Rabbi Sholom Eidelman, 83, OBM

By COLlive reporter

Rabbi Sholom Eidelman, the longtime devoted Shliach of the Rebbe in Casablanca, Morocco, passed away on 16 Nissan, 5780.

He was 83 and passed away after being infected with coronavirus.

Rabbi Eidelman was born in 5696 to his parents, Rabbi Aryeh Dov and Slava Eidelman. When he was 9, he escaped with his family from Communist Russia through Poland to Paris.

As a bochur, he learned in Tomchei Temimim in Brunoy, and although he asked permission from the Rebbe to come to learn in 770, the Rebbe did not grant him permission to do so. The Rebbe wrote to him that his job was to remain in Brunoy and to have an influence on the Sefardic bochurim learning in Brunoy at the time.

In 5716, Rabbi Eidelman was one of the Shluchim the Rebbe sent to Kfar Chabad to comfort the community after the massacre in the Yeshiva there. Rabbi Edelman was the only one chosen from another Yeshiva, the rest of the bochurim being sent from 770.

In 5719, before his marriage, the Rebbe appointed Rabbi Eidelman as the Shliach to Morocco. He left for Morocco a few days after his wedding to his wife Gittel (nee Gurkov), on Zos Chanukah of that year.

Since then, he was the Rebbe’s dedicated Shliach to Casablanca, Morocco, serving alongside Rabbi Shlomo Matusof and Rabbi Leibel Raskin, both of blessed memory. His great influence is felt throughout Morocco.

He opened a Kollel where he trained most of the Rabbonim and Shochtim in Morocco, among his students were Jerusalem’s Chief Rabbi Shlomo Moshe Amar, Montreal dayan Rabbi David Raphael Banon.

His sons serve as Shluchim in communities throughout the world. Together with Rabbi Hillel Pevzner under the direction of the Rebbe, he was finding seforim and kisvei Yad in Torah, specifically in Chasidus. Whenever they had the opportunity, they would send the findings to the Rebbe, in some cases they sent photographs of what they found.

Lately, Rabbi Eidelman fell ill to coronavirus, and on 15 Nissan, he passed away.

He is survived by his wife Gittel, and children Rabbi Shneur Zalman Eidelman – Vienna, Austria, Rabbi Yoel Eidelman – Brunoy, France, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Eidelman – Crown Heights, Rabbi Eliezer Eidelman – Manchester, England, Rabbi Shmuel Eidelman – Crown Heights, Mrs. Toiba Rivka Belinow – Paris, France and Mrs. Chana Gurevitch – Chicago, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, many of whom are Shluchim around the world.

He is also survived by his sister, Assya Pevsner, France. (The family requested not to notify her about the passing).

He was predeceased by his son, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Eidelman of Israel. He was predeceased by his brother R’ Yoel Edelman of Paris, France.

Baruch Dayan Ha’emes.