Emotional Tribute Held for Beloved Educator

By COLlive reporter
Photos: Mendy Kurant

An overflow crowd packed into Lubavitch Yeshiva hall Sunday night for an evening of inspiration to mark the Shloshim – 30 days since the passing – of beloved educator Rabbi Shmarya Katzen OBM.

Family members, friends and colleagues of Rabbi Katzen emotionally shared stories and anecdotes about the personality of Rabbi Katzen, who was a pre-1A Rebbi for 47 years in Lubavitch Yeshiva, and was an example of a true a chossid and dedicated melamed.

The evening’s MC, Rabbi Dovid Sholom Pape, a longtime friend of Rabbi Katzen, opened the evening with introducing Moshe Katzen, son of Rabbi Katzen, who led the crowd in tehillim and spoke movingly about his father.

Rabbi Moshe Schwartz, a close friend and fellow melamed of over 35 years, told of Rabbi Katzen’s legendary dedication to his students, which never wavered through the years. He told of the early days of their teaching together, and leading the Mesibos Shabbos together, which Rabbi Katzen continue to organize until his last days.

Shabi Soffer, a grandson of Rabbi Katzen, shared memories of his grandfather and told of his incredible devotion and hiskashrus to the Rebbe.

Rabbi Tzvi Rimler, a former student of Rabbi Katzen, shared memories of his class, remarking on the fact that Rabbi Katzen had given the young students a list of “things to do to bring Moshiach,” which made a huge impression on them.

Rabbi Yosef Simpson, menahel of Lubavitcher Yeshiva where Rabbi Katzen taught for 40 years, spoke about Rabbi Katzen’s dedication to his job, patiently and lovingly teaching his precious students until his very last day.

Guest speaker Rabbi Efraim Mintz, founder and executive director of the Jewish Learning Institute and friend of the family, inspired participants with lessons learned from Rabbi Katzen’s life, reminding that “Vehachay Yiten el Libo,” there is much we can all learn from him in becoming better Chassidim and better people.

A video presentation, produced by Schabse Soffer with the help of JEM’s My Encounter Project, told Rabbi Katzen’s journey to Lubavitch in his own words.
Video Presentation:

A Siyum Mishnayos was said by Rabbi Shmuel Simons, son-in-law of Rabbi Katzen.

A special teshura was distributed about Rabbi Katzen’s encounters with the Rebbe, an excerpt from JEM’s upcoming book My Story 2, prepared with much appreciation to Rabbi Elkanah Shmotkin, Rabbi Yechiel Cagen and Rabbi Mendel Gourarie.

Click here to download teshura.

VIDEO: FULL EVENT REPLAY