By COLlive reporter
R’ Yehuda Leib Mochkin, a Lubavitcher chossid who was active in the Crown Heights Jewish community and had a heroic past, has passed away on Shabbos, 9 Av 5779.
He was the son of Reb Peretz Mochkin, the famed chossid from the village of Nevel in Russia who later served as the Mashpia of the Chabad community in Montreal, Canada.
R’ Leibel, as he was known, was one of the fearless leaders who smuggled families of Chassidim out of the Soviet Union after the Second World War in the years 5706-5707 (1945-1947).
It is estimated that the underground network has saved thousands of lives from being persecuted and exiled by the Communists.
Working alongside R’ Leibel were Rabbis Yona Cohen, Chaim Dubrowsky, Nochum Sasonkin, Mendel Futerfas and Mrs. Sara Katzenelenbogen (Raskin), of blessed memory. They were all wanted people by the Russian secret police NKVD.
Using forged Polish passports, the group was able to lead most of the Chabad chassidim out of Russia, allowing for the establishments of Chabad communities in Paris, Kfar Chabad, Jerusalem and Crown Heights.
After immigrating to the United States, he was active in the Crown Heights community. He was a founding board member of Oholei Torah in Crown Heights, and was a hanhala member of the Central Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim Lubavitch – 770 Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights.
He was very involved in being mechazek the community of Crown Heights, including helping with the purchase of buildings on Kingston Avenue.
He is survived by his wife Riva (nee Shimonovitch) and children Levi Mochkin – Melbourne, Australia, Yossel Mochkin – Crown Heights, Shimon Mochkin – Crown Heights, Mendel Mochkin – Crown Heights, Rochel Kaplan – Montreal, Canada, Feigy Fellig – Miami Beach, FL and Lyeneh Cohen – New Jersey.
He is survived by his siblings Rabbi Berel Mochkin – Montreal, Canada, and Mrs. Gutke Shapiro – Crown Heights.
The levaya will take place today, Sunday, leaving shomrei Hadas at 2:30 pm
and passing by 770 at 3:30 pm.
Shiva will take place at 623 Empire Blvd
Shachris: 6:45, 8:30, 9:30
Mincha and Maariv: bizmana
Email for Shiva condolences [email protected]. The family requests to submit any stories and memories.
Baruch Dayan Haemes: Yehuda Leib ben Peretz.
Baruch Dayan Haemes
MOSHIACH NOW!!!
May his many thousands of good deeds follow him to the ultimate peace for all
he was a lion of a man
will be missed
Arke Minkowitz
BDE
Feter Lebeil OBM; The Malochim of the people you pulled out of Russia are waiting to greet you
Fete Leibel; you were the last of Zaide Shlome Shimanovitz’ son- in law. An epoch has ended.
Feter Leibel , you embodied the Rashab’s dictum of L’chatchila Ariber.
You will be missed
YM Toronto A nephew
Also Mrs Hadasa (Garelik) Perman was very involved in the smugeling of the Chasidim out of Russia
For a glimpse of Reb Lebeil’s mesiras nefesh for others see the memoirs of Yocheved Zalmanov, page 54 at this link: http://teshura.com/Drimer-Zalmanov%20-%20Sivan%2026%2C%205771.pdf
A large chunk of Lubavitch owes him and his older brothers a huge debt of gratitude for saving so many families from years behind the iron curtain, and saving many from starvation during the war. Yihei zichro Boruch.
For a glimpse of Reb Leibels mesiras nefesh for others to see the memoirs of Yocheved Zalmanov, at this link, chapter 2, https://risu.org.ua/article_print.php?id=43828&name=kaleido_digest&_lang=en&
Sitting and reminiscing with my Mamme, Feigle Minkowitz, Z’GZ, yesterday Shabbos, about her young life, the difficult times in Russia, Tisha B’Av, the darkest time, in the darkest of places. We then went on to talk particularly about Fetter Leibe what a LEIB he was, at the very young age of 20. How many people he took out of the Meyztorim. How many Maasim Tovim Fetter Leibe did. This was before knowing yet about Fetter Leib’s passing!!! BORUCH DAYAN HOEMES. Fetter Leibe takes along with him Maasim Tovim Beyein Aroch, to the Eternal resting place, Oilom Habo, Gan Eden. Fetter… Read more »
https://www.shomreihadas.com/http-webcast-funeralvue-com-events-viewer-23430-hashf012b3940f0e6e90/