By COLlive reporter
R’ Yosef Wassner, a New York resident who had close ties to central Chabad institutions in Crown Heights, has passed away Tuesday, 24 Elul 5772.
Wassner was a long-time supporter of United Lubavitcher Yeshiva – Tomchei Tmimim Lubavitch, the institutions directed by the Rashag, Rabbi Shemaryahu Gurary OBM. He was often the chairman of the yeshiva’s dinners.
A resident of the upscale Belle Harbor neighborhood in Queens, he was founding president of Congregation Beis Yehudah in Rockaway Park, led by Rabbi Levi Osdoba.
Wassner took great pride in his involvement with the Rebbe’s Mivtza Neshek, the campaign to encourage Jewish women and girls to light Shabbos candles on Friday night.
The drive is headed by Mrs. Esther Sternberg, daughter of Rabbi Shneur Zalman Gurary OBM, a regular at the Rebbe’s household.
He is survived by his wife Florence Wassner and their children Judah Wassner, Debbie Eisikowitz, Leba Schwebel, Mariam Schwebel and Adina Shippel.
The funeral will take place today, Tuesday, September 11, 2012 at 12:00 noon at Shomrei Hadas Chapels, 3803 14th Avenue (between 38th & 39th Street) Boro Park, Brooklyn NY.
The family will be sitting shiva at 451 West End Avenue 4D (between 81st and 82nd St) New York, NY 10024 (concluding Sunday afternoon September 16).
Baruch dayan haemes.
Photos courtesy of the archives of Sholom Ber Goldstein
he used to say he was a belze chosid
B:Boyan
L: lubavitch
z: Satmar = belz
I had the zchus of him inviting me over to his home in Belle Harber before I moved out on shlichus, he spent a long time telling me interesting stories of the Rashag and the early successes of Chabad in America, he made me call my grandfather Reb Mendel Marozov and on the phone they reminded each other details of the past!
although he was retired and has been involved in many moisdois he made a point to be updated about my shlichus and send in periodically small donations!
May his holy neshoma have an Aliya
only one who gave also for satmer
I remember years ago how Joseph Wassner;s daughter-in-law proudly revealed that her father-in-law was majorly instrumental in bringing about the very first Chanukah
Satellite Hook-Up. She stated that, one time at a private yechidus with her family, the Rebbe personally thanked Joseph Wassner for making that first successful Hook-up possible. We, his Crown Heights relatives, always considered him a secret Lubavitcher!
BD’E
Chaval Al Deavdin Velo Mishtakshin. Reb Yosef Wassner, OBM, supported our efforts while we were still in the Soviet Union. He helped us build our underground Yeshiva, underground Mikveh, and so on. After we arrived in Israel – as per the suggestion of the Lubavitcher Rebbe – Reb Yosef Wassner and his brother, David, were the ones who purchased the land to build our Chamah Community Center in Kiryat Malachi. For decades, Reb Yosef and the entire Wassner family supported our educational programs in Israel, and many programs of Chamah were conducted because of Reb Wassner’s generosity and commitment. He… Read more »
it is because these wonderful Yidden are no longer there, or are no longer being asked to be the Zvuluns. I went to ULY, and i know that my parents would never have been able to pay what is now being asked. I now learn who it was that paid for my chinuch. It was this wonderful yid, and others like him. We never met, but I am grateful for his generosity. Thank you.
BD’E
Baruch Dayan HoEmes. He built the Mikveh in Lubavitcher Yeshiva Ocean Parkway. Used for many years by the entire Flatbush/Midwood communities thru the Shul in the Yeshiva and by the Yeshiva Bachurim.
He was a great and humble man.