By COLlive & Chabad.org
Rabbi Yonah Avtzon, a publisher of Chassidus Chabad teachings and a longtime Shadchan who assisted in hundreds of Chabad Shidduchim, passed away suddenly on Wednesday morning, 3 Shvat, 5779.
He was 61.
He was born in Detroit in 1957, the eighth of 15 children, to Rabbi Meir and Cheyena Avtzon, survivors of Joseph Stalin’s oppressive regime. Despite the many challenges of living in the former Soviet Union, Avtzon’s parents managed to remain fully devoted to Judaism and risked their lives to enable others to appreciate and observe their Jewish heritage as well.
In Detroit, the Avtzons’ home served as a bastion of authentic Chassidic warmth and inspiration. After studying at Telshe Yeshivah in Chicago, young Yonah went on to study at the central Chabad-Lubavitch yeshivah in Brooklyn, where he would begin to develop the primary focus of his life: disseminating the Rebbe’s teachings to the English-speaking world.
Sichos in English began as a small-time operation in 1977, a side project for teenaged Avtzon and fellow yeshivah students —translating and printing the Yiddish talks of the Rebbe into English and distributing them in pamphlets to many thousands of eager readers around the world.
In time, with the blessing of the Rebbe, the operation expanded to include the writings of other Chabad Rebbes and Chassidim. Even as SIE burgeoned into a major publishing operation, Avtzon remained focused on his goal, getting high-quality Jewish content into the hands of as many people as possible.
To that end, the prices were always kept low and almost all content has been made available for free online.
In 1983, he married Rivka Hazan of Bnei Brak, Israel. She was born in Moscow, where her parents were stalwart Chassidim who bravely kept the flame of Judaism burning in Soviet Russia. She immigrated to Israel with her family at the age of six.
The Avtzons made their home in Brooklyn, and Rabbi Avtzon continued to pursue his publishing work. In time, he was honored with assisting in the English translation of the Rebbe’s Michtavim Klaliim, public letters, which were published several times a year.
The Rebbe instructed him to personally edit every single book that he published, and this became his guiding principle.
In recent years, SIE embarked on a monumental translation of and commentary on the Code of Jewish Law known as Shulchan Aruch HaRav, authored by the Alter Rebbe, Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, the founder of the Chabad movement. It was a painstaking labor of love to which Avtzon dedicated several hours every day, personally reviewing every page.
To date, seven of the planned 12 volumes have been published, and the eighth is expected shortly. The project—which consumed much of Avtzon’s time in recent years, and is expected to exceed $2 million in cost—is the collaborative effort of a team of translators and rabbinic experts, led by Rabbis Eli Touger, Sholom Ber Wineberg, and Uri Kaploun, all of whom had been working with Rabbi Avtzon at SIE for decades.
Rabbi Avtzon was perhaps best known for his role as a senior Shadchan in Chabad, compiling a large database of names of single bochurim and girls, and dealing with each match in a hands-on manner. He is responsible for hundreds of Shidduchim matches over many years.
He had been ill in recent months and was found unresponsive on Wednesday morning, 3 Shevat. Poetically, it was on that same Hebrew date in 1992 that the Rebbe spoke publicly about how each and every individual could serve as the “mouth” of the Rebbe, an extension of his efforts to spread Judaism and inspire others.
He leaves behind his wife Rivka, and children: Levi Avtzon – South Africa, Chanie Wolf – Crown Heights, Shmuly Avtzon – Crown Heights, Mushky Edelman – Crown Heights, Sheina Oster – Crown Heights, Stery Goldberg – Crown Heights, Chenny, Zalmy, Sruly, Sholom Ber, Meir and Leah.
He is also survived by his siblings, Adela Bernstein (CH), Leibel Avtzon (CH), Esther Blau (CH), Yossi Avtzon (CH), Riva Kaplinsky (CH), Dina Borenstein (CH), Gershon Avtzon (Yerushalayim), Sholom Avtzon (CH), Mordechai Avtzon (Hong Kong), Devi Baumgarten (CH), Sternie Chesney (CH), Lazer Avtzon (CH), Shainy Tiefenbrun (CH) and Chanie Zirkind (Fresno, CA).
The Levaya will take place tomorrow, Thursday, at Shomrei Hadas in Boro Park at 10:45 am and passing by 770 at 12 pm.
Shiva will take place at 541 Crown St.
Davening times to be announced.
The family needs 6 Minyanim.
Baruch Dayan Ha’emes: Yonah ben Meir
A real loss
I know Rabbi Avtzon a”h (a pillar in Lubavitch) was that much more, as Rabbi Gershon Avtzon sheyichye remarked “the words of the Rebbe to the people; a Sefer about Moshiach..Our only comfort is that any moment with the arrival of Moshiach we will be celebrating sooo many Chasunas as in Tu B’av … Rabbi Yonah will spur the process by putting the couples together.. Ad Mosai?? We ARE READY!!
Rabbi Aftzon Z”L, set the standards for what a shaddchun is all about! He worked tirelessly helping all those who needed shidduchim in a timely and respectful manner and was never too busy to return phone calls and emails, and his kindness in a difficult parsha was more than words can say.His loss will be greatly felt!!! With G-d’s help on the other side you can somehow continue to help with shidduchim…
Baruch Dayan Ha’emes! Our BRHS family is so sorry for your loss. Only Simchos. May you and your family be comforted.
Love,
A Sophmore
Des gens d’exception
une famille extraordinaire
What a loss..
Thinking of you,
Stery and Shaina
Shocking news… We are so sorry to hear this, and we cannot believe the news I looked up to Yona Avtzon as a true Chossid and as a child i benefited greatly from his Seforim and still do now – all the things in English that we take for granted – Seforim written with genuine Yiras Shomayim and bring the reader to a greater love of Hashem and the Torah – as well as all the other Seforim of Chassidus and Halacha that we use all the time As being someone who greatly benefited with his help in Shidduchim, i… Read more »
Chenny, we are all thinking of you…
Chanie, my thoughts are with you.
May the Aibershter grant you and your family a true nechama – which is only possible with the coming of Moshiach NOW.
His wife rivka is such a special lady. She raised his wonderful talented family of 12 with such a special dedication. She was a pillar of support in all his hafatzus hamayanus. Only hashem can comfort her.
Ad mosai!!!
how about reciting the entire Tehillim this motzei Shabbos after 12 midnight , just like Hoshana Rabba ??????
A very special family
So difficult to believe. A Great Chossid. Old style. An Askon. A good benevolent person with a great heart. A man of tremendous accomplishments, yet humble and unassuming.
Will be missed terribly.
המקום ינחם אתכם בתוך שאר אבלי ציון וירושלים ואך טוב וחסד, בטוב הנראה והנגלה, ימצא אתכם תמיד כל הימים ויקיצו וירננו שוכני עפר, והוא, יקירנו בתוכם, תיכף ומיד ממש
ברוך דיין אמת
Like, father and son-
Yeineh comes from the chossid of the Alter Rebbe R’ Binyomin Kletzeker who helped with the printed of the Tanya and down the line Sichos in English founded to help explain Tanya and chassidus.
His wife Rivka is a true eishes chayil.
she was at his side through all the publishing, shidduchim, and everything else that he had accomplished.
may her and the children be united with yonah with the coming of moshiach now!
Unbelievable crazy I can’t believe this, Reb Yona was
A true chosid
So sad to hear this news,,,,, may his neshama have an aliya…. bde
Let’s all commit to continuing Yanehs work, everyone please make 3 phone calls and try to make a Shidduch
R’ Yonah Ben R’ Meir.
Reb Yonah will be so sorely missed.
Yona ben Meir
Not to be believed Such an inspiration to so many. There are no words to describe how he will be missed and how badly we need the Hisgalus of the Rebbe. Ad Mosai. Enough
Such terrible news
BDE such a special generous kind mensch. A true chossid .No words to express the loss. The community and Chabad have lost a great person.
He has the most amazing wife and beautiful family. May they see only yeshout and nechamot.
Rabbi Avtzon will be so sorely missed.
Filling his shoes is impossible.
61? Walking around fine one day, doesn’t get up the next day? Carpe Diem, man. Live today like it could be all you have – because it IS all you have, until and unless you get up tomorrow. And then live tomorrow like it’s all you have…
I’ll miss him, special guy he was. And I’ll try to live my moments richly, forward. You never know. You really don’t.
Leah we are so sorry for your loss, we love you, may moshiach come and you reunited with your father ad mosia
Jusqu’à quand cette galout va-t-elle durée!!???
Barouh Dayan aemet!
No one will be able to step into Reb Yonahs O”H shoes!
He is truly irreplaceable!
Just from the vast outpouring of emotions here on COL, since we all heard the shocking tragic news that has affected so so many of us, its clear to see what a giant of a man he was – in so many ways
He will be sorely missed by all who were involved with him and those who weren’t too
May he continue all his wonderful peulos from Shomayim
What a loss!:(((
I did not know the niftar, yet I feel incredible pain at the news of his passing. I would credit his organization which he directed and offered so many translations as keeping me, a Shliach who grew up on shlichus, deeply connected to chasidic thought and philosophy. It’s taken for granted now, having such access since so many books and I know that without them I would not see where I am today. Ad mosai
we love you meir
from ot mesivta
BDE
Ad Masai! We should only hear good news!
Always with a smile
Always with a helping hand
Emes till the end
May the family find comfort.
What a tragedy,
What a loss!!
R’ Yonah Avtzon was caring and kind and giving.
Always responding to shidduchim – although I am sure he had hundreds of e-mails.
He was a no-nonsense man and always gave good advice.
Hashem should bring lots of nechama to his family!!
A wonderful and special soul!
Ad mosai!!what a special man!!! What is happening with empire shul all these people dying…wake up call!!!
Look at today’s Hayom Yom and you will see you the Rebbe discusses event tied with R. Avtzon’s life
BDE, may he be a gutta beta for his family and klal yisroel
Rabbi Avtzon was a special & kind person, even when he was
in the hospital very recently he was working on my son’s behalf, such dedication and warmth in a person that I met
just once was beyond the normal. May his family only have Simchas in the future and may he have a Lictakah Genadin. BDE
Very sad. The entire Crown Heights mourns with the family. Rabbi Avtzon had the zchus of creating so many beautiful shidduchim and chasiddishe homes. We greatly benefited from Rabbi Avtzon’s time and attention. May Hashem bless his family with strength during this awful time. Moshiach Now! BDE
Shocked beyond shocked. Cannot fathom. No words!!! Strength to the family!!!!!
Ad Mosai
We will miss you Uncle Yaineh.
The nicest man who was always helping everyone out
So SAD, Moshiach NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He really tried so hard to help with shidduchim
Yona – Chossid and Tomim ben Chossid and Tomim. A devoted Son, Brother, Husband, Father and Zaida. A no-nonsense straight talker. A beautiful open and caring heart. Humble despite yeoman achievements in HAFOTZAS HAMAAYANOS. A true friend to so many with Emes as his guiding light. And the living shall place it to their heart (to emulate his midos toivos) Reb Yona we miss you and the genuine friendship you shared No words – to adequately express what cannot be expressed at a moment such as this, BDE A friend, a mentch, tremendous achievements and productivity in the area of… Read more »
BDE. Shocking. I worked with Yonah on projects for 30 years. His zechusim and Hafotzas Hamayonos are unbelievable. My heart goes out to the family. We are with you in the pain and loss. Moshiach Now!
BDE. We are so sorry for ur loss and look forward to only simchos❤
Lots of love,
Your family at Bais Rivka:)
There is no words to express…
Horrific news, so sad – BDE
Bde we love you Leah , Brhs freshman’s
Looking at his beautiful and special family one by one, you can see who Rabbi Avtzon was.
Horrible news
Such a great person will definitely be a guter better far di gantze Mishpochah
Such a friendly, good man. What a loss.
Bsd bde rachmana latzlan.a huge loss for clall Yisroel. opened the doors of understanding to Rebbes works rambam and so much more to the world’s English speakers and more. Where would we be without his efforts. Such an amazing scholarship and eloquence..ad masai? Moshiach now!!!
Nicest guy. Accomplished tons for the Rebbe MhM.
Sichos In English invaluable source. BDE.
Aside for his own family and the many Shidduchim, he leaves behind so many books and the effects of those books that made so much Chassidus accessible to so many in an authentic way. So sad that his productive life was cut so short.
No words to describe the great loss to our Chabad community to Klal Yisroel, to those personal partners and friends who shared in his vital activities, to all those recipients of his Good/Great Deeds or to the greatest loss suffered by this exceptionally warm Avtzon family and mostly to his dear young children and wife…😢😢😭😭🥺🥺😢😢 Ad Mosai?!
Hashem is taking the very best, משיח עכשיו!!
So sad to hear, No words
which i am not minimizing c”v, he was also a tremendous talmid chochom, and yodeah sefer. he was without blitos, a true chossid. i am honored to consider him a friend.
Yona lived and breathed the Rebbes writings and spreading the light of the chassidus. He was a friendly man and did everything with an emes. I will miss him. He went to the mikveh on a daily basis where I would meet him to shmooze.
I never speak to this person but I member him in 770 always with a smile
Is look like a real חסיד
He was the humble, unsung hero of many English speakers.
At a recent captivating talk, at Chabad of Teaneck, he brought many chassideshe stories alive. I bought his books.
Wow. Pure. I especially appreciated that though he had his take on each story, he moved those all, to an Appendix of the books, to be read when and if one wished. I did. They were extremely good, his having thought much about them.
A rare and humble move that I hope all historic writers follow.
Yonah usually had a smile and was one of the kindest people in CH. He leaves a void that only Hashem will fill. May his wife children grandchildren, siblings (Esther B my friend )do good deeds in his memory and bring the Geula now! BDE
BDE. In tears how can this be?!? Hashem?!?!??? Bring moshiach now! This can’t be! I’m so sorry Chenny, may you and your family be comforted
Moshiach now
besides being such a pillar in Lubavitch , besides being one of the longest and hard working shaddchonim….we will all go on and continue our lives…his family,
he was such a young man, has such a young family, leaves behind young boys and such a young wife.!!
an open home and large family…
Mtar Nist Fregen Beim Aibishter Kein Shum Shailos
all true but such a tragic news!!1
such a shock!! My husband was just on the phone yesterday with him regarding a shiduch!!! We need Moshiach Now!!!
Baruch Dayan HaEmes
BDE
Amongst his other peulos, R. Yona worked tirelessly every day to help any and every person looking for a shiduch.
He is surely in heaven continuing his great work on behalf of all those that are looking for a shiduch.
All the real lubavitchers are leaving this world. Only fake lubavitchers left besides for a handful. Lubavitch is crumbling slowly. What will be, no more rebbe and no more real chasidim!??
Baruch Dayan Ha’emes
This is a tradegy, he was behind the Translation of the Alter Rebbes Shulchan Aruch! And much more!
his work made him perhaps be the largest partner to most shluchim in helping thier people get educated towards the rebbe’s teachings.
BDE
Tragic Loss for Lubavitch
Irreplaceable Pillar of Publishing the Rebbeim Chassidus
This is very sad and shocking news.
He was always ready to help with Shidduchim, and will be missed.
Moshiach now!
R Avtzon made my shidduch and helped me help others with their shidduchim.
He was a very practical man with good suggestions and put in lots of work to each shidduch he made.
I am shocked to hear the news!
Hashem should bless everyone with MOSHIACH NOW!!!!
RIGHT NOW!!!
R Avton’s neshama should have a tremendous aliya for all the good that he has done and the rippling effect he has had on our community and outwards!!!
He will be sorely missed!!:(
Baruch Dayan HaEmes – very sad news. Yonah will be missed.
Chenny. and the whole avtzon family. we are thinking of you! this is such a terrible loss. so sorry
I saw him yesterday and asked him when the new volume of shulchan aruch will come out because I almost finished Eiruvin. He said its in the printer and its good someone else learns it besides me. BDE
BDE He helped so many people get married A True Shadchan .
Aibeshter! Moshiach NOW!
He single handedly was responsible for disseminating the teachings of chassidus to the English speaking world, more than anyone I know. Was dedicated 24×7 to the Rebbe’s Inyanim!!!
I’m sure He is shturiming Now in all the heavens to bring Moshiach right NOW!!! עד מתי!
-A.Raskin
Reb Yona was a real Chossid, and leaves behind a family who he can be proud of, i personally have benefited from his kindness and generosity (albeit at times very honest, i always knew it was Dvorim Hayotzim Min Halev) BDE.
יהודי שעזר להרבה בחורים להשתדך ועוד רבות ורבות דברים טובים
היה מגיע במוצאי שבת לאוהל של הרבי היה ניכר עליו לפני הכניסה לרבי
A terrible shock – a huge loss
Ad Mossi ????
Ad Mosai!!
He gave me an opportunity to edit and write when no one else would, good man, big loss. Sorry to the family, BDE
It is hard to think of anyone in our generation that has the amount of zechusim that he has.
He has brought Torsas Vihashkofas Nissei’ei Chabad to tens of thousands of Yidden.
Knowing him quite well,he will shturem the gates of heaven to allow the Rebbe to be goi’el Klal Yisroel NOW MAMOSH !!!
So so awful!!
An amazing shadchan and a truly good person!
Such. terrible shocking news!
He should have a lichtigeh Gan Eden,…… and be a Gutta better for his family.
I’m in tears.
Moshiach now! Ad mosai!
To lose such a scholar is terrible. For the safety of the rest of the rest of the house check the mezzuzot. A young man and a genius making sichot available to all.
It’s with a heavy heart to hear of the great loss of my dear friend Rabbi Yona, who was also my Shadchan mentor. He will be missed worldwide (for a very short time), we should hear only happy news from now on. Akiva Perl
He was a good man;; an irreplaceable loss.
BDE
So sad.
Great family.
Great man.
Always doing the Rebbes work..
Moshiach now
Yonah had the Zchus to publish the Rebbe’s Torah and from the other Rebbeim. He accomplished so much, and whenever anyone learns from the many Seforim he published, he will continue accomplishing.
הקיצו ורננו שוכני עפר
A real man of chesed, his children are as well. Lubavitch is really not going to be the same without him.
What a shock , he was such a kind man .
IM JUST CONFUSED?
IS THIS REAL?
MY SHADCHAN….
I don’t have the words…
So Sad to hear! Was an incredible Shadchan! BDE
WHY WHY WHY
Moshiach now!
So horribly sad.
As a student in Maamer class I attempted to get hold of an English translation for myself and my classmates. I somehow reached out to him and he was so kind and generous. Gave me a booklet for myself and my classmates! Helped us tremendously. May his neshama have an aliyah.
Sorry for your lost
Such shocking news
Can’t believe it
בד״ה עד מתי השם ירחם על עמו ישראל וישלח כבר עכשיו ומיד את מלך המשיח . שנזכה כבר לגאולה האמיתית והשלימה עכשיו ומיד ממש !!!!!!!
BS”D This must be a bad dream BDE
Bde, so sad, enough is enough
He will be greatly missed!!
We need Moshiach already!
Both great chasidim
Terrible. Such a kind person.
Please Hashem
Ad Mosai
So sorry for family
So sad
Ad mosai!!!! Moshiach now
Bde!!