Rabbi Yitzchak Hakohen Arnold, chassid of the Rebbe Rayatz and the Rebbe, and shliach of The Rebbe to Los Angeles for 45 years, passed away on Sunday, 10 Menachem Av, 5782.
He was 93.
Rabbi Arnold’s first encounter with the Rebbe was long before he became the Rebbe, he told JEM’s Here’s My Story. He related that he was just 12 years old, and he remembered the crowd dancing, “suddenly, I felt a hand pull me from behind. When I turned around I saw it was the Rebbe — who urged me to join in the dancing, which I did.”
R’ Arnold studied in the Chabad Yeshiva in 770, and in 1958, the Rebbe instructed him, along with about a dozen others, to go study in Israel for two years.
While in Israel, he met and married his wife, Channa, and they returned to the US where they both entered the field of Chinuch, ending up in Los Angeles.
He related how after five years of married life, they still had no children. His wife then remembered a letter she wrote to the Rebbe long before, when she was a bride, about covering her hair as a married woman.
“At that time, the Rebbe had answered her, ‘If you cover your hair with a wig, as a married woman should, you will have children,'” Rabbi Arnold related.
“She took that letter with her when she went to see the Rebbe to ask for a blessing. She put the letter on the table and said, “I have a promise.” And then she burst into tears.”
The Rebbe recommended a particular fertility clinic, where he suggested she see a doctor whose name he provided. They went there and, fourteen months later, their first son was born.
Rabbi Arnold was a devoted Shliach and co-directed Kolel Tiferet Zkanim Levi Yitzchok, a synagogue for the elderly, in Los Angeles for many years.
He was predeceased by his wife Channa in Iyar, 5781.
He is survived by his children Shloime – Los Angeles, Yaakov – Skokie, IL, Elka – NY, Dina – NY, Leora Budd – Phoenix, AZ, Chaya Sarah Toron – Beachwood, OH, Devorie Silver – NY, and Avremel – Hallandale, FL, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He is also survived by his brother Rabbi Avrohom Arnold – Lakewood, NJ, Mrs. Dubby Fink– Lakewood, NJ, and Mrs Freida Stein – Lakewood, NJ.
The Levaya will take place on Monday, August 8th in Los Angeles, CA (times and additional details to follow) and will be passing 770 in NY on the way to the airport around 8am.
Baruch Dayan Ha’emes.
R’ Yitzchok and Chanah Arnold A”H lived in East Flatbush Brooklyn NY
As a child I regularly visited their home, and spent time there fascinated by the fish aquarium they had with the most exotic fish
They were very Eidel kind and soft spoken
I also remember R’ Yitzchok’s father who was the Shamash at Rabbi Cohen’s Shule on Lenox Road, (he lived next door to the Shul).
Yehi Zichrom Baruch תנצבה
BDE
I live on lenox rd in E Flatbush and would love to learn more about your memories and the community back then.
How can I get in contact with you?
If you let me know who you are I’ll gladly post my contact.
Shmuly Zaklikofsky
[email protected]
Rabbi Arnold. You were a special Yid who had such love for mitzvos. Hashem should send us Moshiach!
He was a very special man. Always bsimcha. Moshiach now.
Such a sweet person, such refined speech. Sadly I didn’t get to know them that well, despite our close blood ties, due to the distance separating our families. They raised a beautiful family. They will be sorely missed by anyone who knew them.
What a great loss. A man who exuded bitachon and emunah. Always with one or another Yiddish line. I had the zechus to have had his wife teach my sons, and to have sat with him in shul. While he had already moved from LA, he will now be sorely missed.
May his children and grandchildren find comfort and continue being a source of nachas and joy. Especially his grandson Schneur Zalman, who is personally friends with my son. What a sweet boy!
He had a very pleasant disposition, and a sense of humor. He had an amazing memory and would recap Chassidishe Stories that he heard from mashpiim. He will be missed.
Rabbi and Rebitzin Arnold were like our parents when we learned away from home in YOEC. They were the most incredible people that helped countless bouchrim. I am forever grateful to them and the entire Arnold family.
A man with happiness that you can feel, a man of dedication and funny too.
Rabbi Yitzchok Arnold ob”m. Levaya TODAY
With sadness we share the news of the passing of
Rabbi Yitzchok Arnold
הרב יצחק בן נתן נטע הכהן ע”ה
The Aron will pass by CLY 5:00 for a few minutes
and then continue to Mount Olive cemetery
for burial approximately 6:00 pm
Plz note this is tentative and chk back for updates