Rabbi Yehoshua Raskin, 97, OBM

By COLlive reporter

Rabbi Yehoshua Raskin, from the elder Lubavitcher chassidim in London, England, whose family took a daring role in Chabad’s efforts to sustain Yiddishkeit in Communist Russia, passed away on Shabbos, 16 Elul 5780.

He was 97.

R’ Yehoshua was born on 25 Nissan 5683, to the renowned chossid R’ Michoel Katsenelenbogen, one of the students of Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim in the Russian village of Lubavitch, to Mrs. Sarah Katsenelenbogen, daughter of the chossid R’ Chaim Benzion Raskin who was known as “Mumme Sarah” for spearheading an escape route for many Jews from the Soviet Union.

Together with his siblings – Rabbi Shimon Katsenelenbogen, Mrs. Tzivia Goldberg, Rabbi Zalman Kazen, and Rabbi Moshe Katsenelenbogen – he was raised in a home that was a hub for underground Jewish activity despite the watchful eyes and imminent danger of the KGB.

Their home was the location of a small yeshiva and was open for many Chassidim who were wanted by Soviet secret police for their “counter-revolutionary activities” of sustaining Jewish life and practice under the Stalinist regime.

On one Motzoei Shabbos in 5698 (1937), his father R’ Michoel was arrested near Leningrad, together with many other Chassidim, for being Torah observant. The family discovered that he was shot and killed some 6 weeks after his arrest.

While continuing to raise her children, his mother Mumme Sarah stood out for her heroic and fearless efforts.

Following the Second World War, she worked tirelessly to spirit Jews out through the temporarily-parted Iron Curtain by obtaining passports belonging to deceased or missing Polish citizens, which she would share with Russian Jews.

She selflessly gave away her own forged passport to Rebbetzin Chana Schneerson, the mother of the Rebbe, so she can escape Russia. Eventually, Soviet authorities captured and imprisoned her and her son Moshe. She died of a heart attack while in jail.

R’ Yehoshua learned in the Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim in Lubavitch and later in France, before marrying his wife Mrs. Bluma Raskin (nee Solomon) and settling in London.

Living in the Stamford Hill area, he was known as a fervent Lubavitcher Chossid who defended the Rebbe’s honor. He diligently stuck to his learning regimen of Chassidus and following the ways of Chassidus.

For many years, he served as the head of the shochatim of the Kedassia kashrus agency of Hisachdus Kehillos Hachareidim – Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations in the United Kingdom, headed by Rabbi Efraim Padwa.

“He worked with all the various Chassidim in London, and with all the rabbonim,” a relative told COLlive.com. “But he never compromised his strong hiskashrus to the Rebbe.”

He is survived by his children Mrs. Etel Refson, Shlucha in Leeds, England; Rabbi Yossel Raskin, prominent shochet in London, England; Mrs. Leah Friedman, Shlucha in Tzfas; Rabbi Leibel Raskin, mechanech and prominent shochet in Melbourne, Australia; grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

The levaya will be held on Sunday in London.

Baruch Dayan Ha’emes: Yehoshua ben Michoel.