Rabbi Shalom Gurewicz, 56, OBM

By COLlive reporter

Rabbi Shalom Gurewicz, who spent his life in the kashrus field and had a positive influence on many people in his travels and encounters, passed away on Shabbos, 10 Nissan 5780.

He was 56 and was infected by coronavirus.

Rabbi Gurewicz served for many years as the rabbinical coordinator for the Kof-K Kosher supervision in Chicago and the midwest and was dedicated to upholding kashrus standards.

In 2010, Rabbi Gurewicz wrote an article for COLlive.com describing his visit to R’ Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin while he was in an Iowa prison.

In the article, he wrote: “My zeida, Nochum Zalman Gurewicz, once took my aunt Ida to see the Lubavitcher Rebbe. She told the Rebbe that her husband Hershel was not a Chossid but a ‘finer poshuter yid’- a simple Jew (in fact he was a Yid a Talmud Chochom). The Rebbe answered her ‘un vos is a Chossid? A finer poshuter Yid!’- ‘and what is a Chossid, a fine simple Jew’.”

Down to earth and approachable, Rabbi Gurewicz was both a chossid who was dedicated to ways of Torah and Chassidus. He was part of the Chabad community in Chicago for many years, and had recently moved to Pomona, New York.

“He had an open home through which he and his wife were welcoming all types of people,” a relative told COLlive.com. “So many people become closer to Yiddishkeit because of them and through them.”

He is survived by Mrs. Chaya Sara (nee Korbel), his children Mrs. Chana Feigel Hyams – London, England; R’ Dov Ber Gurewicz – Holywood, Florida; Rikki Honickman – Chicago; Mrs. Layle Kenigsberg – New Jersey; Mendel, Menucha – Pomona, NY; grandchildren.

He is survived his parents Rabbi Shmuel and Chava Gurewicz – Melbourne, Australia; and his siblings R’ Shaul Gurewicz – Kfar Chabad, Israel; Mrs. Hadassa Neparstek – Melbourne, Australia; R’ Shloimy Gurewicz – Ashdod, Israel, and Mrs. Chagit Rimler – Melbourne, Australia.

Baruch Dayan Ha’emes – Sholom ben Shmuel Halevi.