By COLlive reporter
R’ Mordechai Leib Chein, a Mashpia and communal activist who took an active role in shaping the Crown Heights neighborhood in Brooklyn, passed away on Tuesday night, 7 Nissan 5780.
He was 81 and was infected with coronavirus.
Born in the Soviet Union to the Mashpia R’ Dovber Chein, he was a student at the Tomchei Temimim yeshiva in Lod, Israel.
R’ Mottel, as he was called, founded the Empire Press with his friend R’ Hirshel Gansburg and merited to print the Likutei Sichos of the Rebbe as part of Vaad L’hafotzas Sichos and other seforim of the Chabad Rabbeim.
He was from the active chassidim involved in Lubavitch Youth Organization (“Tzach”) in New York which coordinates Mivtzoim outreach activities with regular visits and programs.
As a chassidishe figure in the community, he would impart with words of chizuk and memories from Chassidim in past generations. He also served as a gabbai in the main shul of 770 Eastern Parkway.
He is survived by his wife, Brocha and children R’ Yossi Chein – Crown Heights; Mrs. Raizel Shemtov – Toledo, Ohio; R’ Pinny Chein – Argentina; Mrs. Chana Eidelman – Vienna, Austria; R’ Mendel Chein – Crown Heights; R’ Peretz Chein – Cheadle, England; R’ Moshe Chein – Toulouse, France; R’ Shloime Chein – S. Cruz, California; R’ Zalman Chein – Binghamton, NY; grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Adhering to health guidelines, the levaya will take place Wednesday, passing by 770 Eastern Parkway at 12:00 pm, and then 727 Empire Blvd, continuing to pass by Lefferts Shul and Reines Shul on the way to Old Montefiore Cemetary in Queens.
To share memories and stories of R’ Mottel, email [email protected]
Baruch Dayan Ha’emes: Mordechai Leib ben Chaim Dovber
Truly a special man😓
I cant take this anymore. We need moshiach now!!!
What a special man.
Watching the love and warmth he had for each person he met brought tears to my eyes.
May the family be comforted.
Freeda Friedman of Tzfat
He is also survived by his older brother Meir simcha in Kfar Chabad
Reb Mottel is a tzaddik who lived with great emunah and connection to our Rebbe. Every day R’ Mottel would begin his day giving a shiur at 6:30am on the Rebbe’s Maamor. Reb Mottel Never missed a shiur at the kolel tiferes zekainim, he was a regular at the siyum harambam in 770. For many years R’ Mottel would host a Thursday Night lekutie sichos shiur in Lefferts Shull, he was bokie in Torah and the Rebbe’s Torah, b’prat. R’ Mottel believed in the Rebbe’s promise that Moshiach is coming Now. His emunah never waivered, he is a true inspiration.… Read more »
A soldier in the Rebbe Army. Totally botel to our Rebbe. Without any kunsim.
Once in the winter of 5778 /2018 when the world was shaking with regards to potential nuclear war with North Korea. We learned the Beauras Hageula, where the Rebbe discusses the signing of the nuclear treaty with Russia, as sign for the coming of Moshiach. We asked R’ Mottel what do you say about today, as we are closer to nuclear war than ever before? R’ Mottel replied nothing changed of the Rebbe said it – the sicha is true. He was right. Later the news reported that six months earlier there was already secret talks between Washington and North… Read more »
This world just got a little bit darker. We lost a huge light today, BD”E
we lost a wonderful living example of what we need to be .will miss you Mottel, your friend Eli Rosen
AD MOSAI AD MOSAI !!! He was a very special man Rab Mottel
I ll remember you forever
Chaim Mordechai Jalusi (Argentina)
May Hashem bring comfort and strength to the family and may we be zoche to see R’ Mottel in a gif gashmi with Moshiach NOW
He was an active, real, uncompromising chossid in today’s day and age, with a look, gehfeel, chassidishkeit, and actions of amohl
Ad mosai?????????????
May Hashem send Moshiach NOW!!!
Hamakom yenachem etchem betoch shaar avlay tziyon veerushalayim.
Motel was not only an amazing human being but a Chosid not of this world. His spirituality was a major influence on me and my entire family. An amazing friend neighbor and jew. I will miss him so. Isser Goldstein
Just thinking about how special it was seeing reb mottel every morning in 770
This is so sad like a long nightmare
עד מתי
I remember as a child Reb Mottel would come very early in the morning every morning to learn with my father He would be honored to come through our front door entrance which was reserved for very special guests only!
It was a warm cozy feeling to wake up to hearing words of Torah in my dining room
May the beautiful “Chein” family be comforted.
What a praiseworthy man. Such bitter pain to lose him.
A truly special chassid. Every morning in the mikva very early, always warm and friendly, giving shiruim. Always to seder, teaching living chassidus. Shabbos in shul. Not enough to say.
Can’t stop crying
What light he brought into the world…
Special beyond words
May Hashem send much comfort and strength to the entire family and Moshiach now!!!
Reb Mottel was an truly wonderful man and we are blessed to have met him. He was a great tzadik and showed immense kindness when he spoke to you.
May Hashem give all the family strength And comfort during these times.
Bde hamokoim ynachem eschen
The world got darker today. He was a Chosid on the highest level. And with everything he went though as a child, not seeing his father for years, and to still be a happy person and smile, is the highest proof of his relationship with Hashem and the Rebbe. He will be missed.
Such a shame, such a nice man
May you find strength and comfort at this sad time
מעשה ידי להתפאר, he reflected his Creator absolutely. We have lost a treasure. Mottel (without title, not out of disrespect ח”ו, but out of a genuine closeness which he shared with so many people) was a ציור and yet so real. There are very few people who are this special, of a totally different level, yet so approachable and delightful to be around. He projected immense אהבת ישראל and יראת שמים מתוך שמחה. His are old shoes that can’t ever be filled. My deepest feelings reach out to his family, you were very fortunate to have closer than all of… Read more »
No words
Hamokoim yinachem
Complete geulah now
Efraim and Chana Schmukler
He was a special man!
I knew him personally he was a very special man!
he was also very devoted to chinuch and Moshiach and served on the board of Mosdos Ohr Menachem.
may we merit the coming of Moshiach now!!
Reb motel pashut lived with moshiach!just looking at him him and you could see a real living example of what the rebbe means living moshiach.!just looking at a alter chosid with a yechi yarmulke but that it wasn’t a slogan but was for real by him!he meant it with a eames!he was takeh akshen that moshiach should come!also he lived with the rebbe and was makpid to come to the rebbes farbrengen even in recent years when he was already older!but was young at spirit.
May his spirit be remembered.