Dr. Arik Pudel, 64, OBM

Dr. Arik Pudel, who defied the Soviet Communists to learn Torah and Chassidus in Samarkand and survived to build a proud Jewish family, passed away on Thursday, 18 Cheshvan, 5781.

He was 64.

Arik was born in Samarkand during the Soviet Communist regime and learned Torah and Chasidus during the time when it was forbidden, with great mesiras nefesh and at the risk of lifetime imprisonment or death.

Many of the underground Shabbos Mevorchim Minyonim and Fabrengens were held in the Pudel home in Samarkand.

Arik’s father, R’ Menachem Mendel OBM, was a close friend of the famed Chosid Reb Dovid Ramener (Okunov) HY”D.

Arik later moved to Eretz Yisroel and then to America, where he settled in Flatbush, Brooklyn.

Arik always reminisced about the Chasidim in Samarkand and how it was “one beautiful family.” Arik frequently came to Farbreng with his fellow Chasidim in Crown Heights, some of whom were like close family to him. His radiant smile and warm embrace carried the warmth of the Chasidim of Samarkand.

He will be sorely missed by all who knew him.

He is survived by his wife Ilana, his daughters Miriam and Nechama and his son Yosef Yitzchak. He is also survived by his mother Ida and brother Ahron Dovid.

The Levaya will take place tomorrow, Friday, passing by 770 tomorrow, Friday at 10:30 AM on its way to Old Montefiore Cemetery.

Baruch Dayan Ha’emes: Avraham ben Menachem Mendel.