Rabbi Bentzion Chein, 87, OBM

Rabbi Chaim Bentzion Chein, one of the founding residents and longtime pillars of the Chabad neighborhood in Lod, Israel, passed away on Tuesday, 21 Adar, 5786.

He was 87.

He was born in Soviet Russia into a family known for its extraordinary mesirus nefesh. He was the eldest son of Rabbi Avraham Aharon Chein and Mrs. Mina Chein, daughter of the chossid Rabbi Yitzchak Raskin HYD, who was murdered by the Soviets.

His paternal grandfather was the well-known chossid R’ Peretz Chein, and among his relatives was the chossid R’ Berke Chein.

During his childhood, until the age of 18, he grew up without his parents, who had been imprisoned by Soviet authorities for spreading Torah and Yiddishkeit.

After immigrating to Eretz Yisroel, he settled with his wife, Devora in the Chabad neighborhood of Lod, where he became part of the founding group that established the community.

For his livelihood, Rabbi Chein worked at Israel Aerospace Industries, where he also shared and spread Yiddishkeit in his own unique way.

Following his retirement, he and his wife traveled on a mission instructed by the Rebbe to Moscow, where he worked at the Chama Institute, helping guide and educate Jewish girls. During that time he authored dozens of books in Russian on the weekly Torah portion and Chassidus, and translated letters of the Rebbe into Russian, which were later published by Yachad Publishing. He later returned to Israel.

For many years he was among the regular participants in the first minyan at Beis Aryeh Shul in the Chabad neighborhood of Lod. A devoted chossid whose life was filled with Torah, yiras Shamayim, and deep hiskashrus to the Rebbe, he was also known as a gifted speaker.

The levaya took place on Tuesday, departing from his home in Lod, and continued in the Shamgar Funeral Home in Jerusalem.

He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Devora Chein, and his children: Mrs. Esther Krugliak of Ramat Shlomo, Jerusalem, Mrs. Frida Solomon of Lod, R’ Yossi Chein of Shalavim and Shliach Rabbi Peretz Chein of the Agamim neighborhood in Ashkelon.

As well as his brother R’ Leib Chein of the Chabad neighborhood in Lod.

Baruch Dayan Ha’Emes.