R’ Yisrael (Larry) Caroline, 85, OBM

By COLlive reporter

R’ Yisrael (Larry) Caroline, known as “the Rebbe’s revolutionary,” a philosopher, educator, and Chossid who transformed from a 1960s radical activist into an advocate for the Rebbe’s “other revolution,” passed away suddenly on Friday night, 17 Cheshvan, 5786.

He was 85.

Born and raised in the 1940s in a Yiddish-speaking but non-observant home, R’ Larry developed a strong sense of justice from an early age, he told JEM in an interview for Here’s My Story.

As a child, having been subjected to discrimination for being a Jew, he developed a strong passion for fighting for justice for the oppressed. As a student at the University of Rochester, he became president of the NAACP chapter and a vocal advocate for civil rights, leading campaigns against racism and inequality. A scholar of philosophy inspired by Karl Marx, he immersed himself in the intellectual movements of his time.

His journey toward Yiddishkeit began unexpectedly after being dismissed from the University of Texas for his outspoken anti-war views. In Buffalo, where he and his wife Dina relocated, they attended Yom Kippur services at a small Chabad House directed by Rabbi Noson Gurary. That experience opened his eyes to authentic Yiddishkeit and practice. “For the first time in my life,” he recalled, “I saw people acting like they should act if they really believed in G-d.”

In 1974, R’ Larry merited his first private yechidus with the Rebbe. He shared his history of political activism, to which the Rebbe replied, “You used to make propaganda for the revolution. Now you will make propaganda for the other revolution.”

Those words became the mission statement of his life, he told, channeling his energy into Judaism instead.

He later served as a fundraiser and director at Beth Jacob School in Philadelphia, where he dedicated himself to Jewish education. When waves of Russian Jewish immigrants arrived in the city, R’ Larry personally ensured that their children were welcomed into the school, often on full scholarship, despite the financial difficulties.

In his later years, he began writing a book refuting atheism.

He is survived by his wife Dina Caroline and children, Rabbi Yoel, Daniel, Aryeh, David, Civia, and Rafi Caroline, Reuven and Omid Niknam.

The Levaya will take place today, Sunday,
graveside at 2:00 p.m. at West Laurel Hill Cemetery (321 Belmont Ave., Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004).
Shiva: Shiva will take place at 125 Raynham Rd in Merion Station.

Baruch Dayan Ha’emes.