Rabbi Simcha Zirkind, 76, OBM

By COLlive and Lubavitch Archives

Rabbi Simcha Zirkind, a Lubavitcher chossid who worked for central institutions of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement over the years, passed away on Friday night, 24 Tammuz 5775.

He was 76 and suffered a heart attack after the Shabbos meal at his home in Montreal.

He was a Chabad representative in Tunisia for four years, working with Jews of all ages in the North African country whose population is primarily Muslim. After the Six Day War, Tunisian authorities suspected him of being a spy for the Mossad, Israel’s foreign intelligence agency. Zirkind was forced to leave.

From there he moved Paris, then to New York and became a Chabad representative in Montreal, Canada, where he spearheaded the opening of the first Chabad House in Downtown Montreal and many of the programs of the Lubavitch Youth Organization.

He built personal relationships with thousands of Jews in Canada, who for many years supported the entire network of Chabad Houses the city. He later raised funds for Machne Israel Development Fund, the social service organization of Chabad-Lubavitch, Colel Chabad charity in Israel and Kehot Publication Society.

Machne Israel, led today by its chairman Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky, would invite its major contributors to coveted open “Yechidus” meetings with the Rebbe at the main shul at 770 Eastern Parkway. A key player at those meeting was Rabbi Zirkind who would bring philanthropists from Canada.

A frequent visitor to Canada’s capital city of Ottawa, he developed over the years strong ties within the ruling Liberal party and with its Prime Ministers Pierre Trudeau, Jean Chrétien and Paul Martin advocating for Jewish and Chabad causes.

Chrétien was famously pictured waving to the media holding up the 1997 book Torah Studies with the Rebbe pictured on its cover. When Martin visited the Rabbinical College of Quebec (“Yeshiva Zal”) on Chanukah 2006, he walked in with his arms locked with Rabbi Zirkind.

He lived and breathed the helping of every single individual materially and spiritually. Never missing an opportunity to do a Mitzvah with another Jew, he would travel hours to put on Tefillin with someone. Until the last day of his life, he made it his priority that all the spiritual needs of those he was in contact with were taken care of.

When he heard that someone was in need, he took it personally and tried to assist the individual, many times without the person knowing that he was behind the assistance. Extremely discreet, he never spoke about what he did, unless he felt that it was important for that person to know the details.

A Torah scholar, he never wasted a moment of time on nonsense. Wherever he went he always had a scholarly volume in his hand. In the synagogue, he could always be seeing learning from a book of Chasidism before morning prayers and at home, during a free moment, he sat studying at the table.

In 2003, he produced “Jewish Sparks,” a magazine style TV show which featured Jewish spirituality, life and culture. Hosted by Joel Miller and Rabbi Pinny Gniwisch, the 13 episodes included 2 to 4 original documentaries and in-studio segments featuring panels of Jewish educators and experts.

In 2004, he had a dream to take the Rebbe’s teachings and make it available to the greater Jewish community. He pioneered the Advice for Life project, directed by Rabbi Dovid Zaklikowski of Lubavitch Archives, and made sure that it reached many in the Jewish community of Quebec.

“The Rebbe’s words are fascinating, stimulating, there is no end to the Rebbe’s wisdom,” Rabbi Zirkind said recently of the Advice for Life project. “People really appreciate receiving them and look forward to every new volume.” Over the past few weeks he had been overseeing the next two booklets that were being readied for print.

He is survived by his wife Mrs. Frieda Zirkind, children Rabbi Levi Zirkind – Fresno, CA; Rabbi Mendy Zirkind – Montreal, Canada; Rabbi Zalman Zirkind – Montreal, Canada; Mrs. Devorah Fox – Crown Heights; Mrs. Chaya Rosenberg – Sherman Oaks, CA; Mrs. Nechama Dina Turk – Chicago, IL; Mrs. Shternie Litzman – Monsey, NY; Rabbi Izzy Zirkind – Chicago, IL; Rabbi Sholom Zirkind – Baltimore, MD; grandchildren.

He is also survived by his sister Mrs. Peshi Stern of Seagate, NY.

He was predeceased by his brother Rabbi Eliezer Tzvi Zeev Zirkind, a a shochet and sofer stam in Crown Heights.

The levaya will leave on Sunday morning 7:00AM from the Lubavitch Yeshiva in Montreal. It will pass by Lubavitch Headquarters 770 Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn at 2:30PM for burial at the Old Montefiore Cemetary in Queens, NY.

Baruch Dayan Haemes.