Before the Pesach holiday, family and friends of R’ Mendel Okunov obm gathered for a memorial event marking 30 days since his passing.
The gathering took place on the 12th of Nissan, at FREE Hall in Crown Heights.
Reb Mendel, as he was affectionately known by his friends and Talmidim, lived in Crown Heights and has devoted his life to the Rebbe’s Shlichus, directing Yeshivas Ohel Dovid and Camp Gan Yisroel of the F.R.E.E Friends of Refugees of Eastern Europe organization – showing thousands of students from the former Soviet Union the warmth and light of Yiddishkeit.
He grew up in the Former Soviet Union, keeping Torah and Mitzvos with great Mesirus Nefesh while hiding from the KGB. Reb Mendel lived by example, showing all the ways of Chasidus, the embodiment of what it means to be a Chosid.
Many of his students have established beautiful frum families, among them proud Lubavitchers and Shluchim of the Rebbe.
Reb Mendel showed tremendous love to all and was dearly loved by all who knew him.
VIDEO: Full Replay
He was the finest, most pure soul.
May his family be comforted and go in his holy ways.
א איד א חסיד, בכל נימי נפשו
Mushky you spoke so nicely, may your father have a lot of nachas from you
And your sister too (I don’t know her name)
He had complete love for every single Jew without expecting anything from them, he was selfless he would give you the literally the shirt off his back there is so much we can learn from him he deeply cared about the gashmius as well as the ruchnius of all he came in contact with, he did not expect any fame or even recognition, he was as humble like Moshe rabenu, and made everyone feel welcome, he brought thousands colder to hashem, he is truly missed, his family and community was blessed to have him among us, we will be missing… Read more »
Bucharian guy spoke amazing