By COLlive reporter
R’ Berel Raskin, Crown Heights fishmonger whose small shop on Kingston Avenue became a world-renowned commercial enterprise, passed away on Shabbos, 20 Iyar, 5779.
He was 85.
R’ Berel, one of four brothers, was born in Leningrad to his parents, the Chosid Reb Aaron Leib Laine HY”D and Doba Raiza Raskin OBM, who had much mesiras nefesh for Yiddishkeit in Communist Russia.
Reb Aaron Leib was arrested many times, especially on Shabbos, because he was stringent not to carry on Shabbos and was unable to furnish his identity cards when asked. “It was almost like a ritual,” Berel once told Mishpacha Magazine. “After Havdalah, my mother would go to the police station and bring my father his papers, so he could be released.”
The family eventually moved from Leningrad to Gorky, where the family suffered greatly, and his father passed away at the young age of 36.
It was left to R’ Berel’s mother, Doba Raiza, to somehow sustain herself and her four children, and she was determined to escape Russia with her family.
The family initially traveled to Poland, then Austria, and finally Paris. From there, Mrs. Raskin wrote to the Frierdiker Rebbe, asking whether they should seek entry to Israel or to America. The Rebbe advised them to travel to America, and in 1953 they arrived in New York.
When R’ Berel looked to start a business, he soon decided on opening a fish store, with the Rebbe’s encouragement. In 1961 he rented the store on Kingston Avenue, where the business is run from until today.
The Rebbe and Rebbetzin were loyal customers, receiving a fish order to their home from the store every week.
R’ Berel became a community icon, standing behind the counter and serving his customers for over 50 years.
His most famous item is his rolled gefilte fish, sold all around the world, the package bearing his smiling face.
He is survived by his wife Esther (nee Lipsker), and children Aaron Leib Raskin (Crown St.) – Crown Heights, Yossi Raskin – Crown Heights, Shloime Raskin – Crown Heights, Brocha Richler – Los Angeles, CA, Bassie Komar – Crown Heights, Chanie Greene – Rochester, MN, Doba Rimler – Crown Heights and Shaina Moss – Israel, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He is also survived by his brothers Michel Raskin, Dovid Laine, and Benzion Raskin, all of Crown Heights.
The Levaya will take place tomorrow, Sunday, leaving Shomrei Hadas in Boro Park at 12:30 pm and passing by 770 at 1:30 pm.
The family will be sitting Shiva at 395 Crown Street. The family requests to refrain from coming between 1:00 and 3:00 PM.
3 minyanim are needed. Shacharis times 7:00 AM, 7:45 AM and 8:30 AM. Mincha bizmano followed by Maariv.
R’ Michel Raskin is sitting Shiva at Boro Park Rehab Center 4915 10th Avenue, Brooklyn 11219
Please send your pictures and memories to [email protected]
Baruch Dayan Haemes.
BDE – Such a terrible loss ! Only HaShem knows of his many secret acts of chesed
A Man Of Chesed .
What a loss to the CH community! As a young wife, he would share tips and recipes and help me choose something perfect to make for my husband. When I brought my children in, it was a special experience, seeing the fish and getting a lollipop and special attention. I am so sorry for the loss of this iconic community figure.
A fine Chosid
BDE
MAy Hashem grant the family comfort and strength
He will be missed!!!!!
He was always so nice when we came in … as kids it was so exciting to shop for shabbos and see the many types of fish … in addition he would always give us special attention … may HaShem comfort his entire family
I know Brocha Richler personally. To raise such a special person as Brocha shows what special Parents, Mr. Raskin a”h, and Mrs. Raskin yb”lc are.
Brocha, so sorry for your loss.
My kids will miss him, he always treated them with candies. Was a kind man and real tzadik…..
We love this man so much
No words
Boruch Dayan Haemes,
What a sad loss. A true Mentch, Chosid, baal chesed and devoted husband and father.
To have raised such a beautiful and refined family, the most special family of all of crown heights, is a testament to Reb Rebel and to his wife YBL”T.
To Yossi and to the entire Raskin
Mishpacha.
Hamakom Yenachem Eschem besoch
shaarai availay Tziyon veyerushalayim.
Reb Berel is a man who encompassed a very noble character that was the core challenge for Chassidim of his generation. At each turn of enormous hardship he chose to remain true to a higher order, to Chassidus and Hiskashrus. What is so exceptional about him is that he did this at a time when Jews were trying just to survive and most people (let alone a young יתום, a young capable fellow) did whatever it took to stay afloat. Each day day brought new hardships and each day he’d choose the path of Chassidus and hiskashrus in the face… Read more »
Well said.He will be missed
A loving, caring person, all-encompassing, a paragon of Hachnosas orchim. He will be missed. May he be a meilitz yosher for all of K’lal Yisrael and may his family be comforted.
Dear Raskin family, so sorry to hear 😓 about your loss…what an incredibly special kindearted ❤ & warm individual he was…truly an exceptional person!… I have many fond memories of him, he always had a warm word for or me ,a smile, ‘a twinkle in his eye’…& as the saying goes; “they simply don’t make ’em like that anymore!”, he was really “one of a kind!” a true mentch! 🐟 🐳 🐡 🐠🐋 🐟.I am glad to have known him.😏 May he be a מליץ ישר for us all! המקום ינחם אתכם בתוך שאר אבלי ציון וירושלים. -Devorah Lipsh (Schoenberg)… Read more »
BDE A legend A great.man MHM Now👍👍👍
very upset to hear this. I often went reluctantly into his store, simply because I did NOT like fish. the smell made me crazy and nauseous.. he would say for you Mrs. Schoenberg, we have something special, it is fish but doesn’t smell like it, I promise, etc. I would go into that store, a real mesirash nefesh, because my husband wanted the best fresh fish, sushi, etc. but I did it, and Reb Raskin gave me a figurative pat on the back, calling me a good wife, to do such a thing. Don’t know all his children, but I… Read more »
A truly nice person . He was a pleasure to take care of. He always had a smaile on his face.
We will miss him dearly.
To my dear friend and the entire family. Your home was a part of my childhood and the fish store was a part of my married life for over 35 years. There are a few things you can count on in life and one was Berke’s smile and friendly greeting. He always took the time to inquire about your family. Always had something nice to say. I never walked out without feeling cheerful. He was very special and will be missed. That kind of caring and service is rear. So sorry for your great loss. BDE Love always, A childhood… Read more »
BS”D A Heart of Gold. Loved the recent event where the Yeshiva boys played with a fish deliverey in front of the store. A Baal Tzedaka if he he thought one could not pay
Reb Berel was a gentle giant physically and figuratively. An open home and hand for all. The apple doesn’t fall far from its tree. Bassie and Zalman komar and entire Raskin families no doubt you will fill the giant footsteps of your patriarch זכרונו לברכה.
I know him since around 1967. What a loving caring tzadik. A chasid of another generation. He really cared, not faked caring for others
Boruch Dayan haemes to the entire Raskin and Laine families. Berel was a very special warm mensch as I always entered his store he greeted me with warmth and happy to serve our needs. He made sure the carp sliced thin and with its fish eggs and white fish filleted
We will miss him – always extra candy treats for my daughter when we picked up our Thursday dinner.
As I cheerfully came into see him he was ready to Giveme my thinly sliced carp and fish eggs and whitefish fillet he will defintely bring the moshiach now with all his kindness done for our community we will miss his smiles & kind words to us a lot
He wanted to know what you needed. Very nice. True loss for our Community.
Wow a true Tzaddik
I remember always seeing his smiling face on fish packages and trucks. A yid who accomplished his mission and now he is basking in the lights of gan eden. BDE
He always wore a smile & that twinkle in his eyes! Bassie & family so sorry for your loss.
fondly,
Rivky [Novitsky] Wilks
Our beloved Mechutin Berel Raskin obm once told me that he remembered starvation as a child when his young father passed away from hunger, before his mother fled Russia with her 4 sons. Notice how Berel and his brothers went into “the food business” in one way or another! Never letting people go away from home or business hungry!
Berel Rashin obm was the prime example of the Rebbe’s true chasid! Awareness of his simple system is so beautiful: After deciding with his wife on the business they wanted to do, they consulted with the Rebbe, Upon receiving the Rebbe’s advice and bracha, they folowed it exactly, and asked the Rebbe AND the Rebbitzen for more when needed. All the while Berel Raskin was sincerely practicing the Torah’s laws regarding business matters and about how to treat and talk to people. (Besides, anyways, Torah just harmonized with his natural good nature and caring about everyone!) That is why people… Read more »
Reb Berel would give brochos, advice and sometimes recipes too! Most gratifying of all was the knowledge that the Rebbe was so so proud of him, that he gave the Rebbe true nachas,( and also that the Rebbe and the Rebbitzin really enjoyed the fish he always carefully prepared and selected for them!
Also, our Mechutin once admitted,” Every year I ask the Rebbe for a bracha that our children should have good teachers!” That is a lesson we can all put into practice too , and when we do we will remember Berel Raskin obm. When anyone recalls sayings, jokes, encounters, stories with or about our Berel Raskin obm, please write them down and share them with his family for some type of memorable project that can be shared with generations!
Dear Mr. Raskin, Just found out you were gone with no words of warning, so no goodbyes could be made by your fans! You? Youthful,ageless,humorous? I certainly counted on you to always be there in your store & greet me with your warmth & kindness as if I was a local ‘Choshuve’ or a serious customer when all I am is a semi outsider, tending to come late, often as you were closing, with really small purchases to make; still you were never haughty or impatient,& always tried to accommodate me as if my shopping made a whole lot of… Read more »
We miss you and love you…