Rabbi Moshe Zaklikovsky, long time shliach in Detroit, Michigan, and copy editor for Kehot and many other fine publishers, passed away on Shabbos, 1 Iyar 5780.
He was 72.
Born to Holocaust survivors Dovid Henoch and Mattil, in the Pocking DP camp, where they remained at the directives of the Rebbe Rayatz, who told him to become a shochet.
From an early age, he was a good friend to many, standing in the background and encouraging the many children of Holocaust and Gulag survivors to face insurmountable challenges from living with people who went through very difficult lives.
Already as a bachur he devoted time in preparing and copy-editing seforim for Kehot, including the famous hemshech Samach Vov.
After his marriage to Shaindel Rendler, they moved to Maine, where he taught at the local day school. They would later move to Detroit, Michigan, where he served the Jewish community for decades in various capacities. Chief among them was visiting Jews in local hospitals and jails, which he took great pride in.
He was a fountain of knowledge and tidbits of Chabad history. While reviewing texts, he would recall discrepancies with far off sources. His patience knew no bound and his joy in learning a new maamar or sichah that he was reviewing, knew no bounds.
He accepted Hashem’s many challenges through life with complete faith in Hashem, never uttering a bitter word about his situation. He passed away after battling a long illness, during which his many longtime friends rallied around him.
He is survived by his wife Shaindel, and his children Rabbi Eliezer Zaklikovsky, Monroe, New Jersey; Mendy Zaklikofsky, Monroe, New Jersey; Yitty Werner, Brooklyn, New York; Nechama Shmotkin, Brooklyn, New York; Rabbi Yossi Zaklikofsky, Bellaire, Texas; Dovid Zaklikofsky, Brooklyn, New York; Berel Zaklikofsky, Goodyear, Arizona; and Shmuel Zaklikofsky, Brooklyn, New York, and grandchildren.
He is also survived by brother Avrohom Zaklikowski and sister Miriam Muskal, both of Crown Heights.
For nichum aveilim or to share memories with the family, email Nichumaveilimzak@gmail.com .
Baruch Dayan Ha’emes.
A true chosid
ShareBde..
ShareRabbi z.. as was roundly known to us here in detroit… always would ask.. what’s the good word.. .
Yes a true chossid !!! Pershin family
He raised wonderful children with his wife, yblc”t.
ShareHe had ehrliche Parents.
Baruch Dayan HaEmes – Rabbi Z was an ehrlicher yid, a true chosid. Very sorry to hear this sad news.
Esther Moses
ShareBDE. A good and kindhearted true chossid. He lives on in his talented children.
ShareBDE
Rabbi Z. was my second grade teacher in Maine. His erudition, sincerity, and frumkeit was obvious even to a young child. He paid attention to every word we learned or davened:”Look inside, Look inside.” 45 years later, when he came to visit my family, he remembered all of the children’s names (who weren’t there) and asked about us.
Rabbi Z.’s consideration and humility left a lasting impression.
May the entire family be comforted
ShareAs a young bochur in Detroit and coming from a ba’al teshuva family, I always felt kind of like an outsider, except for the few times when I was lucky enough to visit the Zaklikovsky home. It always had a warm, chassidishe feel to it. Some of the coldest of winter days were briskly melted away with that feeling and I will always remember the kindness and happiness Rabbi Z shared with others, no matter who they were in the ever complex Chabad family polito-sphere.
ShareDovid S.
BDE
ShareHe was a true chossid.
And he will be missed
When we were both living in Michigan,I was very friendly with Rabbi Z. Later, we both moved to Crown Heights, where we continued our friendship. He was an outstanding Chossid and was very helpful to everyone. He also sold Chabad seforim, along with numerous other activities. May he be a good advocate for the Jewish people and bring Moshiach now!
ShareMoshe was a unique chosid and enriched us all in many ways.
ShareEveryone has only words of praise for him and the way he dealt with everything that came his way. May he be a guter better.We miss him.
He was the real thing,
ShareSweet personality, BDE
This story was verified by R. Moshe himself. R. Moshe was walking to Shul on Shabbos in Portland, Maine during a thunderstorm with pouring rain. A car stopped,the person driving rolled down the window and asked him, I am Jewish, can I give you a ride? R. Moshe thanked him and he explained that he is orthodox and we do not ride on Shabbos. The person was so taken by the pleasant manner and the fact that he was so sincere that the person became a Baal Teshuvah . He is a lawyer from NY that was vacationing there in the summer. The story got back to R. Moshe after many years. R Moshe remembered that the entire conversation took no more than half a minute. There are a lot more stories but this was the best. He had a warm personality and got along with everyone. He should have a litcheger Gan Eden. Former student from Maine .YG
ShareBDE
ShareBDHE.
ShareRabbi Z. was a friend. Of course, he always had a one-liner, no matter what. Like, when some new comer, like me was daavening: “What-a-ya going to do, say all the words?” One of his classics: Well, I guess I’m having a good day today, aren’t I, I walked out of the cemetery (he ran the cemetery). He loved Oak Park, because they had the house, some green lawn; he was very happy here. I think it was Rabbi Z. who said about my dear father in law, Big Ted makes you believe in God, because only God could have created Big Ted.
ShareHis leaving Detroit caused a big loss in all of our lives. His office with Rabbi Kesselman, his loving talks with Rabbi Gottlieb about their younger days in Crown Hts. and sitting in his place at the back of the shul next to Rabbi Yisroel Poltier and of course Rabbi Fuchs when he came into town. He could always tell you someplace or someone where you could find someone reliable and not expensive for almost anything. He made you smile all the time, even though he hardly ever did himself. They selflessly moved back to N.Y. so that their son, Dovid, could be taken care of well.
I am so sorry I missed the shiva meetings on Zoom and been able to join in. Our family wishes to say to all of the Z. family that we wish that they be comforted with the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem and that they all be well. “Rabbi Z” was a very special person and one of the large handful of Rabbi’s (and Shaindel and their great children) we’ve had in our community in Oak Park that made it such a great place for me and my family.