R’ Baruch Kievman, 77, OBM

R’ Baruch Kievman, a devoted Chossid and longtime Crown Heights resident who owned a shoe store on Kingston Avenue for many years, passed away on Monday, 26 Shvat, 5781.

He was 77.

R’ Baruch was born in Samarkand, the youngest of 3 children of R’ Avraham and Sarah Kievman.

His family fled from Russia during World War 2, together with his grandparents, the famous Chosid R’ Dovid Kievman known as R’ Dovid Horodoker, and his wife Batsheva Raizel.

His grandmother, Rebbetzin Batsheva Raizel, was murdered by the Russians during the journey. Two months later, R’ Baruch was born, and his grandfather requested they name him after her, so they chose Baruch – with the letters Beis Reish – after her. 7 weeks later, R’ Dovid Horodoker passed away as well.

The family then traveled to Poking, where they were in a DP camp, and later they escaped on the famous “exodus boat” to Israel. When the boat arrived in Israel, the British did not allow them in, and they were sent off to Cyprus.

R’ Baruch told how as a young and feisty child on the boat to Cyprus, he was offered a sweet from a British officer, which he refused, knocking the candy from his hand.

The family finally immigrated to Israel and settled in Tel Aviv-Yaffo, where there was a large community of Chabad Chassidim. He studied in the Chabad Yeshiva in Lod, and when he was 14, his father passed away. At the age of 18, he made his way to New York to learn in the 770 Yeshiva in Crown Heights by the Rebbe.

After his engagement to Chana, the Rebbe wished him Mazel Tov during a Yechidus. The couple merited to be the only ones to have the Kabolas Ponim of their wedding in 770, which the Rebbe attended.

The Rebbe sent the newlywed couple on Shlichus to London, England, where he was a teacher for 2 years. They then moved to Crown Heights, where he taught in Yeshivas in Crown Heights and another location in Brooklyn.

In more recent years, he and his wife owned a shoe store on Kingston Avenue in Crown Heights. He is remembered by all for his constant learning and never wasting a moment while he was in the shop, whether it was a Maamer, Shulchan Aruch or Likkutei Torah.

He was a devoted Chossid, with a tremendous love of the Rebbe, constantly involved in the Rebbe’s inyonim. He organized a longtime Chassidus Shiur in his home every Shabbos, which was given for a while by Rabbi Yoel Kahn, and was involved in Mivtzah Mezuzah and taught Tanya for some time as well.

He was one of a group of Chasidim, along with Rabbi Nochum Pinson, Rabbi Shmuel Butman, Rabbi Mottel Kalmanson and Rabbi Dovid Rappoport, who purchased the first Mitzvah Tank for the Rebbe, and presented the key to the Rebbe during the Farbrengen of Yud Shvat in 1976. The Rebbe said that the Mitzvah Tank should be sent off to Israel, along with the Shluchim which were going then, and the Rebbe came out to see the tank off.

The same group purchased a car for the Rebbe a year later, working together with Merkos and the Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka, who was involved in choosing the color.

R’ Baruch was known as a joyous Chossid, who enjoyed farbrengeing, often in the upstairs Shul in 770, sharing a l’chaim with others and encouraging all to rejoice as a Chossid.

He is survived by his wife, Chana and children, Avremi Kievman – Liverpool, UK, Dovid Kievman – Crown Heights, Shea Kievman – Crown Heights and Nava Raskin – Pembroke Pines, FL.

He is also survived by his brother Sholom Ber Kievman of Crown Heights.

The levaya will take place today, Monday, passing by 770 at 2:30 pm.

Shiva will be at 1387 Carroll St
Shacharis 9:00am
Mincha 3:15pm, 5:10pm
Maariv 5:52pm

Baruch Dayan Ha’emes: Baruch ben Avraham.

VIDEO: R’ Baruch sings a Niggun he often heard from R’ Shloime Chaim Kesselman