By COLlive reporter
Rabbi Ori Shonthal, long-time Director of Ecole Primaire Beth Rivkah, a Lubavitch girls school in France, passed away on Erev Yom Kippur, Tishrei 9, 5772.
He was 76.
The tragic news came as the Jewish community in the city of Yerres were in their final preparations for the holiest Jewish day of the year.
Rabbi Shonthal went to the Mikvah and upon coming back home, went to his bed and lay down and passed away.
Students of Beth Rivkah received the news in shock as just that week, the rabbi gave them a shiur in Tanya. Over the fast day, many tears were shed over him.
“It’s hard for me to speak about him in the past tense,” F.B., a former student, told COLlive. “For us, he is still our menahel.”
“He treated each student with personal care and worried for our gashmius and ruchnius. Although he taught many throughout the years, he remembered everyone’s name. We all felt as if he was our father.”
She added that “whenever we went into his office, he was learning with a sefer.” Rabbi Ori Yehuda Yosef Shonthal was a known talmid chacham.
The former student added that the principal “was very stringent on our tznius and midos, but was very understanding of the soul of each one.”
He is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as thousands of students.
Baruch Dayan Haemes.
I was privileged to be his student for 2 years.He was as wise in secular matters as he was in Jewish ones..So easy to talk to,always had good advice,great sense of humor,available to talk to when ever needed.Treated everyone with understanding for their individual concerns and spoke to everyone on their own unique level. If not for him Im sure many girls who attented seminary may not have because he eccepted many girls that probably would not have been eccepted elsewhere. I am trully shocked & saddened by his passing.He was a towering man,a gentle giant,both physically and emotionally.He seemed… Read more »
i remeber as a child he would come to the 7.00 minon and have a Shiur with some one. i think he came close to chabad later on in life started to learn Chsidus. and then moved his kids to chabad and moved to become the B.R princable in france. my sister went there and she would say how his house was next to the Sem and was part of the Sem any 1 at any time would go for his help etc. he was very worm and open. made MANY shiduchim. may his neshomo have an aliah
I was saddened and pained to hear of the passing of my wonderful principal Rav Schontal. Rav Schonthal was a giant of a man yet so humble. After graduating I called him at his home on several occasions to discuss things with him, like a granddaughter asking advice of her grandfather. Rav Schontal was so down to earth yet he had expectations of his students and expected us to deliver. His lessons and teachings will always be a part of me. My deepest condolences to Mrs Schontal and the Rav’s children, may we be reunited with moshiach now! Dubi (Riven)… Read more »
hamokom yenachem eschem betoch avelei tsiyon
Our family lived around the corner form the Schontals for many years and we had the Zechus of having Rabbi Schnotal give a Shiur at our home each Shabbos afternoon to all women from various Jewish backgrounds.
A true Torah Giant and very humble and gentle soul.
To his entire family we extend our sincere condolences of this sudden and great loss and wish you all only happiness and comfort from this time forward.
Mendy Solomon (on behalf of all the Solomon’s)
Short Hills NJ
tears tears and more tears.
Rabbi Shonthal zt’l, i was with you for nearly 4 years of my life at an early age from 16 till 19years old when you made my shidduch 27years ago, you were my mentor/father/friend and my heart ache to know that i will not see you again, you treated me and all girls as your only child and within my time at Beis Rivka you were always there for me when i needed something or just needed to talk. You guide me in my future in which direction to go! You will always have a special place in our heart… Read more »
My Daughter was at the levoya in Israel she mentiond to me how there was around 200 people and the fact that one man a bossor v’dom could bring people from all walks of life together, be it frum not frum, sefardim ashkenazim, meshichist or not of the same views, Rabboisie what have we lost ? did we appriceate truly what we had ? Please H’K’B’H bring moshiach now we must put presure on botie din around the world to demand moshiach to come now now now
I hope and daven that the people that want to take over the seminary follow his AHAVAS YISROEL for every yidishe neshomah as they run the sem
I loved him so much as a father mashpiah freind a tru example of a chossid
I was with you my 2 years in seminary and you were my mentor, “my father” and what not! I was shocked to hear the sad news. I cried and sobbed bitterly today; my heart is in agony. As this arduous day passes, I realize that I have to accept your passing but only if you daven for all of klal Yisroel in Shomayim. Rav Schontal, please beseach Hashem to send Moshiach son we can have you back with us along with the rest of the yidden who have yet to return to their loved ones. The pain is unbearable.… Read more »
Papa, this was such a shock for us all. We will miss you dearly. Please daven for all of us.
Love your grandson, Ezzy
RABBI SCHONTHAL WILL BE GREATLY MISSED!
BDE
i met you a few times, i wish it would have been more times. we spoke a few times, you had a very intresting outlook, saw the world in a way most dont. i miss miss you. and i am sorry.
i dont know who this is but this story is touching
We had the z’chus of having Rabbi Schonthal amongst us for too few years. He was the most ehrlicher tzaddik several students were fortunate to call principal, myself included. Everything he did was purely l’shaym shomayim. He was, is and will always be a shining example of what a true yiddishe Principal and mensch is. Probably the only Principal in the world who accepted students from all different backgrounds, rich, poor and even poorer, and treated everyone excatly the same.
What a welcome Rabbi Schonthal is receiving now in Shomayim.
Hamokom yenachem eschem bsoch sha’ar avlei tzion vyerushalayim
baruch dayan haemes
Wishing Mrs. Shontal, her dear Children and Family, a long and healthy life, and only Simchas and Nachas from now on.
We knew the Shontal’s from London, when they lived there, before they moved to France. We are sending our condolences. HAMOKOM YENACHEM ESHEM BETOCH SHAAR AVELEI ZION VIYERUSHOLAYIM.
Sad news…he was a tzadik…first cousin with rabbi lau .over a thousand people present at his levy..
Knew him very well whilst he lived in London. A wonderful person, very knowledgeable on all matters and a good sense of humour. Shocked to hear the news of his passing so soon in life. He was a very good teacher and was not given the possibility to teach in London Chabas mosdos, therefore he took his wonderful talents abroad, where they were finally were acknowledged in Bais Rivkah. May Hashem give all the family and friends the strength to overcome their loss.
Rabbi Schontal a”h, was actually exclusively responsible of the seminary.
WE ARE ALL VERY SAD TO HERE THIS , HASHEM GIVE THE WHOLE FAMILY STRENGTH. He was a very nice person i spent many days in his home.
BORUCH DAYAN HOEMES!
A groise Tzaddik, may his Neshuma have only the greatest Aliyos in the Shomayim!
he was a very special person.
HAMOKOM YENACHEM ESCHEM BETOCH SHAAR AVELEI TZION VIYERUSHOLAYIM.
IT IS SO SAD. MAY HASHEM GIVE STRENGTH TO HIS FAMILY. I NEVER HAD THE ZECHUS TO MEET THE RAV.
IN MY TIME IT WAS HARAV SHLAME LECHAIM TOVIM VEARUCHIM.
MY OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS WHO LEARNED UNDER HIS WATCH, LOVE HIS MANNERS, HIS MENCHLICHKEIT, AND COURAGE HE SO ELOQUENTLY BESTOWED ON THEM. HE WILL BE SORELY MISSED.
IT IS A NEW YEAR AND MOSHIACH MUST COME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What an exceptional person.He genuinely cared for every pupil.A true talmid chochom.May his family be comforted at this sad time but knowing how many lives he affected for the good.
rachmone letzlan!!!
He didn’t tell his wife, she found him downstairs on the guest bed
Such a tragedy! Such a loss! May Hashem comfort his wife nad family and give them the strength to overcome this tragic passing
Yehi ratzon milfonecha, Hashem Eilokeinu v’Eilokei avoiseinu, she hashonah hazeh lo yihiyeh Tzaddik echod niftar mei haoilom hazeh. Viyishlach bracho v’hatzlocho v’moshiach tzidkeinu bimheyrah viyomeinu omain seloh.