Rabbi Asher Heber, an educator and longtime Crown Heights resident, passed away in the early hours of Thursday, 8 Nissan, 5780.
He was 81 and passed away from complications of Covid19.
He was a beloved Rebbi at Manhattan Day School (MDS) for over 40 years. He was a legendary Head Counselor in the early days of Gan Yisroel New York and the director of HALB Day Camp on Long Island for many years. He was beloved by the thousands of students and campers whose lives he impacted.
Rabbi Heber was born in 1939 to Rabbi Yehuda Aryeh “Leibish” and Perel Heber. The Rebbe and Rebbetzin were Kvaterin at his bris in Paris. His father and grandfather became Chassidim of the Rebbe RaShab as WW1 Polish refugees in the towns of Lubavitch and Rostov, Russia. By nine months old, his family emigrated to America on one of the last boats before the Nazis invaded France.
By age two, Rabbi Heber was living in Crown Heights on Eastern Parkway opposite 770. He grew up as one of a handful of children in the Frierdiker Rebbe’s 770. He was a talmid at Lubavitcher Yeshiva in its storefront years, and later at “Bedford and Dean”, Newark and 770. As a bachur, he served as an educator on shlichus in Quebec City, Canada.
Rabbi Heber got engaged to Nechama Goldstein while he was head counselor in Gan Yisroel, and she was Singing Counselor in Camp Emunah. They were married in 1964.
He is survived by his wife Nechama and children Yaffie Begun (Brazil), Brocha Chana Metzger (Manhattan), and Rabbi Noach Heber (Crown Heights/Manhattan), grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He was predeceased by his daughter Rivkie Barber A”H.
The levaya will pass 770 at 1:30pm and will proceed to 506 Montgomery Street at 1:35pm.
To share memories or for nichum aveilim, email [email protected]
Baruch Dayan Ha’emes.
Ad mosi
He was a very good man…. I am so sorry
No words.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this time.
Seriously at a loss for words, Rabbi Heber was such a good man this is so tragic
Sending love and support to the family
I was a Rebbe with him at MDS. He was so beloved by students and fellow faculty members. He brought the learning to life. Year after year whatever I would teach about Parsha and Yom Tov students would always say “Rabbi Heber taught us that last year”. The fact that students would remember vividly all that he taught is a tribute to him and to all the effort he put in to inspire children.
A loss of a giant in the world of Chinuch
Baruch Dayan HaEmes! Nechama, Brocha Chana and family, I am so sorry. There’s nothing else to say.
Hindy Lewis, Israel
Asher? no, this wasn’t supposed to happen. the memories keep flooding back, the happy ones, the funny ones (what a delightful sense of humor Asher was blessed with) and yes, the sad ones .oye, oye, oye… no words.
Nechama and family: Hamakom yenachem eschem b’soch sh’ar aveilei tziyon ve’rushalayim
family butman
BDHE When will this virus stop. We must Pray to Hashem to give a Refuach Shalama to all I’ll,( including my Brother and Sister in Law Ben zion Eliaza ben Leah and Shoshana Rasrsa bas Yoheved
Please Hashem grant that thos virus will come to an end, and no more deaths.
Amen ve Amen
Rabbi Heber was my uncle. One of only 2 uncles, and the only frum uncle. He is the only uncle I had a kesher with Bchlal. He was caring and giving and sweet. I don’t remember ever hearing him say an unkind word to me in my life. The family has had enough tzaros. We need the Geula now.
Uncle Asher you are loved and missed.
Sruli
BDE. He was my best assistant Head counselor. Besides everything : He was loved by everyone because he showed his emese love to everyone. Ad Mosai !!!
Terribly sad news… Rabbi Heber was truly a gentle giant. I ran the special ed department at Manhattan Day School where he was a beloved educator and mentor. Not just for students but also for the entire faculty. Everyone admired and loved him! He taught with a special love and kindness and emes – that we simply couldn’t get enough of. We often rode together back and forth to work, either in my car or taking the subway. Those private times together are something that I will always cherish. We shared stories, jokes, dvar Torahs, and our mutual love for… Read more »
BDE
Nechama,& Family. So Sorry for your lost.Rabbi Heber was such a special person.so sorry.
Leah Beck and bfamily
I have such fond memories of working with Reb Asher in Gan Yisroel Swan Lake. Such a nice guy and a real mensch!
Yihei zichroi boruch.
Rabbi Yossy Goldman,
Johannesburg, South Africa
As a graduate of Manhattan Day School who later worked there as a substitute “rebbi”, I had the chance to watch Rabbi Heber o”h in action. I think the grade he most frequently worked with was the third grade. A truly gifted mechanech. HaMokom Y’nakhem Eskhem B’sokh Sh’ar Availai Tziyon Vi’Y’rusholayim!
BDE
So sorry for your loss. These are insane times. Only Hashem can understand what is happening. We humans have no clue. Hamokom Yenachem Eschem….
Mendel and sheina
A beautiful Neshomo. I just knew him a bit from the shule he davened on Shabbos the last 10 years or so. He was a very aidel person.
May he beseech Hashem for ‘Moshiach Now’ !!!
I had the zchus to work with Reb Asher in Camp Gan Yisroel, Swan Lake. I was only a CIT but he encouraged me to write Grammen etc. It proved a very valuable foundation for me. Such a nice guy and a real mensch. G-d bless his soul and his family.
Rabbi Yossy Goldman, Johannesburg, South Africa
Rabbi Heber was my fourth grade teacher in Manhattan Day School, many years ago. I remember the warmth and love of Torah that he brought to his teaching. Before winter break, he said that our only homework assignment was that we should all daven three times a day. It was then that I began to daven mincha and maariv every day, a practice that has stayed with me my entire life. May his memory always be a source of blessing for his family and his many students. Min hashamayim tenuchamu.