Rabbi Binyamin Katz, Shliach in New Haven, Connecticut, passed away on Tuesday, 18 Nissan, 5779.
He was 78.
Born to Yehuda Yosef and Leiba Rivka Katz in Chicago, Rabbi Katz was the son in law of Rabbi Moshe Yitzchak Hecht, the Shliach sent by the Frierdiker Rebbe to New Haven, CT.
In 1964 he was chosen by the Rebbe to be sent to Communist-oppressed Russia to bring Judaism and Jewish articles to Soviet Jewry.
Known for his brilliant mind and photographic memory, this came to good use in his travels in Russia, when he memorized people’s names and messages to pass on the Rebbe.
Rabbi Katz served as a Shliach to New Haven, and taught in the Chabad School.
He is survived by his wife, Malka, and children, Shneur Katz, New Haven, Detty Leverton Crown Heights, Shulamis Tenenbaum, NMB, FL, Shmaya Katz, NY, NY, Sholom Ber Katz, New Haven, Mendel Katz, New Haven, Alie Katz, New Haven, Sara Leah Fridman, Crown Heights, Bassie Srugo, Buenos Aires, Deena Lehr, Monsey, Dovid Katz, Crown Heights, Yehudis Cohen, Kingston, PA, Yerucham Katz, Crown Heights, Brocha Lerman, Crown Heights, Chaviva New, Crown Heights, Sruly Katz, New Haven, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He is also survived by his siblings, Fraidel Bodenstein, Boro Park, Fishel Katz, Miami Beach, and Avigdor (Victor) Katz, Chicago.
He was predeceased by his sister, Miriam Adolf.
The levaya will take place tomorrow, Wednesday, passing by 770 Eastern Parkway at 2 pm.
Shiva Information:
Mrs. Malka Katz, Detty, Shmaya, Sara Leah, Yehudis, Yerucham, Brocha and Chaviva will sit at 1373 Union Street on Motzei Yomtov and in New Haven from Sunday morning and on, at 1765 Ella Grasso Blvd. In New Haven, unless specified differently below.
Shneur, Sholom Ber, Mendel, Alie, and Sruly Katz will be at 1765 Ella Grasso Blvd, in New Haven.
Shulamis Tenenbaum will be in Florida, from Wednesday at 17520 NE 9th Ave.
Dovid Katz at 1373 Union Street from Tuesday Morning.
Detty, Brocha and Chaviva at 1373 Union Street from Wednesday morning.
Shmaya Katz at 1765 Ella Grasso Blvd, from Sunday morning. At 1373 Union Street, from Wednesday morning.
The Katz Family asks friends to share memories of Rabbi Katz to the following email address. [email protected]
Baruch Dayan Ha’emes.
BS”D
Oy, Baruch Dayan Ha’Emes…
Dear Mishpocho Katz, “Hamakom yinachem es’chem b’toch sha’ar aveilei Tziyon v’Yerushalayim!”
Our community’s rabbi was just speaking to us all about Rabbi Katz (they knew one another) at the beginning of Yuntif, what a special neshomo and great mind he was…
Wishing you comfort and strength in this time of difficulty.
Ad mosai, Hashem? How any more Batei Mikdash are to fall? Please send Moshiach now.
May your Patriarch’s Neshomo have a tremendous aliyah!
Sincerely,
A Fellow Yid in Connecticut
he was a very unique man who hhad relationships with the worlds leading talmudic scholars like rav hirshprung and rav dworkin bessides the incredible gutskite he had for people he was a complete bokie bshas
he will be missed boruch dayan emes
many chabad russian families owe thier freedom to his work and the rebbe knew who to send
A very kind and smart man.
Thinking of you, Chaviva.
Love from all of us in Dnieper
I remember Rabbi Katz from my many years at camp, where he and his wife served as directors.
As a child I was mesmerized by his shiurim. The shul was always pin drop silent when he spoke. His shiurim were fascinating to me. I remember trying to be careful with all the new dinim I learned at the shiurim he taught which I looked forward to tremendously. I especially remember his shiurim about the nine days and Tisha b’Av. He was always warm and kind.
A former PC camper
BDE. We are so sorry to hear the loss of your husband and father. May you all know from Simchas from now on. He was an amazing Tzaddik. He was an amazing person to my husband Yitzchok Michael.
As a bochur I was a shliach in new Haven for a year. I had a private chavrusa with Rabbi Katz almost every day. He was a very special Yid.
May Hashem comfort the family.
I have fond memories of Rabbi Katz as Camp Rabbi (director?) in Camp Pardas Chana in the 70’s. We learned so much from His Shiurim! And he was always with a pleasant dispostion!!
המקום ינחם אתכם בתוך שאר אבלי ציון וירושלים! !
BDE
So sorry to hear about this sad news. He was my room mate when he came to the yeshivah in Kfar Chabad upon his return from that Shlichus to Russia. He shared some interesting stories with me.
His brilliant mind and memory retained all the details from that important trip.
המקום ינחם אתכם בתוך שאר אבלי ציון וירושלים
Rabbi Binyomin Katz, obm will be very missed. He had an amazing mind, along with humility and humor! That is an unusual combination. He could do it. His classes were clear and deep at the same time. A very special person, to be proud to be in his company. Very missed. Vita & Reuven Goldstein Rehovot Israel.
Very sorry to hear of the passing of this Great Rabbi, he personally touched my life and that of my family. He will always be remembered fondly. May Hashem continually consul us. Avrahum Weisman
Rbbi Katz was extraordinary. Kind and gentle and he was so nice to us young bochurim in New Haven and always had a good thing to tell us to entertain or inspire. He was A Mashpia to the Friediker Rebbes shliach to the young israel then. Although younger.
Passing of R. Yehoshua Falk Katz (1614)
R. Yehoshua Falk Katz authored two well-known commentaries in the area of Jewish law: Derishah and Perishah on R. Jacob ben Asher’s halachic code Arbaah Turim, and Sefer Me’iras Einayim (known by the acronym Sm”a) on R. Yosef Caro’s Shulchan Aruch (Code of Jewish Law). These commentaries are printed in all standard editions of these works.
R. Yehoshua’s wife Beila was known for her piety and erudition, and a number of original Torah explanations are attributed to her.
A great man who tirelessly worked his whole life to give over of himself to gd.
Blessed are those who knew rabbi Katz
Rabbi Katz was an extraordinary yid who went out of his way to help his fellow Jews especially those in his community who needed guidance. Bauruch Dayan’”hames
So sad to hear. A amazing man will be missed by many.
Ad mosai. Rabbi Katz will be greatly missed by many.
Rabbi Katz was a truly special neshoma; he helped our family in so many ways, and helped us help others as well… I learned so much from him. This is a huge loss for the community. Malki, HaMakom Yinachem Eschem…
With all our deepest caring from Chana Julian and family in Arad, Israel