Rabbi Mordechai Gorodetsky, 89, OBM

By COLlive reporter

Rabbi Mordechai Gorodetsky, who served as chairman of the Vaad of Nachalas Har Chabad, Israel, a member of Aguch in Israel, and a devoted community activist, passed away on Sunday, 30 Nissan, 5782.

He was 89.

He was born in Samarkand on the 20th of Av, 1932 to his father R’ Simcha Gorodetsky, who served as the spiritual leader for the locals in Samarkand at the direction of the Frierdiker Rebbe.

He merited to receive his education from the many Chasidim who settled in the city as many fled there during World War II, and Samarkand became a vibrant center of Jewish life, studying in Yeshivas Tomchei Temimim.

After his marriage to Dina, daughter of Rabbi Moshe Vishedsky of Tashkent, he settled near his father-in-law’s home in Tashkent and was a member of the Chasidic community there until he emigrated from Russia.

In the month of Tammuz 5766, his father, R’ Simcha Gorodetsky, received a letter from the Rebbe informing him that his son R’ Mordechai and his son-in-law, R’ Yonah Levenhartz, had received exit permits from Russia. R’ Simcha related that this was ruach hakodesh, as he only received the official news of the visas 2 weeks later.

Upon their arrival in Israel, they settled in Kfar Chabad, and in 1967, R’ Mordechai established the Golgotex factory in partnership with his brother-in-law R’ Yona Levenhartz, R’ Zalman Levenhartz and R’ Moshe Goldschmid. The Rebbe approved the establishment of the factory with a particularly high loan, on the condition that the managers of the factory move to live in Nachalas Har Chabad. As a result, R’ Mordechai moved to Nachalas Har Chabad.

As soon as he arrived in the new neighborhood, R’ Mordechai began to work to strengthen the neighborhood. His first step was to provide for the parnasah – livelihood of the new settlers of the town who worked in the factory, he also spearheaded the establishment of mosdos institutions and fundraising.

With the establishment of the Vaad of Nachalas Har Chabad, he was appointed chairman of the committee and received many responses and directives from the Rebbe regarding his activities for the benefit of Nachalas Har Chabad.

In 1990, he was appointed as a member of the Board of the Tzeirei Agudas Chabad of Israel.

On Shabbos morning, Rabbi Gorodetsky was hospitalized, and the public recited Tehillim in his merit. He passed away on Sunday.

He is survived by his children, Roza Blizinsky – Nachalas Har Chabad, Israel, Raya Raskin – Crown Heights, Sara Blizinsky – Kfar Chabad, Israel, and Chanie Garelik – Ashkelon, Israel.

The Levaya took place today in Nachalas Har Chabad, with burial in Jerusalem, in Israel.

Baruch Dayan Ha’emes.