By COLlive reporter
Rabbi Yitzchok Goldstein, the longtime Shliach to Madrid, Spain who received much personal direction from the Rebbe for his Shlichus, passed away on Wednesday, 29 Av, 5783.
He was 72 and passed away this evening after battling a long illness.
He was born to his parents, Rabbi Yosef Goldstein OBM, the veteran educator and master storyteller known as Uncle Yossi who inspired generations of young and old with his memorable stories and parables, and Chana Priva (nee Winter) obm.
Rabbi Goldstein and his wife Shifra (nee Greenberg) were sent by the Rebbe as Spain’s first permanent Shluchim in 1977.
Over the years, Rabbi Goldstein received personal direction from the Rebbe for his Shlichus.
Once, in a letter dated 17 Menachem Av, 5742, Rabbi Goldstein expressed his desire to travel to the Rebbe in New York for the month of Tishrei together with his wife.
The Rebbe replied on the actual letter and instructed the mazkirus to call Rabbi Goldstein and inform him of the answer. The Rebbe himself indicated with an arrow the shliach’s phone number, which was written at the bottom of the page.
In the first part of the maaneh, the Rebbe instructed Rabbi Goldstein to consult with the Shliach above him, who in those days was the shadar (roaming representative of the Rebbe), Rabbi Avraham Yitzchok Glick.
In the second section, where the shliach wrote that they had no money for the trip, the Rebbe replied that this was a siman they should not travel and that they should continue with their shlichus in Madrid.
In the third segment, where Rabbi Goldstein wrote that their neshamah will receive energy through being with the Rebbe for Tishrei, the Rebbe wrote: “How do you know which place is better for the neshamah?”
In the fourth and final part, the shliach expresses his longing to spend time in the Rebbe’s court: “We want to be with the Rebbe, please!” The Rebbe circled this line and wrote the following incredible words: “The Baal Shem Tov says that when a Jew thinks about Madrid, he is in Madrid!”
The answer was based on the teaching of the Baal Shem Tov that a person is found wherever his thoughts are, since the Rebbe is thinking about his shluchim in Madrid, the Rebbe himself is there too.
He leaves behind his family, students and many Baalei Teshuva.
He is survived by his wife Shifra and children, Shneur Zalman Goldstein – shliach in Madrid, Spain, Mendel Goldstein – Crown Heights, Shmuel Goldstein – Crown Heights, Sholom Ber Goldstein – Postville, IA, Alter Goldstein – Grenoble, France, Levi Goldstein – Israel, Yisroel Goldstein – Crown Heights, Dini Anton – Bala Cynwyd, PA, Chaya Junik – Crown Heights, Rivka Roth – Monsey, NY, Sara Goldstein – Florida, Devorah Leah Gopin – Crown Heights, Hinda Levin – Bet Shemesh, Israel and many grandchildren. He was predeceased by his daughter Menucha Rochel obm.
He is also survived by his siblings: R’ Aron Goldstein – Ann Arbor, MI; R’ Sholom Ber Goldstein – Crown Heights; R’ Levi Goldstein – Crown Heights, R’ Mendel Goldstein – Crown Heights, Mrs. Toby Lieder – Sydney, Australia; R’ Yisroel Goldstein – Poway, CA; Mrs. Leah Perl – Los Angeles, CA; Mrs. Shternie Ulman – Sydney, Australia and R’ Zalman Goldstein – Monsey, NY.
The levaya will be Monday 21 August, 11:00 AM at Shomrei Hadas.
12:00 passing in front of 770, then on to Montefiore.
Shiva at 692 Montgomery Street
Shacharis: 7 AM-10 AM every 45 mins
Mincha: 1:45, 7:00, 7:30 PM
Maariv: 8:15, 9:00, 9:30 PM
Baruch Dayan Ha’emes.
I knew R’ Yitzchok. He was a special yid. Always with a smile and willing to help others.
He will be missed.
May the family be comforted and we should all only hear good news!
Sorry for his family to have lost him too young. Hamokom yenachem eschem…
Very very sad news
May his family be comfort ❤️
I remember him and his wife shifra from before the time they went on shlichus. Spent shabbos with them. Such a special yid. Will be really missed
Condolences to the Goldstein families! May Hashem comfort you in this difficult time.
Levaya details?
R. Goldstein was the first Lubavitcher Shliach I ever met. He and his wife, Shifra, hosted me for many Shabbosim during my year abroad in Spain. I can honestly say I am frum because of them. The warmth and pure extraordinary Hassidus they provided me (something I had never been exposed to before) was incredibly uplifting. Upon my return to the states, I wanted only to recreate that feeling and searched and searched for a similar rabbi… and eventually, I found it, BH! Thanks to Rabbi Goldstein for being there for a lonely lost Jewish soul in Madrid and thank… Read more »
Rabbi Goldstein was a very kind gentleman and my first introduction to CHABAD. I was a student in Madrid Spain in January 1989 and went to Shul by myself as my grandfather had passed on in US. He met me with open arms. He was kind enough to invite me to his house that Shabbat and every Shabbat thereafter. He invited all the study abroad students and tourists for Passover..
I didn’t know Rabbi Goldstein him self, but when I was living in Europe, for business @ that time (back in the late 90s) I had seen Rabbi Goldstein him self, we never spoke, but I did knew it was him. What a great man he was. Just the smile he had. And I remember his Rosie Red Beard he had, but then in the early 2000ds I had already moved back to the US. And I’m here ever since! I went back to Europe for other occasions. (But I’ve never seen him ever since) Great great man he was.… Read more »
“May the Omnipresent comfort you among the rest of the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem”
I always considered Rabbi Goldstein as a close friend much more than a Rabbi, so much was his carisma and his gentleness being always showed no matter good or not so good times I could have. I remember him during my lifetime in Madrid, always smiling, and always giving a good word beyond the magnificence of his knowledge of our religion. And also during his visits at Gibraltar when I had the pleasure to carry on the conversations we used to have in Madrid. I am still in shock at the moment of receiving these sad knews, and I am… Read more »