R’ BenTzion Novack, a longtime member of the Los Angeles Chabad community and more recently of Las Vegas, passed away on Friday after a short illness.
He was 64.
Known to many by his nickname “Chuck,” R’ BenTzion and his wife Yocheved were from the early Chabad community in Los Angeles, who advocated for achdus throughout the community, “and lived a life of Chesed and goodness which added chayus to the community,” West Coast Head Shliach Rabbi Shlomo Cunin said.
Beginning in the 1980s he regularly published the Los Angeles Anash Directory, made Torah on the Line (via telephone) available throughout Southern California, and beginning immediately after Gimmel Tammuz, established the weekly Anash Bulletin, sent originally as a fax, then email and now published as a blog.
On moving to Las Vegas in 2013, R’ BenTzion continued adding to the community at Chabad of Summerlin, drawing families and community together with annual events such as the King in the Field Picnic, Men’s lag b’Omer Barbeque and Kumzitz, and arranged for sofer visits to the city.
He was most of all a proud husband, father and grandfather.
He is survived by his wife Yocheved and children Rabbi Hershey Novack, Shliach to Washington University, S. Louis; Rabbi Shmuli Novack, Shliach to Southside, Jacksonville, Florida; Mrs. Tzipora Lifchitz, Jerusalem; Mrs. Bryna Webb, Crown Heights; Mendel Novack, Menlo Park, California; Yossi Novack, Crown Heights; Rivky, Los Angeles, Chavi, Crown Heights and Esther, Las Vegas. He is also survived by his brothers James Novack and Steve Novack.
The Levaya took place Sunday in Los Angeles.
Shiva will be at 8252 Dolphin Bay Court, Summerlin, Las Vegas, Nevada.
Memories and condolences may be sent to [email protected]
Baruch Dayan Ha’emes.
Chuck OBM was a part of the makeup of the Yeshiva if Los Angeles shul for all my childhood years. He sat right at the entrance and always had a smile on. He was a kind and benevolent man who will be missed.
May his family be comforted.
Moshiach now
BD”H, Ben Tzion, may he be a meilitz yoshar, saw to it that kashrus in Las Vegas, under the Vaad Hakasrut, is of the highest, most trustworthy quality. He accomplished this in a positive, uplifting manner. He was such a wonderful man & will be missed often ahd bias hagoyel. Moishiach NOW! Ahd Mosai!?
I’m so sorry. Sending love and comfort to an amazing family.
בס”ד We met R’BenZion , Chuckie as we called him, many years ago when he came to Chicago. If memory is right, he was origanily from Chicago. His family moved to LA where he finished growing up. And, indeed, he did grow up. He was physically big. And his heart and head were at least as large as his body. We don’t remember what brought him back to Chicago at this time. He, mostly independently and alone, did many of the mivstoim the Rebbe directed. These were new ventures . We lost track of each other; but many years later,… Read more »
Having moved to las Vegas a few years ago I got to know Reb Bentzion more recently. This was a giant of a man, physically and spiritually. He was a true Baalshemske yid in that not only were Boruch Hashem and BH his response to most everything, he is know here in town as “BH” or “BH, baby!” May his special neshama climb to the highest heights and be a gutte better for all of klal yisroel. BH!
BDE עד מתי??????
Our condolences to Cousin Yocheved and the entire Novack family.
My condolences to his family. Such a special neshama. He will be missed.
From the csillags
BenTzion was for us what Chabad has come to represent for us : kindness .
His smiling face will be missed as he sat by the entrance to the shul , greeting one with uplifting words always , his face resplendent in ….kindness