To my dear brother, Shimon,
I have never cried so hard into my pillow. It was 5:17 am on Tisha B’Av morning. I had been checking my WhatsApp throughout the night for updates on your progress hoping and praying for a miracle. But alas the voice note came in with the dreaded words no one ever wants to hear… Baruch Dayan H’emes…
To my dear nephews and niece, Mendel, Chaya Mushka, Chaim, Levi, Nosson, and Yehuda I want you to know how much your father Shimon was loved and admired. As my older brother and role model, he taught me so much. Not by telling me what to do but just by example. Each year he would help me find a place to stay by the Rebbe for Tishrei assisting me in the opportunity for these precious life-changing experiences. On sukkos, after dancing all night at the Simchas Bais Hashoaiva we would go straight to the 770 Sukkah. There we would stay up the rest of the night holding our place in line so that we could be one of the first to shake the Rebbes lulav in the morning. Back at home he would wake me up every time there was a surprise sicha. He would call Bais Lubavitch and let the phone ring for hours till Mr. Hackner would pick up letting him know the rebbe was on the way back from the ohel and update him on the possibility of there being a sicha after Maariv.
For Shimon the Rebbe was a natural part of his life and thinking. I would watch from the side as he and his friends would talk with Rabbi Kesselman about the rebbe, Chabad and general schmoozing. I was envious yet proud and couldn’t wait till I was old enough to join and understand such conversations. I distinctly remember when I was in Kitah Alph of Mechina but not yet old enough to go to the Rebbe for Tishrai. Shimon and his friends would plan their trip together. The Seder was they would daven Shacharis together at Mechina and then leave to the airport. But not without lively singing and dancing on Stamford Hill Road as all the heimishe yidden as well as us younger Mechina students would look on. The lively song was always Tyere brider, tyere brider Mir vellen zich vayter zehen…. (dear brothers, dear brothers, we will see you again soon…) Shimon was not the loudest but he was certainly locked in to that uplifting spirit anticipating his imminent journey to the Rebbe. They would then jump into the big 15 passenger van and off to the airport they went.
Even before the Mechina days, Shimon would get up early to go to the 7 am minyan in Bais Lubavitch. Following in my older brother’s footsteps I did the same. I didn’t know that sleeping in was an option. (Something my younger brothers figured out :))
He once told me “Sleep is the biggest Ganev (thief),” it takes away half your life…
I was sometimes privileged to go on mivtzoim with him. On Friday afternoons he would deliver L’Chaims or “Thought for the Week” to lonely and forgotten Jews living in the maisonettes on Stamford Hill and the top of Holmleigh road. He taught me how to do mivtzoim not just by getting into conversations about yiddishkeit but with a warm smile and persistence, gently offering people to put on Tefilin even if they declined dozens of times before.
As we all know Shimon was born with a hole in his heart. With the Rebbe’s brochos my parents explored all the medical solutions possible but it feels like Shimon’s response was to fill that hole with a special connection to the rebbe dedicating himself to all the Rebbes inyonim.
Shimon was smart but not complicated. He knew how to learn but there was never an ounce of showing off. I have so many memories of seeing him doing maavir sedra or learning Rambam with a small green pocket size Rambam that he got for his Bar Mitzvah. He was a soldier. He was the rebbes soldier.
Shimon had a vivacious side to him as well I remember him riding on his bike up and down Holmleigh road at speeds that made me scared watching him.
Through all this he was very much aware of his medical condition but always carried himself with calmness and happiness that came from trust in Hashem and the Rebbes brochos.
Shimon’s passing leaves a big void in our hearts but hopefully just like him we can fill that void in the same manner, keeping a simchas hachayim by staying calm and happy and remain focused on what we are here to do.
Shimon never showed outside concern for his medical condition he knew he was in Hashems hands and that all will be good and good it was. When he got engaged to your mother our joy knew no bounds with Emunah and bitachon she married Shimon and raised such a beautiful family!
I can not tell you how much pride and joy fills my heart each time I look at each of you – his dear children – you all resemble him in one way or another – if I remember correctly Shimon had a dimple too but what moves me most is to see a healthy version of Shimon in each of you!
Shimon was so proud of each and every one of you and certainly continues to get nachas as he is advocating for you from upon high. Thank you for making my brother such a proud father and thank you Emanuel for partnering with him and building such a beautiful family together.
Shimon being the oldest but the shortest in the family and Nosson being the youngest but tallest I would often joke that “Shimon is my little big brother and Nosson is my big little brother”
As I reflect on it now I realize how big he really was he took on the challenge of life and lived it joyously and devotedly each day.
For reasons we can not understand this general was called to a different battlefront, certainly he is doing what he can to end this bitter golus. I’m sure he is up there in Gan Eden with our dear Rebbe “In a place that is kulo oirah and kulo Simchas Torah”.
Shimon we are so lucky to have had you with us for 47 miraculous years. You will always be our big brother! but in the meantime we will miss you very much until we are reunited again with coming of Moshiach.
טייערע ברודער טייערע ברודער מיר וועלען זיך ווייטער זעהן!!! בגאולה האמיתית והשלימה תיכף ומיד ממש!!!
המקום ינחם אותנו בתוך שאר אבילי ציון וירושלים.
אחיך האוהב אותך מעמק הלב
גדלי׳
P.S. Due to Shimon’s existing condition he was unable to get life insurence. If you are able to donate to support his family it would be greatly appreciated!!
https://www.charidy.com/spotash
Thank you Gedalia for your heartwarming and touching words. May your entire family have comfort and know only revealed good in your lives.
Someone anonymous.
I remember you in Mechina & then Kingsley way & then moved on.
I didn’t know your older brother Shimon that well as he was older then me. But the way you described Shimon it brings me back memories, & you I don’t think you ever missed a Seder. I believe it comes from your older brother Shimon. Only Simchas & Moshiach now.
Baruch Dayan Emes
I didn’t know shimon, but we are one family, one community – even though he lived in England. I donated, you should too! And may this be the last campaign ever needed!
I remember your brother and thinking at the time that he might be a beineni
This is a terrible matzav for the family. We need Moshiach now so that his family can be reunited with him even before Shabbos!