By COLlive reporter
Rabbi Pinchos Korf, a long-time Mashpia who was one of the majestic Chassidic figures in the Crown Heights neighborhood, passed away on Tuesday night, 20 Tammuz, 5781.
He was 86.
Born in Kharkov, he was the son of Rabbi Yehoshua Korf, who was the Head Mashpia of Central Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim Lubavitch at 770 and one of the 3 “shepherds”(mashpiim) the Rebbe appointed to Crown Heights.
The family’s original name was Charitonov, but his grandfather R’ Gedalia changed it to avoid being drafted to the Soviet army and study in the underground Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim in Kremenchuk.
The Korfs were one of the Chassidic families were who smuggled out of the Soviet Union after the Second World War in what was called the “Russian exodus” in 5706-5707 (1945-1947).
When they settled in the second largest DP camp (“displaced persons”) in Pocking, Germany, R’ Pinye was from the first students in the Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim set up there.
He later learned at Tomchei Tmimim in Brunoy, France, under the great Mashpia Rabbi Nissan Nemenov, and at Tomchei Tmimim in Montreal, Canada. In 5713 (1952), he learned at the Yeshiva at 770.
Upon his marriage to his wife Chaya, he served as a Mashgiach at Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim in Newark, New Jersey (which has been relocated to Morristown). He served in the same role in the Yeshiva in Montreal.
In 5730, he moved back to Crown Heights and was appointed as a Mashpia at Beis Medrash Oholei Torah (Zal). In recent years, he served as a Mashpia at the 770 Yeshiva, continuing to teach and guide bochurim on spiritual matters.
His piety and sincerity, along with his hiskashrus and knowledge in Chassidus, have made him a role model for many.
He took an active part in Mivtzoim outreach efforts through Lubavitch Youth Organization (Tzach), Mivtza Mezuzah and the F.R.E.E. organization which serves immigrants from the former Soviet Union.
Rabbi Korf gave many shiurim in Chassidus in frum neighborhoods in New York. During one such trip, in Sivan 5743 (1984), he was assaulted by four or five Satmar Chassidim opposing Lubavitch. His beard was viciously cut.
2 weeks later, Satmar chossid Rabbi Mendel Vechter who learned Chassidus together with Rabbi Korf and Rabbi Yoel Kahn, the Rebbe’s head choizer (reviewing of his teachings), was beaten as well and his beard cut. After years of hostility, Satmar and Lubavitch now keep friendly connections.
For more than a year, he was in poor health since contracting Covid-19. His brother Rabbi Gedalia Korf passed at the age of 90 and his nephew Rabbi Yanky Korf passed away at the age of 62 after being infected during the pandemic.
He is survived by his wife Mrs. Chaya Korf, their children Mrs. Batsheva Gruzman – Migdal, Israel; Yosef Yitzchok Korf – Brooklyn, NY; Mrs. Chani Marinovsky – Kfar Daniel, Israel; Mrs. Rochel Landa – Toronto, Canada; Rabbi Mendy Korf – Toronto, Canada; Mrs. Nechama Dina Nemirovsky – Crown Heights; Rabbi Leibel Korf – Los Angeles, CA; Rabbi Benche Korf – Miami Beach, Florida; Rabbi Pesachya Korf – Crown Heights; Rabbi Berel Korf – Manchester, England; grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He is survived by his siblings Rabbi Avrohom Korf – Miami, Florida and Mrs. Batsheva Shemtov – Oak Park, Michigan.
The levaya will take place today, Wednesday, leaving Shomrei Hadas in Boro Park at 2:00 PM and passing by 770 at 3:00 PM.
Baruch Dayan Ha’emes: Pinchas ben Yehoshua.
So sad
No one like him
True chossid
is there a place where people can share their memories?
https://chat.whatsapp.com/Lvs9Lx4jQ9m6KQUVCGwAm7
Here’s a second group
Please Join and share your memories of him
https://chat.whatsapp.com/JwXwlvLRXq4CJ9IznHoZc6
Just, oy vey
We are so sorry to hear of this great loss. Rabbi Korf was the greatest source of inspiration to me just seeing him walking down Kingston Ave. A great loss for all of us. Moshiach now.
Baruch dayan haemes. Legend.
May he gather with all the Eltere Chassidim in Himmel to push Moshiach’s revelation out into our world!
I was so close to him, we sat for hours sometimes talking heart to heart, his love and care for another jew was felt by ANYONE that came within his presence. I am lost for words right now! He always spoke about believing that we will live to see the Rebbe once again and life to see Moshiach. he had so much amunah! i can not believe he didn’t make it to the finish line? how can this be? Hashem why???? he was the only living person I can think of who had any chance of being called a bainuni… Read more »
i felt the same, he was sympathetic warm and kind, when you talked to him he made you feel he’s REALLY listening his care and concern,,, then when i left town we wrote to each other many times a chossid like this arent many what a loss
יהודי צדיק
Recently, one of the Satmar people who attacked him and cut off his beard and Peyos (for teaching Tanya) was going through a personal hardship, and he came to Reb Pinya to ask him Mechila!
Reb Pinya was indeed Moichel him with all his heart without blinking an eye! But advised him to go to the Ohel and ask Mechila from the Rebbe as well!
Wow! Such Bitul! This exemplifies a true Chosid.
A true chosid !!! My beloved mashpia I will miss you.
Crying for this great loss.
Baruch dayan Hoemes.
Posted by a Shliach of nesi doreinu.
Levaya details?
It was quite incredible to me as a child that such a chassid was alive in our time and a father of children my age. He was truly of another generation. A true dugma chaya. A great loss for our community.
I grew up in Montreal, where he was the Mashpia in Zal. My father told me that as a boy, Reb Pinya was so careful that he refused to get into a car, which was such a novelty, that despite that, he refused because perhaps there was SHATNEZ in the seat fabric. Wow talk about a Chossid. Last week week in Daf Hayomei we learnt that DIN that SHATNEZ, even if not worn, lying on it, is a sin. He was defiantly a beneini and likely a tzaddik. He epitomized the word CHOSSID. I think his picture should be in… Read more »
Boruch dAyan haemes. What a big. Loss to our community. His presence enlightened every one here to do the right thing that the Rebbe left for us. He will together with rabbi Groner beg. hashem to bring Moshiach now that we will all be beachdus and ahavas yisroel.
In 1958 I was learning in Mesifta Beis Shraga in Monsey. Pinye was making some rounds in various yeshivos and he visited Beis Shraga also. This was my first real encounter with Lubavich. The rest is history.
Yeheskel Lebovic
R’ Pinye Korf is family. I knew him through my mother. I knew him through watching him walk down the street. i knew him from my husband who so admired him. I knew him through his daughter Basheva. My mother always loved him. As a cousin, as a beautiful human being, as a living example of the Chassidishe wealth she came from – The Rubinson family. He was a branch from a family of Chassidim whose Mesirash Nefesh know no bounds. Who lived their lives only thinking about what the Aibeshter and the Rebbe wants KGB (NKVD) be da–ed. He… Read more »
THE GREATEST OF ALL.
JUST A REAL CHOSID.
WE NEED MOSHIACH NOW.
Great loss
We morn the great loss of this true chassid
Oy! No words! The truest chosid of all times!!!
I remember as bochur going to his farbrengens on shabbos he would always say the same things same nigunim there was no “chidushim” or entertaining “speaches” just plain “real” but it would always inject in me a boost of life and true chayus..
חבל על דאבדין ולא משתחכין!
Though we’re all unique, he was unique in many positive ways. We were blessed to have him in our world and space, for which I’m grateful, and am sad that we do not anymore. My our memories of him warm us forward.
When I would see him walking down Kingston Avenue it would move me
to tap into a deeper truer place in my own neshama ..such was his very inspiring being..May we see him today with our Rebbe mhm
The younger generation will never really know of him
Interestingly, this week is Parshas Pinchas.
He was someone who exemplified bittul. He was batul to the Rebbe. And he was batul to everyone else too – he didn’t act like he deserved anything because he was an eltere chossid.
A loss of a true chossid. There is no one like him.
Boruch Dayan Haemes.
פיניע איז מיינער
What occasion?
Please share the specifics on this
He came on time to sader after r Yoel’s chasunah and the Rebbe walked into 770 and only saw R’ pinye, so the Rebbe said something like “צידען איז ער מיינער א בן יחיד?”
Shiva details?
Although I never personally met him, Reb Pinye Korf was a legend. We always cited him as the epitome of a Chassidishe Yid, and my sons were influenced by his knowledge and humility. His passing leaves a massive void in Chabad, and I send my condolences to Morah Chaya Korf who was my colleague in Beis Rivkah for many years.
Hamokom yenachem eschem b’soych sha’ar aveilay Zion v’Yerushalayim.
when we were first married, 46 years ago, we lived on president street between schnectedy and uttica. its wasn’t an easy block from a goshmius point of veiw.. As as new BT, however I realized that there was some very חשוב people on that block: Groner, Piekarski, Shusterman and of cousre Pinye and Chaya Korf. Didnt know too much about these people, their background, their lives, etc. after all I was recently from laid back California and pretty clueless of their spiritual depth and their tremendous meisirus nefesh. Yet, I did know that they were special and other worldly. Especially… Read more »