Rabbi Shimon Goldman, one of the original Shanghai students and longtime resident of Crown Heights, passed away on Monday, 29 Tishrei, 5777.
He was 91.
Rabbi Goldman was born in Shedlitz, a town near Warsaw, Poland with a sizable Jewish community.
In his memoirs, “From Shedlitz to Safety,” Rabbi Goldman describes his miraculous escape from the Nazis, and at 14, traveling with the students of Tomchei Temimim from Poland through Vilna and Lithuania, crossing Siberia to Vladivostok, sailing the Sea of Japan to Kobe, and ending up in Shanghai, China after Pearl Harbor.
Later emigrating to New York, he married his wife Esther, daughter of the legendary Chosid Reb Yochonon Gordon, the Gabbai in the Rebbe’s Shul for many years until his passing in 1969.
Rabbi Goldman ran a Gemilas Chesed Gmach for many years in Crown Heights, providing interest free loans to members of the community.
He and his wife were known for their dedication to Gemilas Chesed and open home.
His wife Esther passed away in 2013.
He is survived by his children Rabbi Yossy Goldman – Shliach in Johannesburg, South Africa; Kraindy Klein and Shmuly Goldman of Crown Heights, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
His daughter Chanchy (Chana Leah) Brook passed away in 2010.
The Levaya will take place tomorrow, Tuesday, leaving Shomrei Hadas in Boro Park at 10:45 am and passing by 770 at 11:45 am.
The Goldman family is sitting shiva after the passing of their father, R’ Shimon Goldman at 1582 Carroll Street, getting up Monday morning.
Shacharis on Wednesday at 8:30.
Shacharis the rest of the week at 7:00 and 8:30
Mincha at 4:15 and 5:30
Maariv b’zman.
Please no visitors between 1 and 3 PM and after 9:30 PM.
Baruch Dayan Ha’emes.
for providing myriad photos of the Beis Rivkah students giving kavod to Rabbi Goldman, obm at his levaya… There are many stories to be told about Rabbi Goldman. His sweetness, his beautiful smile…. As the mother of a son named Chaim Ozer, after the Gadol Rav Chaim Ozer, ZT’L, when I would meet Rabbi Goldman and I was introduced as one of his customers, I would respond that I am the mother of Chaim Ozer. BH sometimes he would launch into a description of his participation at Rav Chaim Ozer’s levaya. “We were all there!” he would say! Not only… Read more »
How funny it was when I walked into Rabbi Shimon Goldman A”H’s store one early spring morning pushing a baby carriage and he asked who’s baby it was. He was so surprised to hear it was my newborn son, as he had no idea I was expecting! He was a true chosid, a frum, erliche man who just assumed I looked heavy because of the winter coat I had been wearing. In the ’90’s when I found myself a single mom of little children, Rabbi Goldman asked me why I had stopped coming to his butcher store on Coney Island… Read more »
yinachem eschem b’soch she’ar avaylay tzion viyrushalayim.
603 Empire Blvd. was not only a source of Gemilas Chassadim.
It was a treasure chest of Chassidic warmth and lore as well.
I greatly treasured my visits with him. He was a unique
Chassidic personality. Yihei zichro baruch.
Rabbi Moshe Feller and Mindy
My sincere condolences to the entire family. I concur with #13. How is it possible that this was omitted??? Is anyone aware that Beis Rivka was closing its doors in the late 60’s until Rabbi Shimon Goldman A”H, Rabbi Mordecai Rivkin A”H and Mr Gavriel Rubaszkin tzu langer gesunter yahren) stepped in and saved the Rebbe’s school? For more than 25 years they selflessly made sure that every teacher was paid on time, week in, week out. The thousands of hours and personal funds they spent has yet to be acknowledged and thanked. #20 you are missing the point. We… Read more »
Rather than merely including what you feel was omitted perhaps you can give l’Kaf zchus that reporting day-after-day one loss after another,one is simply human and can perhaps be overwhelmed? Several decades ago, before the advent of COL, CHI and Shmais, I suggested that there be a system among block reps to inform one’s neighbors when there are shiva calls that need to be made. I was chastised for suggesting that one would want to report “negative news!” These sites are invaluable in informing us about what we need to know and each site welcomes any additional information that may… Read more »
Our condolences to the whole family. From, Vita Goldstein, a friend of Pesha Ziv, Rehovot, Israel
In 1974, he loaned me $150 so I could buy tefillin from Rabbi Matlin. May both men have a licthtig Gan Eden. and may the Goldman family and clal Yisroel be comforted for his loss
Leibel Estrin
Surely he goes forth with a great entourage of holy “Malochim” created from all the acts of kindness that both he and his wife performed (even when he was in poor health). Just as assuredly they will smooth and prepare his path for the great arrival celebration that awaits him in “Gan Eden”.
אני בדיוק באמצע לקרוא את הספר שלו its an outstanding story and in middle of reading it i find out he passed away.
its an amazing yid just reading the book gives me התעוררות
ברוך דיין האמת
Yisroel Shomer was a great care assistance to him,what a loss!
I just finished re-reading your article on the passing of Reb Shimon Goldman. I could not believe you omitted a huge part of his accomplishments! Reb Shimon was MISTER BAIS RIVKAH. He along with Reb Mordechai Rivkin and Reb Gavrial Rubashkin (tzu lange yahr) were the pillars of Bais Rivkah for many years.. Their devotion was unprecedented and this omission is sadly indicative of your reporting. It is always important to tell the “whole” story!
A long-time customer of Rabbi Goldman’s butcher shop, we were fortunate to develop a warm connection with Rabbi Goldman and his dear wife, Mrs. Esther Goldman, obm, During conversations over the years, we learned that when Rabbi Goldman was 15 years of age, he was one of the shomrim at the levaya of Rav Chaim Ozer Grodzinski, ZT”L the Gaon of Vilna, who was not only a close friend of the Rebbe Rayatz, ZY’A, but was responsible for ending the rift that existed between the Chassidim and Misnagdim. We have lost a dear, dear friend, a warm, devoted individual, who… Read more »
ברוך דיין האמת
Yes, I too, benefited and enjoyed their hospitality for many years as an out of town member of Anash.
BDE he was a wonderful man we want moshiach now .
BDE, he was a good man…
…and it was a tiny apartment
BARUCH DAYAN HOEMES
SUCH A SWEET KIND MAN
I USED TO SO MUCH ENJOY SPEAKING TO HIM
MAY THE FAMILY KNOW ONLY SIMCHAS FROM NOW ON
BDE…
The Hachnasas Orchim of Shimon and Esther Goldman was outstanding. I spent hundreds of Shabassim at their table and their house was always full of guests. I remember times that that they had over 20 guests sleeping over in their home on 443 Crown Street. They always excelled in making every guest feel comfortable.
Yossi Gordon
Melbourne Australia
BDE! Rabbi Goldman was among the original pillars of our community. Active in all arenas, chinuch, chesed and gemilas chassadim. Along with his beautiful wife a”h, they helped build the essentials of what a community is all about and raised a loving, giving and productive family as well.
May he be a gutteh better for all and may the Aibishter comfort his family as only he can.
Chaya Klein
another member appointed by the rebbe leaves us
What a man!!!!!