Several Massachusetts dignitaries including Governor Charlie Baker and Boston Mayor Martin Walsh joined members of the Chabad community and hosts of Russian-born seniors to pay last respects to Naakh Vysoky, a beloved activist for the Russian Jewish community in Boston.
Vysoky, who passed away three days before his 99th birthday, was a key leader for Russian Jews in Boston. In 2016, he was formally recognized by the US Congress for his advocacy for the elderly, the sick and immigrants. Former US Congressman Mike Capuano read aloud Vysoky’s Congressional commendation at the January 5th funeral.
Rabbi Dan Rodkin, Chabad shliach and head of Boston’s Shaloh House Jewish Day School/Russian-Jewish Center, explained that “Vysoky” means “tall” in Russian.
“Physically, Naakh Vysoky was not very tall at all,” Rabbi Rodkin said. “But spiritually, he was a giant.”
Rabbi Rodkin, who officiated at the funeral, was a long-time friend and admirer of Vysoky.
“Naakh became a political advocate purely because he loved people,” Rabbi Rodkin said. Vysoky personally helped hundreds of Russian Jewish immigrants in Boston get US citizenship. His wife Klara would teach them English and he would prepare them for the exam and even drive them to take the test.
Vysoky also rallied older Russian Jews to register to vote and to support officials who were sensitive to their needs, Rabbi Rodkin said.
Vysoky’s Yiddishkeit was precious to him. Growing up in the Soviet Union, he had been denied the right to learn or practice. In America, he learned Hebrew in his 70s and became a regular for the shacharis minyan at Shaloh House, even into his 90s.
Vysoky was born in Moldava in 1921. He survived the Holocaust and became a medical doctor in Russia, specializing in radiology. In Russia, he was respected by colleagues for his precise clinical diagnosis, but even more for his courage to fight the Soviet bureaucracy for the best care for each patient, his family said.
After emigrating to America in 1979, Vysoky worked as a physical therapist and was in great demand. His clients included the holy Ribnitzer Rebbe in Monsey NY, who would send a car service to get Vysoky from Boston. Vysoky received many blessings from the Ribnitzer Rebbe. Vysoky used to credit his political advocacy triumphs to those blessings.
Vysoky passed away peacefully Tuesday, December 31st after a long illness. The levaya was attended by dozens of dignitaries, admirers and friends. He is survived by his wife of 67 years Klara Vysoky of Brighton, his daughter Dr. Faina Shtern of Boston, and his grandson Gregory Lyumkis of New York. The family requested that those who want to honor his memory send a donation in his name to the AdMeTech Foundation (www.admetech.org), a leading prostate cancer research and education center.
