By COLlive reporter
The brothers Aaron Leib Raskin, Yossi Raskin, Shloime Raskin and other family members had their hands full on Thursday, carrying booklets and bags and handing them out to residents of Crown Heights.
The occasion? the first yartzeit of their father, R’ Berel Raskin, the iconic owner of Raskin’s Fish store on 20 Iyar.
At the porch minyanim being held due to Covid-19, his children recited Kaddish in his memory and then distributed Chayenu weekly study booklets and gift bags with a flask of Smirnoff, a pastry and even house herring.
With isolation restrictions in place and social distancing required, it was the only way they could have people say l’chaim in memory of their father, as customary on a yartzeit.
Their store on Kingston Avenue has a table set out with the “yartzeit package” in memory of Sholom Dovber ben Aharon Leib.
R’ Berel opened Raskin’s Fish with the Rebbe’s encouragement and rented the storefront on Kingston in 1961. His most famous item is his rolled gefilte fish, sold all around the world, the package bearing his smiling face.
He was a community icon, standing behind the counter and serving his customers for over 50 years. The Rebbe and Rebbetzin were loyal customers, receiving a fish order to their home from the store every week.
So kind and thoughtful of the family to give to others in the memory of their dear father.
Very fond memories of this beautiful and warm Soul. Always with a smile and eager to share his knowledge of fish and recipes. Patient and warm.
Sweet because I like the thoughtful gesture and way to try and connect people and his memory and the family – things we took for granted a couple months ago when throwing a kiddush or farbrengen or party. So it’s a creatively warming thing.
Bitter, because the man is gone and we have a COVID world now – things that created this sweet move.