By COLlive reporter
R’ Yaakov Elberg, a long-time resident of the Crown Heights neighborhood in Brooklyn and supporter of Chabad institutions, passed away Friday, 17 Teves 5774.
He was 76 and his passing was sudden, as he and his family were preparing for Shabbos.
A staunch and warm chossid who grew up under Communist rule in Georgia, Elberg had a special connection with the Rebbe and supported many Chabad centers worldwide and institutions in Crown Heights.
Elberg was a successful businessman, purchasing many New York City yellow cab medallions at the advice of the Rebbe. Even when business was difficult for a time, the Rebbe encouraged him to continue to invest in purchasing them, saying “buy as many as you can.”
In addition to his work, he made ample time for spiritual matters. His daily routine included davening with a minyan at the main shul of 770 Eastern Parkway and learning Torah and chassidus, often learning late into the night.
Elberg also helped establish a Shul and Mikvah for the Georgian Jewish community in Queens, setting up a community and later coordinating a $5 million building. He was instrumental in helping to bring out Shluchim to the area as well.
“He was a very warm and friendly person,” said a family member. “He was close to all that knew him. He was patient and wise.”
He is survived by his wife Mrs. Esther Elberg of Crown Heights, their children R’ Eliyahu Elberg – Queens, R’ Reuvain Elberg – Crown Heights, Mrs. Tamar Pewsner – Five Towns, R’ Shalom Elberg – Queens, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
The levaya will take place on Sunday, leaving Shomrei Hadas Chapels in Boro Park 10:00 AM and passing by 770 Eastern Parkway at 10:45 AM for burial at Old Montefiore Cemetery in Queens.
The family will be sitting shiva at 1281 Carroll Street in Crown Heights.
Shacharis: 7:30 am
Mincha: 4:00 pm
Maariv to follow b’zmano.
Shiva will be from 9am to 10pm with a break between 12 to 3pm
Baruch dayan haemes.
Jacob was one of my very favorite people on the planet – many a spiritual conversation we enjoyed. For every situation he had a story, a wonderful story.. I could listen to him endlessly. We are so grateful for him touching our lives; I will always remember the twinkle in his eye, his humble gratitude, his warm smile and the wisdom he shared. He will be dearly missed by many. . As someone else said, Reuben is his carbon copy, may he continue his legacy. Reuben, Tumar, Sam I share your tears, and your family is in my prayers…. May… Read more »
How I will miss our talks… How I will miss the smiles…
A beautiful man who reached out to others with kindness and humility. He shared the bible with me and told me we would meet someday in heaven. He always told me in G-ds time….
– Dr. Tabick
Great man alway saw him give lots of tzedaka
In 770 every morning
Always caring, always providing, always generous. He set an example for everyone who met him. May he go from peace to peace.
So sad to hear. he was a very special man.
The family shud know only good things
I’m so shocked, sorry and deeply saddened to learn of your loss! Such a wonderful man. It’s a loss for all klal Yisrael.
May the whole family be comforted!
Such a warm, kind, generous baal midose tovose Chassid. He made everyone who walked into his home feel like they were the most special person in the whole world and always took an interest in the welfare of others.
His Bitachon, love for Hashem and our Rebbe, was and will remain an inspiration to me. Geula Now Mamesh. Simchas only for the whole family.
Shoshana
So shocked he was a very great generous kind and king of a man. So sorry for your loss.
He goes straight to Gan Eden and will be a Malitz Yosher for his family and Klal Yisroel.
He helped so many people in this world and will not let go until the coming of Moshiach in his new World.
Esther, Tamar Reuven, Shalom, and Eli, and the rest of the family Hamakom Yenachem Eschem Betoch Shaar Aveley Tzion Vyrushalayim. From now Simchos only.
Tamar, I am so very saddened by this news. May Hashem comfort you and your family. I personally didn’t know your father, but from the remarks I’ve read, I now see how you have followed in his footsteps. Baruch Dayan Emes.
We are so sorry to hear these news.
May Hashem comfort the family among all mourners of Jerusalem.
The Elisha family.
He was truly special… Always helped anyone in need.. He has personally helped me with money for my wedding… Truly a chassid truly a loss for a person who always looked and helped others… Tamar, Reaven, Shalom, Ely and Mrs Elberg we are so sorry for this loss and we are missing him already.. Thank you for your kindness wprds of wisdom and wisdom most of all for your Emunah…. Only good news….moshiach now!!!!
This is a great loss, not only for the family, but for the whole Lubavitch community. R’ Yaakov was someone all of us could look up to and learn from. May he be a good advocate for Klal Yisroel. Boruch Dayan HaEmes.
Leibish Nash
He was a Bal Chessed and a Yirat Shamayim. He was nifter after Parsha Vayechi: Yaacov Lo Mais.
Mamash a loss to us and all our community!
Rabbi Elberg was the epitome of joy and kindness. He always had a happy word to say to young and old alike, that would make the other person feel wonderful about his or herself.
May Hashem bentch your entire family (both generations k’ah) with only joy and happiness like that which you gave so readily to others.
You’re a giant of a human being Reb Yaakov,and a zechus to be friends with you and your mishpocha.
Simchas only and always,
the Friedfertig Family
Can any body know what happened to reb yaakov that he is not any longer with us, may the family will know only good news with a lot of simchas.
he will be sadly missed what a special man always had a smile for us,words of inspiration and helped so many.
Chabad has suffered a great communal loss and you and your family have suffered a greater personal loss. May you know of no more tzaar.
Elchanan and Rivki Geisinsky
a real tzadik the sweetest Guy helped everyone especially chasanim always with a smile will be sorely missed his children follow his kindness really sorry may hashem comfort you
How did u leave us – u were so friendly nice giving smiling and just every good word in the dictionary fits . I knew you personally, you helped when help was needed -you had a good word when one was needed we always wished each other leshono toiva …. after maariv the first night rosh hashana, Reb yakov i cant believe you are not with us anymore. this is a bad dream. we will miss you is the wrong words, im full of tears and dont know what to say Reuben and the rest of the family you were… Read more »
Our condolances to our neighbors the Elberg fam and to all the elberg families BDE we will sure miss see him outside our house .. May we only share in simchos here on
Tamar so sorry to hear. May Hashem comfort you and all your family, may you know only simchas and nachas in future. Chaya Klein
Hamokom Yinachem Eschem Metoch Shar Aveilei Tsion Veyerusholaim.
OH TAMAR, I AM SO SORRY FOR THIS LOSS, MAY HASHEM COMFORT YOU AND GIVE YOU STRENGTH ….
I have witnessed him many times in 770 giving a dollar to any one who asked for tzedaka.
He also had checks in his pocket that he would give to any shliach who would ask.
It seems like when he would leave his home he would make sure he always had money with him in order to give to others.
Truly a special person. We can all learn from him to give tzedaka to people without judging them if they really need it.
To all of the Elberg family, Like everyone, I am shocked and devastated – absolutely speechless and stunned to the core of my being — for your loss, and for all of our loss. Your beautiful, warm, gracious, kind, giving, humble husband, father and grandfather – such a precious soul and special Jew, chossid and human being. Such a HUGE loss for klal Yisroel…Moshiach MUST come now. All of my thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
So sorry to hear about your loss…..your father was a special man….he will be missed..
Besides great hachnosas orchim, he taught Zohar, mefurshim and chasidisters around the shabbos table( that was laden full!)
so schocked to hear…… Mashiach now
ESTHER ,TAMAR AND THE ENTIRE ELBERG FAMILY.SORRY SHOCKED BDE,NO WORDS WHAT A FINE PERSON MR YAAKOV ELBERG WAS. WILL MISS HIS WARM GREETINGS ALWAYS. HEARTBROKEN
Our condolences on your great loss.may the almighty
Comfort you and your very special family and you should
Only joy with the Rebbe and your father at the head to
Yerushalayim!!!!
We will miss seeing him going to shul every Shacharis and Mincha (I am sure for every other time as well), without fail. May his wife and family be comforted in the the way only the Aibershter knows. Moshiach NOW.
we will miss him
So sorry for your loss. “Omer m’at v’aseh harbeh” – that was the beautiful way of your father – and he taught the lesson well to his children. Hamakom yinachem eschem – may your family know no further sorrow.
Yehudis Leiter
Tamar I am so sorry to hear about your loss. your father use to say hi in the street whenever he saw me. Always had a smile. he will be missed.
boruc dayan emes! “mais b’erev shabbos siman yofe lo”
I davened with R.’ Elberg almost every morning in 770, whoever approched him always went away with something; especially chassanim. He will definitely be a mailitz yosher for us. Boruch Dayan Emes; he will be missed.
I was devestated hearing the news. I will sorely miss you
A friend S.H
Shocking and painful!
Can only cry out: MOSHIACH NOW!
tamar, i am soooooooooooooo sorry
i know how close you are to your family.
i have no words, just sorry.
love, miryam
ad mosai!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He was the sweetest man around with an absolute heart of gold!!!
Hamokom Yinachem Eschem