By COLlive reporter
Rabbi Aharon Mordechai Zilberstrom, a veteran educator who taught in and built Jewish schools in France and Israel, passed away on Friday night, Tammuz 17, 5772 in Jerusalem Israel.
He was 89.
Born in Leipzig, Germany, he was sent to the known Yeshiva in Heide, a town just north of Antwerp, where he befriended the future Chief Rabbi of Antwerp Dovid Moshe Lieberman.
During the Second World War he joined a group of bochurim that hid and learned in the forests of France, under the supervision of Rabbi Zalman Schneerson, a cousin of the Rebbe.
It was there was he was exposed to the world of Lubavitch, and before long he joined Rabbi Schneerson’s efforts to built a network of schools across France for Jewish orphans.
When the Rebbe came to Paris to visit his mother, Rebbetzin Chana Schneerson, he invited Rabbi Zilberstrom to his hotel to discuss educational guidelines for the schools.
During a farbrengen, Zilberstrom was told by the Rebbe that his life’s mission is to give shiurim, write books and run educational institutions.
Upon moving to Israel and marrying Miriam Shpigel (her birthday is on Tammuz 17), he joined the administration of the known haredi school “Shilo”, which counts among its alumni the current Gerrer Rebbe, Rabbi Yaakov Alter.
When the Reshet was founded (the Chabad network of preschools and schools around Israel), Zilberstrom left his job and volunteered to open schools for children of non-religious homes.
It was on one of the reports he sent to the Rebbe, that the Rebbe noted on his name that he is “entirely G-d-fearing.”
Living in Jerusalem and davening in the Baal Hatanya shul in Mea Shearim, he later continued as a teacher and lecturer to thousands, and has been writing chidushim on the Rambam, published in the booklet “Min Hamaayan.”
Hundreds attended his levaya which left on Motzoei Shabbos to Har Hazeisim in Jerusalem.
He is survived by his wife Miriam, children Mrs. Esther Schochet – Toronto, Ontario (wife of dayan Rabbi Gershon Elisha Schochet); Rabbi Binyomin Zilberstrom and Rabbi Tuvia Zilberstrom – Jerusalem; Rabbi YY Zilberstrom – Lod; Rabi Chanoch Zilberstrom and Rabbi Dovid Zilberstrom – Kfar Chabad; Mrs. Chana Ginsburg – Chaifa.
Baruch dayan haemes.
I have fond memories of him at the fabrengens (the Rebbes live hookups) in the middle of the night in Toras Emes. he was a real chosid and produced three (I know) outstanding children. Balle Sechel, midos toivos and yirie shomayim (I guess the apple does not fall far from the tree).
May the memory of this giant of a man be a comfort to the family.