By COLlive reporter
Rabbi Yehoshua Wilansky, a kindhearted Lubavitcher chossid who has been a long time resident of Crown Heights, passed away on Shabbos, 20 Shevat, 5779.
He was 87.
Raised in Brooklyn, R’ Shea was an only child to his parents. When his father passed away at a young age, his mother enrolled him in Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim Lubavitch in New York, making him one of its first students.
When he turned 13, his Bar Mitzvah celebration was hosted for him in 770 Eastern Parkway by Mrs. Chana Gurary, daughter of the Frierdiker Rebbe and wife of the Rashag.
As a bochur, Wilansky delivered meat for local kosher butchers and one of his delivery stops was the home of the Ramash, as the Rebbe was then known, and Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Schneerson. With the tips that he got, Wilansky would purchase food for Shabbos.
To expand his income, Wilansky later started a car service in the neighborhood and had the merit of personally driving the Rebbe on three different occasions.
After the passing of the Frierdiker Rebbe in 1950, Wilansky was one of the chassidim worldwide who signed the petition urging the Rebbe to take on the leadership of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement which eventually happened on the 10th of Shvat (5711) 1951.
As a bochur, he was sent to Rochester, NY to study shechita and he later also learned to be a mohel.
After his marriage to his wife Nechama, the couple moved on Shlichus to Bridgeport, Connecticut, where he served as a teacher of the Jewish school.
On the advice of the Rebbe, the couple moved back to Crown Heights to provide adequate chinuch for their children. The chinuch he provided was later reflected in his descendants becoming Shluchim themselves.
Family members described him as the embodiment of ahavas yisroel, with his home always open and welcoming to family and strangers alike.
“His family meant the world to him and he made sure to be at all their simchas,” COLlive.com was told. “He always had a friendly smile and was loved by everyone who knew him.”
In 2009, at the age of 78, “Zaidy Wilansky” completed learning the entire Shas and held a Siyum celebration participated in by family and members of Kollel Tiferes Zkeinim Levi Yitzchok at 770.
He said that the decision came at the age of 59 when he wondered what he would answer when asked in Heaven after his passing, ‘Shea, what did you learn in this world?’ He went on to decide to “get through Shas, even though I didn’t know if I would be able to do it.”
He was predeceased by his wife Mrs. Nechama Wilansky on 1 Teves 5771.
He is survived by his children, Rabbi Yossi Wilansky – Montreal, Canada; Rabbi Dovid Wilansky – Elizabeth, NJ; Rabbi Moshe Wilansky – Portland, Maine; Rabbi Chaim Wilansky – Crown Heights; Mrs. Toby Halon – Crown Heights; grandchildren and great grandchildren.
The levaya will take place tomorrow, Sunday, at Shomrei Hadas at 10am and passing by 770 at 11am.
Shiva will be at 1455 Carroll Street.
Shacharis
630am
730am
830am
930am
Mincha and maariv bzman
4 Minyanim needed.
Baruch Dayan Ha’emes: Yehoshua ben Dovid Leib
A true friend to my family. His kindness will always be remembered. Esther Mentz
ה’ ינחם אתכם בתוך שאר אבלי ציון ירושלים
Shmuel & Devora Markovits Sydney
He was such an Eidel, refined person. Totally given over with heart and soul to the Rebbe. He was our Father’s very good friend when being friends actually meant something, (as shown in the newspaper clipping above) for well over 50 years. He would visit my father in the hospital daily and stay there for hours even while my father was resting just so not to leave his friend alone. Reb Shia was one of a kind. He leaves a beautiful family imbued with his values which were as long as the land and as wide as the sea. His… Read more »
I’ve known Shea Wilansky from ‘K’hal Chassidim’ ‘ship and the area for many years.
Great, good- hearted ‘Chabbadnick.’
Very saddened to hear.
בד”א
Kind to everyone.
בס”ד
we met R’Shea maybe 40 – 50 years ago, did not see again until last year when we became two times machatonim; our grand daughter Chaya Mushka (Skoonie) Turner married Boruch Shneer Zalmon Walinsky, Montrael == AND == a few weeks later, our grandson Yossi Lesches married Sorah Walinsky, Crown Heights.
ה מקוים ינחם אתכם בתוך שאר אבלי ציון ירושלים .
Hesha and Shabsi Chaim Turner, Chicago
he was such a nice man such a mentch and I would always think of him and by licht benching daven for his full recovery. so sad
My cousin sherwin was a wonderful person and I’m glad I was able to have a relationship with him. He was my maternal bubble first cousin and I will miss him. May his neshama have an aliyah
Boruch Dayan HaEmes. So sorry for this loss. I am sure he will continue to learn through shas with his good friend and fellow tomim Rabbi Shlomo Zalman HaLevi Stern in the Mesivta DeRakiya
Boruch Dayan HaEmes. So sorry for this loss
Nobody like TOBY – we can all learn a lesson from her (and her husband and children) in how to care for our elder parents.
BDE.A sweet man with kind words and optimism
Moshiach NOW
Such a good Neshama
Bde
He was such a special person. Yid and friend. In all the years I’ve known the wolinsky’s, o never heard anything but positive words from him.
Miss you zeidy. Best story teller ever!!
His mother didn’t want him to have an issue with his citizenship im inland future and therefore left Newfoundland, arrived in NY to give birth to him so he can be born an American, and travelled back.
What a special yid reb yeshua bring us down moshiach
He was a really holy man
According to what he told me he was born in S Johns, Newfoundland and brought to NY by his mother at age 10 when a German submarine was seen off the coast of Newfoundland. Of all the yeshivas in NY only.Lubavitch agreed to take him in.
A real fine eidel yid and chosid serious minded and focused always with a friendly disposition and smile.
ת.נ.צ.ב.ה
BDE.
Toby has been a true example of infinite kibid avvaem. May Hashem grant her infinite health wealth and nachas. Rey special unassuming woman.
Was a great man…
I remember him fondly from east flatbush days.The kindest and most gentle Chassid!
His Children are all wonderful human beings.
May His Neshama Generate much brocha to his family.
The real deal-Ovad Chassid Min Haaretz
Rabbi Yisroel (Ben R’Avraham ZTL) Hecht and family
So emestik, so kind, so fine.
He was a example of what a Lubavitcher Chosid should be like.
He together with his wife were special people and raised a wonderful fine family of children.