ב"ה
Tuesday, 16 Shevat, 5786
  |  February 3, 2026

Paz Shusterman, 37, OBM

With sadness we inform you of the untimely passing of R' Paz Shusterman of Los Angeles at the age of 37. Full Story

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Friends
June 24, 2011 12:20 pm

Just found out today. Forever missed rest in peace. CT

A Friend
June 7, 2011 8:33 pm

I have known this man for a little over 25 years. From High School, to Tweens, to manhood. I just found out today.My god my dear friend. R.I.P Dear Paz

Paz , i miss u !
May 1, 2011 11:36 pm

Paz i remember u back in mid 90s : a tender berkely sophomore chem major just entering hadar hatorah ,
remember u dancing @ chasunas doing ur capoeira/gymnastics & how fluidly u moved ,
how quickly u graduated h.h. & went on 2 770 & shlichus
last time we met in elul 5769 in l.a. u were a father of a young beatiful family in ur mid 30s yet u were as pure as beatiful , as creative & were bringing 2 the REBE unique nachas. i’ll never forget u or ur pure energy.

bdh
May 1, 2011 8:02 pm

his wife was my teacher she was such a happy person

oh!!!!

Y. Y. B.
May 1, 2011 3:27 pm

There are no words to share the tragic feelings of loss in this terrible untimely death. Paz was a dear friend, a close confidant, and a valued colleague. He will be missed by him talmidim who are in shock; the administration with where he was respected; rabbeim and teachers who truly admired his kindness, intellegence, and hasidism in all he did. May his memory be a true brocha for all who knew him and continue to be an example of kindess to others. PAZ, you were loved, you are still loved, and your positive deeds all proceed you. May your… Read more »

Matching Donations
May 1, 2011 3:04 pm

In case you missed the article on this site – the Rechnitz family is matching all donations to the family made through the shiva period, up to donations of 18,000.00 Please give now, don’t put it off, give during the Shiva period so that your donation will be doubled.

May Hashem comfort Dalia and the beautiful children. Ad Mosai?!?!

kfar chabad
May 1, 2011 1:18 am

he was a shliach when i was a bochur in kfar chabad. i came in middle of the year and he made it a point to come over to me and ask my name, where i was from etc. i had very little to do with him thereafter, but just the fact that he saw a new face and went out of his way to welcome me, said something about his character… may his family be comforted.

just gave $200
April 29, 2011 6:14 pm

just gave $200 of borrowed money. I met paz only a few times but was touched by his simple sincerity and soft smile. Rabbi levitansky of blessed memory would always tell of his grandfather “My grandfather was a traveling salesman in the Jewelry trade. His travels took him to small cities in the mid-west and northern United States. One day in the early 1930’s as he was traveling through a rural town, he saw a fire on a farm. He stopped to look and saw the farmers from all the neighboring farms form a fire brigade. All their efforts unfortunately… Read more »

wow i have no clue who he is but
April 29, 2011 3:57 pm

being that we are jews, Baruch Dayan Haemes.

sooooo sad
April 29, 2011 12:51 pm

baruch dayen haemes

Mushka
April 29, 2011 12:29 pm

It doesn’t feel real to see Pazi’s face on this page. There is a cognitive dissonance I can’t resolve. Although we say, Blessed is the Judge of Truth, I am faced with the untimely, unimaginable truth of his passing. It is hard and painful to reconcile. Everyone that knew him was blessed with a wonderful friend. Always smiling, aways caring, the word “no” was not in his vocabulary. I scrutinize my thoughts as I contemplate Paz’s departing and how it has affected my world. His patience, his insights into Torah, Paz was authentic and inspired in his artistry and words… Read more »

Tova
April 29, 2011 11:01 am

Hachlata for me is to really work on having more Avahas Yisroel for all my family mem bers and then extend outworld to my community of Crown Heights and beyond.I have no words to write about what happened. Just to make a hachlata and to follow it thru.Moshiach Has to come and has to come NOW. i

beautiful
April 29, 2011 4:56 am

I am so inspired by Paz even though I never met him…he sounds like such a pure neshama, that is why Hashem took him back at the highest time, the very last moments of Pesach zman geulah…maybe he was just too kadosh for this world
I will daven maariv right now with extra kavana for an aliyah of his neshama

My teacher that will never be forgoten,such shock
April 29, 2011 1:29 am

He was the nicest guy in the world,he always learned torah every spare minute of his day.
he convinced at time’s our class that maths wasn’t more important than torah and to learn it full time not only half a day.
he’s smile will be missing around yeshiva during the day..
Im in such shock and i have nothing else to say.
may he’s nashama have an aliah…..please moshiach now

If Everyone Could Please Post A Good Deed To Do In Paz's Memory!
April 29, 2011 1:08 am

I take it upon myself to light Shabbat candles, specifically tomorrow- Chof Hey Nissan, ON TIME. —- I did not ever meet Paz, but his wife, Dalia, is such an amazing person. She is so radiant, always smiling, she is a true gem, and has a heart of gold. Dalia, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your children, and I wish you and your entire family much comfort and strength. May Hashem bentch your family in abundance! of GEFEN: Gezunt-you should all be healthy and well, Parnassah-an unlimited amount of sustenance from Hashem, & Nachas- from your beautiful… Read more »

We see how Hashem runs the world
April 29, 2011 1:08 am

the fact that he passed away leaving the chag means that he takes Moshiach with him & the whole inyanim of pesach with him his whole life now is jumping over obstacles. However we still want 2 know 2 what exactly happened y he passed away.

a great guy
April 28, 2011 11:57 pm

I was with him in Kfar chabad .

To 41 from Gedaliah Goodman
April 28, 2011 11:46 pm

We should all know no more tzar. Just remember, what YOU call
shtuss, is HOLY to others, and what YOU call Holy, is SHTUSS to
others. You say you never met Paz, well go out and meet him.
There are Millions of good, wonderful, Yidden out there to befriend. Don’t wait. Go out and meet them.

Shocked
April 28, 2011 11:15 pm

Baruch Daayan Haemes.

#36
April 28, 2011 10:43 pm

Beautiful story. Thanks for sharing.

A.E.M
April 28, 2011 10:32 pm

he use to stay at my fathers house

Rabbi Ephraim Piekarski
April 28, 2011 10:24 pm

When פז (his second name was פייוועל if i’m not mistaken) came to OT Zal (in the 90’s, I believe) he had a minimal background in Yiddishkeit, yet in a short while, he mastered most of the skills necesary to learn and was able to go on his own. He had a brilliant mind coupled with a simple and sincere Emunah in Yiddishkeit and the Rebbe. His face was aglow with his sincerity, dedication and inner peace. Was extremely Eidel and sensitive to the needs of others. It was extremely rare to see all these talents in one Bochur. He… Read more »

Couldn't Find His Posuk
April 28, 2011 10:10 pm

I remember him from Hadar HaTorah. Very special bochur at the time. I remember he told me there wasn’t a posuk he could find in all of Tanach that corresponded to his name Paz (i.e. began with a peh and ended with a zayin). I told him I was sure I could find one, but after much searching I never could find one either.

WE WANT MOSHIACH NOW!!!!
April 28, 2011 9:51 pm

Do one extra thing today to just finally bring moshiach now!
http://Www.Myonemitzvah.com
Yours can be the one to tip the scale!
(Think about that and it will make you do mote- I guarantee…)

#42
April 28, 2011 9:37 pm

Excellent idea!! I really respect that you took action…and didn’t allow his death to just pass by….He will be sorely missed! But we wont allow this to deter us…we will only increase in acts of goodness and kindness in order to bring about the coming of Moshiach when we will all be reunited with out loved ones!!!

to 40
April 28, 2011 9:09 pm

“that means the geulah can come in the blink of an eye'”
correction-will come in the blink of an eye

Hashem , give us the strength!
April 28, 2011 9:05 pm
boruch
April 28, 2011 8:51 pm

thank you you are very wise

WOW
April 28, 2011 8:50 pm

BDE! Ad mosai! After hearing such tragic news- i poured out my heart to Hashem in a tearful maariv and began learning hilchos loshon hora- when i came upon a penetrating possuk i would like to share:
“Death and Life are in the Tounge’s power (Mishlei 18:21)” Perhaps a good Hachlata would be to take much care in shmiras halashon- and learn the power of our speech- expecially when positive! May Paz’s neshama have a great aliyah and may his family and all klal yisrael only know of simchas! Moshiach now!

to 31
April 28, 2011 8:50 pm

ad mosai being yelled is not the problem its all the other shtuss being yelled
and this is a huge tragedy everyone says what a great guy never knew him but wished i did

Baruch Dayaan Emes!
April 28, 2011 8:46 pm

the darkest part of night comes right before dawn: that means the geulah can come in the blink of an eye

don't see what is wrong
April 28, 2011 8:42 pm

in sharing in this tragedy by saying how sad

sensitivity
April 28, 2011 8:06 pm

please exercise sensitivity when commenting. some of these comments i am now reading, i don’t think are necessary or wise. if you have something valuable to say, share it. but must you state the painful obvious, that the shustermans must be reeling in pain? or “omg this is soooooooooooooo sad?” how does that benefit anyone.

think before writing comments.

use your sechel that hashem gave you.

thank you,
gut shabbos

Oy vey !!!!!!!!!!
April 28, 2011 8:05 pm

Oh no that is terribly sad he was a good man

Pure Gold
April 28, 2011 7:53 pm

I am in shock. He is a pure gold. I will tell you just one story. My father worked in a summer camp where Paz was a counselor. On Friday, many campers and counselors approached my father to put on tefillin and he refused. At that time, I myself could never convince him. I came to camp kitchen very close to Shabbos and saw completely surrealistic picture and I was thinking I am dreaming. Paz is putting teffilin on my father, my father is having a big smile. I asked my mother what happened. She said that when Paz approached… Read more »

This story is a gem
Reply to  Pure Gold
August 19, 2021 9:31 pm

So grateful for this story. I gave it over at his levaya. I remind my children of the sweet, earnest and pure Neshama their father was with it.
Thank you so much, it has been an incredible gift throughout the years.
All the brochas for you and your family & כתיבה וחתימה טובה לשנה טובה ומתוקה

He was not related
April 28, 2011 7:41 pm

He was Baal tshuva from berkley I believe, he has spent some shabbosim @ the ohel in 5756 if u were around then u know him, he was a good guy. This is really sad.

To So Sad
April 28, 2011 7:35 pm

I don’t believe he was related to the other Schusterman’s

to # 25
April 28, 2011 7:32 pm

no

student in bchs
April 28, 2011 7:09 pm

his wife was my teacher!!! so sad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How Long
April 28, 2011 6:50 pm

And people get upset when someone cries out “Ad Mosai” in
770 !! They say HE’S crazy!! Why isn’t everyone screaming with
an Emess.

BS''D
April 28, 2011 6:29 pm

Boruch Dayan Hoemes. im so sorry to hear of the loss of such a wonderful chussid. 🙁

so sad
April 28, 2011 6:23 pm

he was under tremendous stress, my heart goes out to the family
what a terrible tragedy

Bde
April 28, 2011 6:01 pm

Unconditional Achdus

bd"h
April 28, 2011 5:48 pm

so sad

So sad
April 28, 2011 5:44 pm

Is he related to gershon shusterman?

Words can not expess the pain
April 28, 2011 5:42 pm

BDH what a horrible news, did something major happen to him lately that maybe caused him stress?

WE NEED TO CRY OUT WITH OUR WHOLE HEART & SOUL, HASHEM WE HAD ENOUGH GOLUS!!!!!!!!
April 28, 2011 5:41 pm

..we need to DEMAND Moshiach RIGHT NOW, DESPERATELY!!!!!!(..no longer we WANT Moshiach Now…that’s putting it too mildly!!! WE NEED AND INSIST AND WON’T SETTLE FOR ANYTHING LESS THAN MOSHIACH IMMEDIATELY, WHEN ‘U’macha Hashem Dim’ma Mei’al Kol Panim and ‘Yivala Hamoves Lanetzavh’!!!!! How can his wife & children, friends & family handle this tzara r.l.????? any of us????? GOLUS IT’S TIME FOR YOU TO GO, GOOD-BYE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ybtm of La, where he taught music to our bachurim and had jam sessions with them…we will sure miss him. May he be the LAST mailitz yosher up there to ‘force’ Hashem to bring us… Read more »

a poem from one of his students
April 28, 2011 5:25 pm

He is a friend to remember, a friend we love so much. The memory runs through my mind of the last time we touched. He lived a life of happiness, a life filled with love. And from one little mistake he looks down on us from up above. He was always ther…e to make you laugh when your day was going wrong. Where was he the day where we had to say “so long?” Why did it hafta end this way in so much pain? Since he left this world, things have never been the same. I can no longer… Read more »

student of his...
April 28, 2011 5:24 pm

he was my math teacher for 2 years, the best teacher by far ive ever had, he will truely be missed

A friend a chassid a yid
April 28, 2011 5:21 pm

Paz is one of the greatest chassidim and humn beings to enter this world. I’m grateful for the tine we spent together. Learning torah and just talking in general. Number one dude! Theres not a bad thing you can say about this stand up individual. His neshama his face his heart! the one above blessed us with him and took him. Just like that! Please do what you can to help Dalia and their awesome children

bda
April 28, 2011 5:15 pm

he was the best teacher we will all miss him

insane!!!
April 28, 2011 4:31 pm

what can we do??? bring moshiach now!!!

aibershter!
April 28, 2011 4:27 pm

ad mosia! boruch dayan emes. no words.

Boruch Dayan hoEmes
April 28, 2011 4:24 pm

He had a Heart Attack rochmono litzlon.

May he rest in peace.
Ad mosai?!

oh my god - he was the Pintele Yid.
April 28, 2011 4:21 pm

I can’t believe my ears!! This Shusterman Family must be reeling in pain.

Friend
April 28, 2011 4:12 pm

Paz was the kindest person. He was unique, creative, learned, and always had a smile. He was a great musician and dedicated all that he did for Yiddishkeit and the Rebbe. He was a true Chossid. He will be missed dearly, yet he will always be remembered.

Paz - I miss you
April 28, 2011 4:12 pm

I miss you already. You were my rock when I was in trouble, and now you are gone ?!?!? BDE

BDE
April 28, 2011 4:02 pm

The one thing anyone who knew him will say he always had a smile and a good word for everybody. He was a good man. May his wife and children have Nechoma.

to #11 and 3
April 28, 2011 4:00 pm

he wasnt sick. it was veryy sudden. ( dont know if its true but i heard he had a heart attack)

what happened
April 28, 2011 3:52 pm

was he nebach sick

will be missed
April 28, 2011 3:40 pm

we will miss him, this is unbelievable, we need to help his wife and children

BDE!!
April 28, 2011 3:38 pm

He was a special person, a teacher of mine.. i cant belive it!!

So sad
April 28, 2011 3:35 pm

He was a contestant for this past season jewish star , he had a band called alma d’iscasya

He was
April 28, 2011 3:31 pm

He was a special chosid.

Bentzy

Terrible news
April 28, 2011 3:30 pm

i can’t believe this news. BD”H

omg!!!!!!!!!!
April 28, 2011 3:28 pm

THIS IS SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO SAD!!!!!!!!

student at yoec
April 28, 2011 3:18 pm

this is not normal!!!!!!!!!!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?! we need moshiach :”””””””””(((((((((

bdh
April 28, 2011 3:16 pm

how did it happen?

tears
April 28, 2011 3:16 pm

my teacher:-(

what???
April 28, 2011 3:11 pm

what???

I will always remember Paz Lester Shusterman
January 9, 2025 6:03 am

We went out on a date in high school. I was from a completely different background. He was so sweet and kind. He brought me to meet his parents in Berkeley. He gifted me with a book called Wild Seed by Octavia Butler. It took me years to read that book. By the time I did, we were no longer in touch. But it became one of my favorites. Like Octavia, Paz was a visionary. The world was better with him here and I am sure he is a guiding light in the spiritual realm. I pray his family has… Read more »

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