Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu Fogelman, a longtime resident of Crown Heights and veteran educator, passed away on Thursday, Elul 19, 5778.
He was 88.
Rabbi Fogelman was the son of R’ Chaim Elchonon Fogelman, a student in Lubavitch in Russia, who later merited to go with the Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe to visit President Herbert Hoover in Washington, DC.
Rabbi Shmuel was born in Brooklyn, and he had the special merit to have the Frierdiker Rebbe as the Sandek at his Bris, where he was named after his grandfather, who served as the Gabbai of Colel Chabad.
The white lace outfit which Rabbi Fogelman wore at his Bris while the Friediker Rebbe held him is now used at every descendant’s Bris or Badeken.
During the Bris seudah an appeal was made for the Rebbe’s mosdos and for Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim – United Lubavitcher Yeshiva. Guests donated and the Bris was an even more joyous occasion.
It seems that Rabbi Fogelman was destined from the very start to be involved in the holy mosad of the United Lubavitcher Yeshiva, which he did for most of his life.
After growing up in Passaic, NJ, he became one of the first students in Tomchei Temimim in 770.
He was one of the ten Shluchim that the Rebbe sent to strengthen the Kfar Chabad community in Israel, after five boys were murdered.
The Rebbe was Mesader Kedushin at his wedding to Shaindel Shimanowitz, and he settled in Crown Heights, where he was a very active member of the Crown Heights community.
The Rebbe pushed and encouraged him to serve in Chinuch, and he became a veteran and beloved educator, serving in various mosdos until as recently as last year.
He was a long-time educator in Lubavitch Yeshiva, first on Bedford and Dean, then Ocean Parkway and on Crown Street, where he served as the principal.
He was the director of Gan Israel of Detroit for 10 years, and also worked for Bais Rivkah for some time.
He was known for his special care for all of the students, he loved to interact with them, and encouraged them, bringing out the best in each child.
He was also known as a sincere chosid who loved the Rebbe, and loved to learn. “He was an example of how a person should be,” a family friend said.
He was also very involved in the Ksav Sofer Shul near his home, putting in much effort to make sure that it remains active.
He is survived by his wife, Shaindel, and children Rochel Ascher, Malky Freund, Faygie Shagalow and Chaim Fogelman, grandchildren and great-granchildren.
The levaya will take place today, Thursday, leaving Shomrei Hadas in Boro Park at 12:00 pm and passing by 770 at 12:30 pm.
The Fogelman family will be sitting Shiva at 648 Empire Blvd.
Shacharis at 9:30AM
Mincha and Maariv bezmono
Shiva hours: 10AM -10PM
Baruch Dayan Ha’emes.
He was a good friend.
He will be missed.
Rabbi Fogelman was one of those chassidim I always thought would be with us to greet Moshiach. His very presence never failed to arouse feelings of optimism and a contagious “s’vet zein guht” attitude.
He will be missed.
We were very saddened to hear of the passing of Rabbi Fogelman obm. After viewing the articles, the amazing legacy, history and the many accolades bestowed upon him,we are even more humbled that this Rabbi and his family were are personal friends! Yes, I even remember working for him at Bais Rivkah. I remember him being involved in raising my sons thru the Yeshiva systems. I remember how they would come home from line up on the blue court and give the quote of the day from Rabbi Fogelman, The most famous “don’t volunteer information.” That kept them out of… Read more »
I am one of the countless תלמידים that Rabbi Fogelman raised. He had a distinct way of calling each of us, either by extenuating our last name with some cute pronunciation or he had a nickname for you. This is the way he continued to address me to the last time I had the joy of seeing him (a stretch in excess of 40 years). When I was old enough to understand I realized that he did this to underscore to each תלמיד his personal care and concern of each us. This was not a teaching skill he had acquired,… Read more »
ברוך דיין האמת .
baruch dayan haemes
really very sad may we merit the coming of moshiach speedily in our days
We are deeply saddened to hear about the passing of this unique individual. I have so many fond memories of the Fogelman family and “Good ‘ol Shmuel” as my father would refer of him. My father, Reb Efraim Moscowitz was a chaver of his going back to the early 1940s in 770 (Bedford and Dean). I personally remember “the Rebbe’s garbage” in Detroit camp (see above comment). When I studied in 770 and wanted to come over for the Friday night meal, which I often did, it was open door… no prior notice required. How amazing it was to hear… Read more »
I remember when i was in ocean pkwy he would allways ask me what am i learning. I remember that one year i was in 8th grade i was learning gamara kidushin and he would ask me different questions and i felt like he was a caring person
He was very dignified.
Very fond memories of Rabbi Fogelman as my principal on Crown Street. He was always so nice to me. When speaking with him you could tell that he genuinely cared about you. Such warmth. He will be missed.
He was a very special person
My Sincere Condolences for Chaim שי, a great friend Kolel and 770, a fruit does not fell far from the tree, so I am sure there are no words to describe his father OBM.
Y. Kamnitzer
Warm wonderful man and family. I lived in your upstairs apartment 36 years ago
Devorah Elian Emanuel
I remember (probably about decades ago) Reb Shmuel saw a father with his family going downhill financially and this family wasn’t able to make ends meet. Reb Shmuel went to all the Shuls……. and especially his Hub Shul Kesav Sofor to make an appeal to get this family out of that danger.
May Reb Shmuels Neshama have Ann Aliya.
He will surely be missed to the community
I recall very fondly, seeing pick up garbage from the grounds at Camp Gan Yisroel in Detroit. I asked him Why are you picking up? there are workers who can do that? His answer “It’s the rebbes garbage, youwant goyim to pick it up?” A real chosid! BDE
My dear and beloved 4th grade Rebbe 1960 in Bedford and Dean. He was a par excellence Rebbe and mechaneach. He would divide the class, based on your learning goals and accomplishments, by naming the boys, Taynoim, Amoroim, Geonim, Rishonim and Achronim. That’s how he would line us up and were released from class everyday. I still have a Tehillas Hashem Siddur that I was given as being one of the Taynoim. He was a GREAT and humble man, with a great sense of humor and full of life. A GREAT loss for his immediate family and Lubavitch. BDE.
When I came to the ULY @ 11 years old from Cincinnati , Ohio Rabbi Fogelman was my 6th grade English teacher . He took a personal interest in my well being as I was an out of town boy . In one of the attached pictures Mayor Koch is talking to the Rebbe and I am standing behind as I was working in City Hall for the Mayor , Rabbi Fogelman is there as a Community Askan . He will be missed , Tehey Zicro Boruch .
I remember him In the summer of 1970; I was 11 years old. He was the director of activities at Camp Gan Israel, in Flint, Mi. I had subsequent, pleasant encounters with him when I lived In Crown Heights, many years later. What a great loss; He will be greatly missed.
BDE – Will be missed by all of us.
Wonderful person and Chosid. Good friend.
May Hashem comfort his family and us all with the coming of Moshiach NOW!
#2
I remember this as well. My boys used to come home and tell me about the dollar for a chassidihe haircut.
BDE a fine man . Left very fine generations.
I WENT TO YESHIVA AT BEDFORD & DEAN ST.ALSO
KNOWN AS 19 GRANT SQ.. R’SMUEL WAS LOVED BY US
ALL. AS A MEMBER OF THE ULY BOARD OF DIRECTORS
WE WISH OUR CONDOLENCES TO ALL HIS MISPOSHO
a GREAT LOSS.
BDE. So sorry to hear the loss of your father. He was a real,tzaddik.
Growing up I lived a few houses away from R Shmuel.
Over the past, 45+ years- Every time I met him or passed him in the street- I got that smile, friendly greeting and hand gesture
( some may be familiar with this).
He will be missed
May the family only experience Simchos.
And worked to help the Shchuna in many ways for many years
Always talked to everyone at eye level and a great Sence of humor
Sad to see him go
Between mincha and Maariv in Ksav Sofer shul we would sit together and he told stories of the 1940’s at 770 yeshiva. I’ll miss those intimate farbrengens.
I had the privilege of dealing with R Shmuel with tuition in Lubavitcher Yeshiva and he was so good and understanding. a real mentch. All tuition boards should learn from him how to be respectful to the parents even the ones that dont have.
As Reb Shmuel Z’L Was The 4th Grade Rebbe; & The Elementary English Principal; When A Bochur Got into Trouble; HE would Always be Kind & Never, Scold The Boys;;;;;; Such A Mencsh;;;;; Yichei Zichro Boruch
BDE. a wonderful accomplished Yid
I grew up down the block from the Fogelmans and had the pleasure of getting to know Reb Shmuel. While I was only a boy he ALWAYS has a smile and a nice word to say to me whenever We met. It felt good being around him. It’s the same positive feeling I get when being around and interacting with his amazingly talented (and funny) son Chaim. I’ll miss R’ Shmuel greatly. I’m comforted by the fact that his special light and kindness will continue through his children. Today I’ll put extra effort into showing people a happy and smiling… Read more »
Our dear dear friend. We will never forget you. BDE
A real special man how sad.
Will really miss him known him very well a good freind.
Deepest condolences to you and your family! What a loss to the entire community!! HaShem just gained another angel and tzaddik neshama in His army in Heaven. Love, Anne and family
BDE. He was involved in the education of thousands in Crown Heights and beyond! Boys and girls!
ברוך דין האמת
I remember he used to give out $1 to the boys in lubavitecher yeshivah that got a haircut without a chup
He actually started the yeshiva on Crown Street. While he ran it it was extremely successful.