R’ Mendel Drizin, 83, OBM

By COLlive reporter

R’ Mendel Drizin, a prominent businessman and Baal Tzedaka from Crown Heights, passed away on Monday, 19 Nissan, 5780.

He was 83 and contracted coronavirus.

Born in Tarasovka in the Moscow Oblast in 1936, he was the son of the chossid R’ Rabbi Avrohom Mayor (Drizin) and the grandson of R’ Shneur Zalman Moishe HaYitzchoki, the known Mashpia, shochet and chossid of the Rebbe Rashab and the Rebbe Rayatz.

“My father loved Chassidim, Lubavitch, 770 and the Rebbe. He was a yid who was happy with his lot. He approached everything with a positive eye. To him, the entire world was joyous and lively,” he said in an interview with Dovid Zaklikowski of HasidicArchives.com.

As a child, Drizin learned in the Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim in Lod, Israel. He was an outstanding bochur and was deeply influenced by the Mashpia R’ Shlomo Chaim Kesselman. He was very active in the yeshivah outreach projects known as Hafatazah, and founded Iggud Talmidei Hayeshivos in Eretz Yisroel.

In 1957, he moved to New York and married Channy Preminger. The Rebbe instructed the Drizins to move to Crown Heights; since then, he has invested a tremendous amount into the neighborhood with his real estate company. “I was living in East Flatbush. There were many difficulties in Crown Heights at the time, but the Rebbe told me to live here. I received a blessing, and I love this neighborhood,” he told Zaklikowski.

Once, at a Yechidus with the Rebbe, Mrs. Drizin asked that they make a more than comfortable living, to which the Rebbe replied: “Give people also their taavos (desires) and you will also receive your desires. Mendel Drizin explained that the Rebbe meant that tzedaka should be providing to people more than the minimum they need.

One of his own desires was learning Chumash and Rashi. He was seen doing so at his daily davening at the main shul of 770 Eastern Parkway and elsewhere. “I love it,” he once said. “I think that if I anyways have an obligation (to learn it), I want to learn it in depth and before davening.”

The crown jewel of his building projects and properties was Crown Condos at 580 Crown Street, the largest building complex in the neighborhood. “Priests wanted to buy this property which was previous a hospital,” he said. “In the beginning, we have many problems since there were many debts on the property.”

Drizin said that his motivation to grow his business is fueled by his desire to share with those who may have less than him. The Drizins supported many establishments across the globe, but Crown Heights institutions were the closest to their heart, among them Oholei Torah and Mikvah Mei Chaya Mushka.

Those living here, he says, may not always have a positive perspective; however, if you ask someone from elsewhere, they may offer a very different view.

“The community is living in peace and there are many wonderful mosdos here,” he said. “My grandchildren are coming from all over to live in Crown Heights because the schools are wonderful. My granddaughter tells me that the girls in her Beis Rivkah class are the friendliest and smartest, and that her teachers are wonderful.”

Drizin observed that many choose to donate to the writing of a Sefer Torah, but won’t give toward a Yeshiva. “While a Sefer Torah is very important, we need to care for our children. Every person who is able should first pay tuition and give to the mosdos, before going on vacations. The primary objective is to support learning and davening, and the remaining money can be used for other matters.”

Asked once for business advice, he commented, “People need to pray to Hashem and learn. This sums up any advice that I can offer.”

He is survived by his wife, Channy and children R’ Motty Drizin – Crown Heights, R’ Chaim Drizin – Crown Heights, Mrs. Dena Cohen – Toronto, and R’ Dovid Drizin – Los Angeles, California; grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He is also survived by his siblings, R’ Sholom Ber Drizin, Mrs. Freeda Kugel, Mrs. Leah Rubin and Rabbi Chaim Itche Drizin.

He was predeceased by his sisters Mrs. Yehudis Levin, Mrs. Chana Morosow, Mrs. Doba Kaminezki, Mrs. Rochel Pinson and brother Yisroel Drizin.

Baruch Dayan Ha’emes.