R’ Refael Zamir, a longtime member of the Chabad community in Tel Aviv, Israel, passed away on Wednesday, 18 Nissan, 5781.
He was 94.
Refael and his wife Rochel, a known educator, lived in Tel Aviv, Israel since their marriage in 1954.
He was known as a Chosid who was devoted to the Rebbe with his heart and soul. He especially was known for his love for the Chabad minhagim and the auspicious days.
Refael and his wife together dedicated their lives to teaching Chassidus and to the Rebbe’s Mivtzoim. The couple merited to have yechidus meetings with the Rebbe. Many times they asked the Rebbe if they can leave Tel Aviv but the Rebbe always responded that their place is in Tel Aviv.
Among the many Mivtzoim they were involved with in Tel Aviv was planning a weekly mesibas Shabbos for the children in the neighborhood, which impacted hundreds of children over many years.
A shliach recently told that he was hosting a Seder for not yet observant Jews in Israel, and when they were singing “Keili Ata” at the Seder, one participant, at least 60 years old, surprised the shluchim by singing along, and he knew the niggun very well. When he was asked about this, he told them that he learned it as a child at the mesibas shabbos that he used to attend in Tel Aviv. When they prompted him further, they realized it was the Zamirs’ gatherings he was referring to.
This is but one example of the couple’s mesiras nefesh for the Rebbe’s inyonim and the far-reaching influence of the Rebbe’s Mivtzoim.
He is survived by his wife, Rochel.
The Levaya took place today in Jerusalem, with burial on Har Hazeisim.
Baruch Dayan Ha’emes.
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