bneiruven.shulcloud.com/payment.php
Indicate that it is for the fund in memory of Doby Emanuel a”h.
Shiva Information
Thursday – Monday morning
2638 W. Albion
Thursday
Mincha: 4:10 PM
Maariv: 5:05 PM
Visiting hours: until 9:00 PM
Friday
Shacharis: 8:45 AM
Mincha: 12:45 PM
Visiting hours: until 1:00 PM
Motzaei Shabbos
Maariv: 5:18 PM
Visiting hours: 7:00–9:30 PM
Sunday
Shacharis: 9:00 AM
Visiting hours: 10:00 AM – 1:00 & 4:00 – 9:00 PM
Mincha: 4:25 PM
Maariv: 5:05 PM
Visiting hours: until 9:00 PM
Monday morning
Shacharis: 8:30 AM
Visiting hours: until 11:00 AM
Monday afternoon–Wednesday morning
6800 N California Ave #3J
Dial 271 from lobby phone to be buzzed into the building
(More details to follow)
Please note that Mrs. Chaya Emanuel will be sitting shiva in Chicago through Monday morning.
Baruch Dayan Ha’emes.
Will miss you Doby
I remember Doby from Morristown
Such a fun living neshama with a zest for life
AD MOSAI
You are solely missed
May the families be comforted in the fullest way
Hashem you are the true judge. Please end this galus- there has been more than enough suffering. My heart breaks for this family. Moshiach Now
So sad, so heartbreaking..
My heart goes to the family……
Min hashamaim tenuchamu
May the Heavens bring you comfort…
Heartbroken 💔💔
Doby, you taught me how to be a good friend ❤️
ברוך דיין האמת
נשבר הלב. אבידה גדולה.
מן השמים תנוחמו.
No words.
You were a true giver. There to help others.
You were a doer. A man of action
Hashem, you’ll have some explaining to do
I remember Dovi from Gan Yisroel Montreal when he was GM. He was very good at it.
However, more importantly, he was such a nice guy.
I mostly lost touch with him, but we would speak when we saw each other every two years or so.
Doby, we didn’t know you very long but you were a wonderful friend. Your absence leaves a huge void in the community.
As someone who grew up in Chicago, this is truly shocking!
May his נשמה have an עליה!
Doby was an incredible person. BDE.
We tend to ask, when we hear of a passing, was he sick? When the answer is yes, then we’re quiet and seemingly OK.
WAIT A MINUTE! WHY WAS HE SICK? WHO GAVE HIM THIS ILLNESS? WHY IS A YOUNG MOTHER AND TWO YOUNG CHILDREN LEFT ALONE TO FEND FOR THEMSELVES??
AD MOSAI ?! AD MOSAI?! AD MOSAI?!
We should all be ok with saying:
WE HAVE DONE ALL THAT WE CAN!
NOW HASHEM DO ALL THAT YOU CAN!
Golus get lost! Geulah come on in!
Sending hugs to his wonderful mother Devorah, tichiyeh and both families
Bde. Can someone help organize a proper charidy campaign?
Doby brought simcha every day to the shul. We were so excited to see him when he returned after major surgery- like a yom tov
Didn’t know him well but he was known to always be smiling and positive.
Big loss💔💔
Miss you special friend Doby YG Melbourne 5777
We need moshiach. Now!
Sending condolences to the Family. May we know of no more sorrow & Moshiach should come now so we can be reunited with him and all of our loved ones!!
Unforgettable friend. He was our dorm counselor in YG Melbourne, and later colleague in morristown.
My sincere condolences to the family.
The world keeps getting sadder and sadder on these times before moshiach.
Indeed Doby was a great asset to Yeshiva Tiferes Bachurim as a Shliach and YSP as a staff memeber. Always active and willing to help someone. I am very sadened by this terrible news….Moshiach Now…
Boruch Hecht
There are no words.. this is such devastating news 💔💔 hard to believe it’s real. Our hearts are broken for you Chaya and your beautiful babies 💔💔😭😭😭
This morning, I received the heartbreaking news that our friend Dovber “Doby” has passed away. I had the privilege of working alongside him at Gentell, and he was someone whose kindness and sincerity left a lasting impression on everyone around him. Kem and I were honored to be invited to his Seven Blessings Celebration after he married his beloved wife, Chaya – a joyful moment that reflected the love and hope they shared for their future together. To hear of his passing is deeply saddening. Our hearts are with his young family during this unimaginable time. We are holding Chaya… Read more »
Hashem Ad Mosai!! Another gem plucked from us. The best of the best. Hashem PLEASE send Moshiach NOW!
Doby was known here in the Chicago community as a great friend, upbeat, easy-going, and so so generous. Generous in shul, generous with his friends – he just had the ability to think of others and their needs.
He will be sorely missed by all Anash here. Such a good guy.