By COLlive reporter
Rabbi Shlomo Eisner, of the founders of the Crown Heights Jewish Community Council who helped Chabad causes, passed away Wednesday, Sivan 27, 5771.
He was 79.
Eisner lived in Brooklyn’s Crown Heights for many years and adopted Chabad customs and davened Nusach Ari, as he helped found the neighborhood’s government funded social services organization, CHJCC.
He used to fondly tell how his father, owner of a kosher hotel in Atlantic City, assisted the Previous Rebbe during his stay in New York in 1929.
Eisner’s father once took a train together with Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Schneersohn in Russia, where he bribed a guard to allow the future Rebbe to daven without disturbances.
“When the Rebbe was hungry, Mr. Eisner bought him a cucumber with a new knife to peel it, but the Friediker Rebbe took out his own knife that he toiveled (dipped in a Mikvah by a Jew),” a man familiar with the story told COLlive.
Rabbi Saul Eisner merited to a Yechidus – private audience with the Rebbe, in which he reported about his ongoing work with Lubavitch Youth Organization (Tzach) in New York.
After moving to Staten Island, he helped bring out the Shluchim Rabbi Moshe and Chani Katzman and establish the local Chabad House.
“He gave us our first $500 donation,” Rabbi Katzman told COLlive. “He was a good friend and frequently visited the Rebbe’s Ohel. In fact, a call was placed this morning when his health was deteriorating.”
Rabbi Katzman remembers chatting with Rabbi Eisner in front of Weinsteins on Kingston Avenue when the Rebbe passed by, raised his right hand and waved hello to Eisner.
Eisner was the kashrus supervisor for Igud HaRabonim (Rabbinical Alliance of America) and organized an annual Simchas Beis Hashoeiva celebration during Sukkos in his home.
He is survived by his wife Faiga Eisner.
The funeral will be held today, Wednesday and will pass 770 Eastern Parkway at 2:30 PM.
Baruch Dayan Haemes.
Rabbi Shlomo Eisner A”H was a varemmer Yid who made activities l’tovas haklal the focal point of his life. He and his wife, Faige, may she be well, hosted many a welcoming farbrengen in their Staten Island home. Those who knew R’ “Shloimeh” will miss him, his wry humor, and his perpetual concern for others. Ye’he zichro baruch.Dear Faige, you were a remarkable dugmah chaya of an aishes chayil par excellence. May Hashem reward your noble deeds and help you continue in your avodas haklal ad be’as Goel Tzedek.
Moshiach now!