By COLlive reporter
Rabbi Shmuel Menachem Butman, a central figure in the Chabad-Lubavitch movement who lived and created history during the Rebbe’s life, passed away on Tuesday night, eve of 17 Tammuz 5784.
He was 81 and had recently suffered a heart condition.
Rabbi Butman was born on 24 Shvat 5703 in the Soviet Union to his parents, R’ Shneur Zalman Butman and Yehudis, a descendent of the Tzemach Tzedek. He was one of four children: Rabbi Sholom Ber Butman, who was a Mashpia in Tel Aviv; Mrs. Leah Kahn, wife of the Rebbe’s head choizer Reb Yoel Kahn; and Mrs. Miryam Swerdlov.
Following years of suffering under the Communist regime, the family was able to escape at the end of the Second World War. They settled in Paris, France, among the many Chassidim who made it their temporary home.
It was there that Rabbi Butman merited to meet the Rebbe when he came to Paris in 5707 to accompany his mother, Rebbetzin Chana Schneerson, to the United States.
This memorable interaction led Rabbi Butman to publish the historical book Harabi B’Paris—The Rebbe in Paris, detailing the three occasions the Rebbe spent time in the city.
But Rabbi Butman didn’t only witness and record history. He soon took an active role in fulfilling the Rebbe’s mission to reach every Jew, portray Judaism with pride, and prepare the world for the coming of Moshiach.
In 5726, he married Rochel Geisinsky, daughter of Rabbi Moshe Aharon Geisinsky and a granddaughter of the chossid R’ Meir Simcha Chein.
His most prominent role was Executive Director of the Lubavitch Youth Organization—Tzeirei Agudas Chabad Hamerkozis (“Tzach”), which was Chabad’s outreach arm in the New York area. It was a prototype of similar branches in the Holy Land of Israel, Montreal, Argentina, and elsewhere.
Working with Rabbi Dovid Raskin, Tzach oversaw Chabad centers in the area, coordinated Mitzvoim visits, organized the Mitzvah Tank Parades, and participated in many other iconic activities.
One of his most notable – and costly – endeavors was the creation of the World’s Largest Menorah designed by renowned artist Yaakov Agam. It visibly towers over Fifth Avenue in New York City, bringing Chanukah and its message of light to millions of people.
Another high-profile activity was the annual honoring of the Rebbe by the New York Governor and elected officials in Albany. Education Days would be proclaimed on the Rebbe’s birthday, the 11th of Nissan.
He served as the chairman of the International Siyum Harambam, celebrating the completion of the daily learning cycles of Mishneh Torah, the Rambam’s digest of Mitzvos of the Torah. He would organize large events in Crown Heights, most recently outside 770 Eastern Parkway.
Rabbi Butman served as Association of the Descendants of the Alter Rebbe (Igud HaTzetzoim), Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, founder of Chabad and author of the Tanya and Shulchan Aruch. The Rebbe encouraged the annual Melave Malka and the organization’s activities.
As a resident of Crown Heights and a community activist, Rabbi Butman addressed the funeral of Yankel Rosenbaum, the Jewish man murdered by a black mob during the infamous Crown Heights riots in 1991. He praised the actions of the police but voiced anger against the rioters, comparing their actions to European pogroms in the 19th century.
“First Crown Heights, then Washington Heights, then the Golan Heights. This is a Jewish issue. What happened in Crown Heights was not an isolated incident,” Rabbi Butman stated, adding: “This is not Poland in 1881. It’s the United States in 1991!”
Rabbi Butman not only worked to fight injustice, but worked with full faith that a better future awaits the entire world with the coming of the final redemption and revelation of Moshiach.
He established the International Campaign to Bring Moshiach. Its activities included a store in Crown Heights and rallies. Rabbi Butman has since left the organization.
In later years, Rabbi Butman has been part of the Chabad establishment and never stopped speaking and teaching about Moshiach at every opportunity.
Rabbi Butman often presented Chabad to the public, was interviewed on Jewish-related issues, and published his teachings and writings in media outlets. He published the L’Chaim weekly pamphlet since the 1980s and wrote a weekly column in the Jewish Press newspaper.
For the last 15 years, he hosted Motzoei Shabbos Live, a weekly program produced exclusively for community news service COLlive.com. Recorded on Thursday night, Rabbi Butman would share a story about the Rebbe that he personally verified and Sicha on the upcoming Parsha.
The program, and its Hebrew version on COL.org.il, was listened to and watched by thousands of Lubavitchers of all ages and backgrounds. One notable viewer was Rabbi Leibel Groner OBM, Mazkir of the Rebbe.
He is survived by his wife Mrs. Rochel Butman – Crown Heights, their children Rabbi Velvel Butman – Westchester, NY; Rabbi Yossi Butman – Crown Heights; Mrs. Yehudis Newman – Alexandria, Virginia; Mrs. Chana Korf – Miami Beach, Florida; Mrs. Bassie Munitz – Buffalo, NY; Mrs. Dassie Heber – Yorktown, NY; grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He is survived by his sisters Mrs. Leah Kahn and Mrs. Miryam Swerdlov, both of Crown Heights.
The Levaya will take place tomorrow, Tuesday, passing by 770 at 1 pm, burial at Montefiore Cemetery at 2 pm.
The family will be sitting Shiva at 772 Montgomery Street.
Visiting hours – 2nd floor:
9:00 AM– 12:00 PM
1:00 PM– 6:00 PM
7:00 PM– 10:00 PM
Shacharis: 1st Minyan – 7:30 AM
Shacharis: 2nd Minyan – 9:30 AM
Tue/Wed/Thurs/Sun
Mincha and Maariv B’zman
Friday
Mincha – 2:00 PM
Mrs. Leah Kahan is sitting Shiva from 5-10pm at
760 Eastern parkway.
The family asked that memories by sent to [email protected]
Baruch Dayan Ha’emes: Shmuel Menachem Mendel Ben Shneur Zalman.
He was a great Chosid
He influenced many yidden, especially through Rambam and the weekly L’chaim
Oh no! This is so sad! What a huge shock!
We need Moshiach Now!!!!! Please Hashem!
Then let’s do something about it to actively bring Moshiach! We must teach the world about Hashem!
אבד חסיד מן האר
אבד חסיד מן הארץ
wow! ad mosai! He passed away on the day of a siyum harambam (on sefer haflaah), in which he had a special koch! the zechus shoud stand for him!
I just started doing melave malca each week and his video along with a baal shem tov story where the highlights for my family. Such a great loss!
ברוך דיין האמת.
He was my good friend. I’ll never forget him. I’ll miss your hugs 🫂.
What a Great Loss for chabad & the jewish community at large! He was a real advocate of the coming of Moshiach!
May he go straight up to the כסא הכבוד & demand the Geula Shlaima right now!!
May Hashem give the family strength and comfort. Moshiach NOW NOW NOW!
…on Jewish radio!!!
Baruch dayan ha’emes!
His show was on the International Channel on cable TV.
So so shocked!!
בד״ה 🕯️
שיהפכו הימים האלו וכו׳
והקיצו ורננו וכו׳
למטה מי׳ טפחים
ובחסד וברחמים!!!
ברוך דיין האמת
Rabbi Butman ע”ה was a legend and will be missed.
The Rebbe’s directives were not only dear to him, he took them seriously and worked diligently to fulfill them and bring the Rebbe nachas.
Another one of his many peulos was the dividing the Rebbe’s teachings and the Alter Rebbe’s Shulchan Aruch to be learned by Anash.
הקיצו ורננו תומ”י ממש
Rabbi Butman picked up his phone or returned my calls about chinuch issues, his concerns for all was legendary
What a giant with a kind pure heart. Always soft spoken, never held his head up (too high) even though he had plenty for….
א טייערע חסידעשע איד. א ש״ב פון רבים
אן אויסע געוויינליכן באל מנגן און בעל תפילה
ברוך דיין האמת. משיח נאו
Rabbi Butman was mekushar to the Rebbe 100%. Such a devoted chossid, humble, with so much kindness and an incredible person overall. He lived Moshiach and inspired tens of thousands. Such a sad day. Moshiach NOW! Ad mosai!!!
The Count Elkaim Family
My deepest condolences to the Butman family. We lost a genius of a man.
True chosid the world lost.
May the family be comforted and VERY SOON reunited with him b’guf gashmi with the coming of Moshiach now!!
An iconic figure in Lubavitch.
May the family be comforted.
May he demand moshiach up on high.
Such a dedicated chosid and oved Hashem. May Rabbi Butman be zoche to convince Hashem to bring Moshiach now!, with the geula shlaima.
הרב בוטמאן הי’ תלמיד חכם גדול אויף א ברייטען פארנעם. הוא אף קבל סמיכה להוראה מהגאון הרב פינחס הירשפרונג ז”ל ראב”ד ורב הראשי דהעיר תהלה מאנטרעל וראש ישיבת תומכי תמימים ליובאוויטש דשם. הרב הירשפרונג התבטא אחר כך לאחד מאנשי קהילתו באמרו: “היינט זענען בא מיר געווען צוויי ליובאוויטשער בחורים (הרב בוטמאן ויבדלח”ט הרב לייבל יחי’ נוימאן שנעשה אחר
כך ברבות השנים למחותנו של הרב בוטמאן) איך האב זיי שווער פארהערט און זיי האבן זייער גוט געקאנט”.
יהא זכרו ברוך
!!
Boruch dayan ha emes.
I didn’t know Rabbi Butman personally, but I had the feeling I did thanks to his wonderful weekly videos. He was such an inspiring chosid. There are no words to describe the loss.
A great chasid. One of a kind
Tremendous loss for the community and in fact world Jewery
He will be missed by all of us
chabad are losing legends of leadership
rabbi butman spearheaded chabad in New York and was a mentor to thousands, things will never be the same again
BDE rabbi Butman did a lot of good things such as Suyim Hrambam Public menorah, lighting Simchas Bais Hashanah Lubaivch youth organization anyway, I want to see is he was kind of a person that care each and everyone of us in the community and to all over the world he was so involved the power that he speaks so amazing regarding with our brothers and sisters in Israel we should only hear many more good news and we Moshaich now
B”DH
Moshiach Now
The Golus had just gotten darker. Why have we lost so many giants? Tachlis is:
נתהוה לו דירה זו בתחתונים Hashem wants His Home here DOWN BELOW?! The goal is Neshomos Bgufim. Seems to be things are going in the opposite direction. Hashem, we feel so alone. You’ve taken away the Best of the Best! Why take them upstairs only to be brought BACK DOWN HERE!
MOSHIACH NOW! We’ve been singing this song way TOO LONG! Please no more pain. And for REAL – MOSHIACH NOW!
This saddens me as we are close in age . I recall in 1991 after the racial riot in the neighborhood subsided Rabbi Butman addressed our modern orthodox shul on a weekday night to clarify the unfortunate events and the aftermath that ensued
I am no longer very Torah observant, but I used to listen to Rabbi Butman because he was an amazing communicator, and he was non-threatening and proper. I’ll miss him.
His Torah videos are available as before. You can continue to be inspired untill the coming on Moshiach G-d Willing speedily in our
days.
BDH
Came into our home every motzei Shabbat when my husband would turn on the computer to listen to his divrei
Torah…to his stories. Such a great loss. May he watch over us from shamayim
A man of awesome achievements in hafotzas haYahadus. A devoted chossid. A great loss for klal Yisroel!
One less person that knew the Rebbe.