Rabbi Ze’ev Wolf (Velvel) Kesselman, the son of the famed Chosid Rabbi Shlomo Chaim Kesselman, one of the elder Chabad Chassidim and Mashpia in Beis Menachem Shul in Kfar Chabad, passed away on Sunday, 3 Adar II, 5779.
He was 91.
R’ Velvel born to his parents, Rabbi and Mrs. Shlomo Chaim Kesselman, together with his twin brother, Rabbi Shalom Dovber Kesselman, on the 17th of Iyar, on the eve of Lag Ba’Omer, 5688. Rabbi Ze’ev Wolf was named after his grandfather Rabbi Ze’ev Wolf Bronstein.
At their birth, the twins had health problems, and the Rebbe Rayatz was very interested in them and worried for their well-being.
His twin brother, Rabbi Shalom Dovber Kesselman obm, was a Mashpia in the Tomchei Temimim yeshiva in Kfar Chabad. He tragically passed away when he was injured in a car accident on Rosh Chodesh Shevat, 5747 and died a week later, on the seventh of Shevat, at the age of 60.
In 1947 he took part in the famous escape from the Russian border and arrived at the transit camp in Pocking, where he was one of the founders of the Tomchei Temimim Yeshiva in 1948. In 1948 he immigrated to Israel with his father. In 1949 he settled in Kfar Chabad.
In the year 5742 he was appointed head of the Kupas Rabbeinu fund in Israel, replacing Rabbi Chaim Dovber Chein.
He spent many decades in Chinuch, teaching in Kfar Chabad since its founding, and was known for his fondness for the students memorizing and reciting Torah by heart. He was a Choizer of the Rebbe’s Sichos and Farbrengens.
Rabbi Kesselman also directed the lottery committee which held raffles for trips to visit the Rebbe in New York, from 1979.
He is survived by his wife Chana, and children, many of whom serve as Shluchim and educators around the world: Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Kesselman, shliach in South Africa, Rabbi Eliezer Kesselman, Shliach in England, Mrrs. Shterna Gruzman, Shlucha in Rishon Letziyon, Mrs. Rivka Gottlieb, Shlucha in Talpiyot, Israel, R’ Menachem Mendel Kesselman, Crown Heights, and R’ Shlomo Chaim Kesselman, Kfar Chabad, Israel, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
The levaya will take place Sunday at 15:00 from the Beit Menachem Synagogue in Kfar Chabad. The family will sit Shiva at his home in Kfar Chabad.
His son Menachem Mendel Kesselman will be sitting Shiva in Crown Heights at
781 Eastern Parkway
Apartment A4
Shacharis: 9:00 am
Mincha and Maariv: Bzmano
Email for nichum aveilim: [email protected]
Baruch Dayan Ha’emes.
I remember him well when I was in yeshivas TT Kfar Chabad in the early 60’s.
May his memory be for a blessing, may his family be comforted and protected and may all follow in his footsteps
What a special and holy chossid, may we have moshiach now!
Bd”e. To all kesselman families, we should only celebraite simchus!! Add mossai!!! MOSHIACH NOW!