Rabbi Akiva Wagner, a beloved educator who served as Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Lubavitch Toronto for many years, passed away on Monday, 17 Iyar, 5783.
He passed away the day after his 55th birthday.
Rabbi Wagner was a devoted mechanech who led the Yeshiva he founded with love and care for decades.
In recent years suffered from a terrible illness, during which time he bravely fought many challenges and continued to inspire his students and alumni around the world.
He is survived by his wife, Rochie (nee Labkowsky) and children, Rabbi Yitzchok Wagner – Richmond, CA, Itty Leiberman – Toronto, ON, Rabbi Mendy Wagner – Toronto, ON, Menachem, Yisrolik, Mushkie, Dovi, Nossi, Goldie, Shmuli, Levi, and Avremi.
He is also survived by his mother, Mrs. Batya Wagner and siblings, Mrs. Adina Jacobson – Yerushalayim; Rabbi Meir Wagner – Toronto; Mrs. Elisheva Lopian – Los Angeles, CA; Mrs. Shula Isaacs, – Toronto; Rabbi Noam Wagner – South Africa; Rabbi Dov Wagner – Los Angeles, CA; Rabbi Yaakov Wagner – Morristown, NJ; Rabbi Yitzchok Wagner – Lakewood, NJ; Rabbi Avromi Wagner – Lakewood, NJ; Mrs. Bracha Back – Lakewood, NJ.
The levaya will take place today, passing by 770 at 3 pm, burial at 4 pm at Montefiore Cemetery.
Shiva will take place at 433 Crown Street
Shachris
3 minyanim at 9:30
And 3 at 10:30
Mincha 6:30
Maariv 8:30
Shiva times:
12:00-2pm
6:30-8:30pm
The family requests people to respect the shiva times
Baruch Dayan Ha’emes.
Chabad lost a giant today…
BDE…
indeed. a True yid.
So sorry to hear. He was very special
These נשמות go up there & קער א וועלט for Hashem to send Moshiach already!!!
ENUF IS ENUF !!! עד מתי????
ברוך דיין האמת
..”בקרובי אקדש”
“ועל פני כל העם אכבד”
בד”ה
So very, very sorry to hear this, such an incredible mechanech who impacted thousands of lives. He will be missed by everyone. We didn’t know him personally, although I taught his wife decades ago. What a loss.
So sad what a saintly man???
BD”H a giant of a Chosid/Shliach. Too many too soon lately.
What is his name for לעילוי נשמת?
מיכאל עקיבא גרשון בן רפאל מנחם נחום
Ad Mosai!
So very sad..May he be a Melitz Yasher for klal yisroel, and may his family be comforted…We need Moshiach NOW!!!
To all his family may you have doubled and redoubled nechama
I was in the yeshiva, one of the many bochurim rabbi wagner had such a tremendous effect on. No words…
By his sister adina in Israel.
Was there from 2nd year of Yeshivah, Rabbi Wagners care and dedication knew no bounds. He was there for me personally and brought me to enjoy learning. Removing such a pillar from our educational system and chinuch leadership is sure to leave a huge void. Pain & tears. Moshiach now.
And another sister in Toronto. I’m not sure her name.
This is not ok
Never stopped to say tehillim for his recovery, since we were asked to daven for him. With all our tefillos may He beg Hashem and our Rebbe Ad Mosai?!
🙁
Rabbi Akiva! Today is Lag BaOmer…
I had the opportunity to meet him once, and he immediately captured my heart. ברוך דיין האמת.
Bde
So so sad
Not ok..
A giant of a man! Brilliant and humble.
I have no Yichus. My parents barely paid tuition I had difficulties learning. He never brought up negatives to me. Always bringing up a sharp story to give me a boost. Treated me like a father. Spent so much time with others like myself When I heard he was battling a sickness I prayed I saw him and he always smiled and had a good word to say. Who will replace him ? Many bochrim benefited from his chasidishkite. He was truth. Not complicated He was truly a tzadik. May his family have comfort in his accomplishments He was a… Read more »
Such a special person, what a tremendous loss.
I am devastated to hear the news of Rabbi Wagner’s passing. He was so much more than a Rosh Yeshiva or Mashpia to me; he was like a caring father who was deeply invested in my learning and growth in Chassidishkait. I will always remember how he even cooked meals for us when the yeshiva was in Buffalo during the summer of 5770. Rabbi Wagner had a profound impact on my life and the lives of so many of his bochrim. The passuk “אבי אבי רכב ישראל ופרשיו” comes to mind when I think of him, as he was a… Read more »
Truly said. And not only that, every teacher /or principal should act that way. Well said. Once you start being Negative with a student, all sorts of things can happen. AND WE’VE BEEN THERE. Going OFF Yoiddish keite is one of them. Rebellious is another…… And I can go on……. There should be a teacher and a meter who can truly understand their students, and Rabbi Wagner was that. May we follow his legacy and footsteps. And to the new generation who their dream is to become a teacher FOR LIFE. Please be and ACT that way. And have lots… Read more »
Moshiach now
Like many, I did not know Rabbi Wagner personally.
However, from being at 2 Farbrengens of his I got learn what an inspirational man he was and another amazing thing was how he spoke with such passion and even stayed overtime even though it was painful for him to sit like that for so long.
Really an amazing Neshamah
This is absolutely heartbreaking
R’ Akiva A”H, like his namesake, was a master of Ahavas Yisroel, a true chossid and
a renowned mechanech.
May we be reunited with him through the imminent geulah NOW.
Someone commented that today some 24,000 students lost rabbi Akiva.
BDE.
Ad Mosai!