By COLlive reporter
Rabbi Yehoshua Zirkind, a Shliach of the Rebbe and an expert in rare books, passed away Wednesday, 23 Sivan 5772.
He was 58.
The passing follows a similar tragedy in the family. His brother, Rabbi Yitzchok Zirkind, a rov and halachic authority in Crown Heights, passed away 3 months ago at the age of 57.
The family does not plan to notify his parents, Rabbi Eliezer and Raizel Zirkind of Crown Heights, about the passing and asked the public not to mention it either.
Rabbi Yehoshua Shlomo Zirkind and his wife Sara (nee Eichorn) were sent by the Rebbe in 5738 in one of the groups of Shluchim to Israel.
They lived in Tzfas for many years and later moved to the Ramot Gimmel neighborhood in Jerusalem.
Zirkind dealt with rare books and his vast knowledge came in handy in 5746 when he helped return books stolen from the Rebbe’s Agudas Chassidei Chabad Library in Brooklyn in the “Didan Notzach” case.
He later turned to alternative healing, helping people around Israel and the world with medical conditions and physical problems.
That is what brought him to Liechtenstein, the small yet wealthy alpine country in Central Europe, where he traveled to heal a patient.
He passed away in his sleep and was found Wednesday morning. His body was flown to Israel and the levaya will be taking place Thursday.
He is survived by his wife Shterna Sara and their children Nechama Dina, Mendel, Schneur Zalman, R’ Levi of Los Angeles, Aidele, Mrs. Mirel Weinbaum of Montreal, Shaya Boruch, Chanania Yosef, Batsheva, Chana and Bracha.
He is also survived by his parents and siblings: R’ Gershon Zirkind – Montreal, Canada; Mrs. Shaina Rochel Schmidt – Jerusalem; R’ Shazak Zirkind – Crown Heights; R’ Yaakov Mendel Zirkind – Morristown, NJ; R’ Yehuda Michoel Zirkind – Crown Heights; R’ Shmuel Yosef Zirkind – Thornhill, Ontario; R’ Meir Zirkind – Weston, FL; Mrs. Chana Rissel Moscowitz – Crown Heights; R’ Chaim Nachman Zirkind – Sharon, MA; R’ Dovid Zirkind – Crown Heights and Mrs. Chinka Zirkind – Thornhill, Ontario.
The family in Crown Heights (not including the parents) will be sitting Shiva at 1613 President Street (visitors welcome until 10:00 PM.)
Baruch dayan haemes.
RELATED ARTICLES:
Rabbi Yitzchok Zirkind, 57, OBM
+ Many Bid Rabbi Zirkind Farewell
+ Students’ Tribute to Rabbi Zirkind
+ Dear Rabbi [email protected]
+ Memorial For Rabbi Zirkind
ברוך דיין האמת. רק היום קבלנו את הידיעה מרה, שידידנו רב יהושוע צירקינד החזיר את נשמתו הטהורה לבורא עולם. יהי זכרו ברוך. דניאל וחנה מאייר, ידידים מחיפה
The family is sitting Shivah @ 16/3 Yossale Rosenblatt St, Ramot Gimel, Jerusalem
It seems very ironic that people are questioning the Zirkinds on their choice of how to handle their situation, feeling that they know better; and yet they won’t even sign their real name.
/HaMakom yenachem et’chem b’toch shar avay’lay Tzion vee’Yerushalayim./
It should be known that he R’ Yehoshua Z”L had the zchus to be the one who notified the Rebbe’s office, that the seforim were stolen and being resold.
Hamokoim Ienachem eschem besoich shear abeilei Tzion Birushalaim. No more tzaar. Moshiaj Now.
The Zirkind family went through so much, i know so many of the Zirkinds personally, and I hope Hashem comforts them in the truest way.
I feel our duty is to preserve the family’s wishes to keep their parents from knowing this, and if it’s what they want, it’s our duty.
Hamokom yenacheim eschem…
If the Rebbe didn’t tell his own mother that his brother was niftar… how much more we should not reveal the truth. Let the other Zirkind siblings handle this their own way. Quit meddling into their private affairs. Enough is Enough IS ENOUGH!!!!!!!
AD MOSSAI
AD MOSSAI
AD MOSSAI
the rebbe said we didnt say it enough, that is one thing the Rebbe said clearly.
btw the REBBA did not tell his mother when his brother pased away …. and he went thru gr8 ways preventing the bad news from her
i really don’t understand all these comments questioning the reasoning to hide the news from elderly parents. The Rebbe went to extraordinary lengths to conceal the sudden death of his brother from Rebbetzin Chana, and ensuring she would not find out from anyone else.
Moshiach NOW!!
Please respect the family they want to hide it
Let them!
all the kids are in Israel
And that is why we bless everyday, every morning, all our life: “hanossen laservi binoh lehavchin ben yom ubeyn laylo” because nothing is black and white, even day and night are not cut clear defined and we are not even ‘servi-able’ enough to help with constructive decision.
To the whole family, I present my verily sincere condolences: “haMakom yenachem etchem betoch she’ar aveley Stion veYerushalaym” “umachah dima me’al kol panim, uminashamaym tenuchamu”.
#24 has the answer…we all have the power to bring Moschiach by our acts of kindness…start right now!
where is everyone sitting shiva. please write it all here so everyone knows where to go israel, n,y, canda, boston ect….
no one needs to know every detail- if this is what the family asked, just respect the decision without having to satisfy your uncalled for curiosity.
learn to differentiate what is your business, and what isnt.
it won’t work (flatly)
the elderly parents are going to find out.
best to break it to them now, as painful as that will be. you can be positive that someone will leak – a young grandchild, or anyone.
The levya is going to leave Shamgar at 6:15pm to the Chabad Chelkeh on Har Hazesim (Mount Olives)
Heaven help us from stupid insensitive people. Number 2 and 14; ARE YOU FOR REAL??????????? one doesn’t need to be old and frail to have a heart attack or worse chas vesholom from hearing of a second child dieing so soon after the shock of the first childs sudden death!!!!! YES, people should be forwarned NOT to say anything to the parents. THE REBBE KEPT HIS BROTHERS DEATH FROM HIS MOTHER, REBETSIN CHANA HER ENTIRE LIFE!!!!! He must have been a real softy to think that his mother should be shared this terrible news after all she went through her… Read more »
Yes, you are right, we must. But I think while a huge gathering may make a point, a larger point will be made in everyone’s everyday actions. Did you smile at your neighbor today? Did you post something nice online if you have a comment to write after someone passed away, or did you make a point of being argumentative? How did you treat your family today? Or the stranger? How about Torah and Mitzvahs? When everyone will show Hashem how much we care for Him and for one another, Moshiach will be here. And what should have been said… Read more »
FATHER WHERE ARE YOU
Bde!
Perhaps it’s time for an assifa to bring Moshiach, to gather thousands of yidden and scream ad mosai with their whole heart and decide what to do to bring Moshiach here & now ONCE & FOR ALL!!!!! we must be missing something, maybe it’s simple but we have GOT TO FIGURE IT OUT & NOT BE COMPLACENT TILL WE DO!!!!! Hashem has to hear from us that WE CANNOT HANDLE ANOTHER MOMENT OF GOLUS; FINISHED!!!!!!!!
Hamokom Y’nachem…but the only true nechama has to be with MOSHIACH IMMEDIATELY NOW MAMASH MAMASH MAMASH IM KOL HAPEIRUSHIM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
he is such a good man, and deserves NONE of this! please veryone, please do something extra to bring moshiach, so rabbi zirkind can be reunited with his two brothers obm.
They are probably elderly and this news will be too much for them to handle.
Baruch Dayan Emes!!! We need Mashiach right now! This can’t go on any longer!
Doubt his parents have internet, health is too delicate for such a heavy tragedy
it might be better 4 them….
they prob don’t go on col…….
I second the question:
Why are you advertising this in Collive.com if you DON’T want his parents or any neighbors of theirs to know?
Why are his parent’s being denied the knowledge that their son is niftar?
Are they elderly and frail with weak health that would be jeopardized if they find out?
If you want to prevent more sad news, it might be wise to give the public a REASON , NOT to notify their parents…
#1, 5,& 6 said most of what should be said #2 The parents are Elderly & do not have a computer will not look at one or see it .& Use your head why not!
His parent are older and there fore not in the best of health, and don’t really surf the web.
Check the Mizuzos and teffilin
crazy!!
1) to prevent them from the pain. i don’t wish this upon you or anyone else however, the pain of a parent losing a child is unbearable and in their old age they already went thru it once!
2) his parents don’t go online.
his son just went to israel for the Levaya.
Because my gr8 uncle and aunt are extremely old and sad about yitzchok, telling them about yeshusha Shloma isn’t gonna help any bit! It is horrible that this happened, we already lost rabbi yitzchok…
One of His Sons is here and i feel SO sorry for him!
—
Boruch Dayan Ho’emes.
The Famly has already have so much tzoros from his brother!
hamokom yenachem eschem…..
NO MORE! HASEM! WE CAN”T TAKE IT ANYMORE! SEND US MOSHIACH!
Please share more good news. As the Simcha section which you do so well. Moshiach NOW!!!!!
PLEASE SEND MOSHIACH NOW!!!!!!
1) why cant the parents know?
2) what will stop his parents from seeing it on COL?
Enough machloikes! MORE ahavas yisroel!