ב"ה
Wednesday, 26 Adar I, 5784
  |  March 6, 2024

Rabbi Yonah Avtzon, 61, OBM

Rabbi Yonah Avtzon, director of Sichos In English publishers and a longtime Crown Heights Shadchan, passed away suddenly on Wednesday morning. Update: Levaya Thursday at 10:45 am. Full Story

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Bde
January 11, 2019 10:16 am

A real loss

Do they really need a Shadchan in Shamayim?
January 10, 2019 7:15 pm

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!!

Shaddchun Mentch
January 10, 2019 4:31 pm

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…

Dearest Leah
January 10, 2019 2:11 pm

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

bde
January 10, 2019 12:59 pm

Des gens d’exception
une famille extraordinaire

May all the Avtzon's , his wife and family be comforted..
January 10, 2019 11:45 am

What a loss..
Thinking of you,
Stery and Shaina

Boruch Dayan Emes
January 10, 2019 11:38 am

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 »

ברוך דיין האמת
January 10, 2019 11:02 am

Chenny, we are all thinking of you…

BDE
January 10, 2019 9:31 am

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.

May his wife be comforted
January 10, 2019 8:13 am

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 ?????
January 10, 2019 12:33 am

how about reciting the entire Tehillim this motzei Shabbos after 12 midnight , just like Hoshana Rabba ??????

BDE
January 9, 2019 11:16 pm

A very special family

A great Chossid, A special person
January 9, 2019 10:09 pm

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

Yankel Koncepolski
January 9, 2019 10:08 pm

ברוך דיין אמת

intresting to note his yichus
January 9, 2019 10:03 pm

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.

Rivka
January 9, 2019 9:58 pm

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!

Ad mosai
January 9, 2019 9:57 pm

Unbelievable crazy I can’t believe this, Reb Yona was
A true chosid

Shalom's chavrusa
January 9, 2019 9:09 pm

So sad to hear this news,,,,, may his neshama have an aliya…. bde

In honor of Yaneh
January 9, 2019 9:04 pm

Let’s all commit to continuing Yanehs work, everyone please make 3 phone calls and try to make a Shidduch

To 98
January 9, 2019 8:46 pm

R’ Yonah Ben R’ Meir.

bde.
January 9, 2019 8:44 pm

Reb Yonah will be so sorely missed.

to 98
January 9, 2019 8:16 pm

Yona ben Meir

Horrible and shocking news
January 9, 2019 8:06 pm

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

Anyone has his name for mitzvos leyilui nishmas?
January 9, 2019 7:33 pm
Boruch Dayaan haemes
January 9, 2019 7:02 pm

Such terrible news

I k
January 9, 2019 6:51 pm

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.

community loss
January 9, 2019 6:16 pm

Rabbi Avtzon will be so sorely missed.
Filling his shoes is impossible.

Oh. My.
January 9, 2019 6:05 pm

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.

💕💕
January 9, 2019 5:56 pm

Leah we are so sorry for your loss, we love you, may moshiach come and you reunited with your father ad mosia

Oh mon D......
January 9, 2019 5:45 pm

Jusqu’à quand cette galout va-t-elle durée!!???
Barouh Dayan aemet!

Such a loss
January 9, 2019 5:42 pm

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!:(((

BDE
January 9, 2019 5:39 pm

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

bde
January 9, 2019 5:38 pm

we love you meir
from ot mesivta

Ad mosai
January 9, 2019 5:23 pm

BDE

Bde
January 9, 2019 5:17 pm

Ad Masai! We should only hear good news!

Reb Yona
January 9, 2019 5:16 pm

Always with a smile
Always with a helping hand
Emes till the end

May the family find comfort.

בד"א
January 9, 2019 5:01 pm

What a tragedy,

stunned
January 9, 2019 4:55 pm

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!

Bde!!!
January 9, 2019 4:25 pm

Ad mosai!!what a special man!!! What is happening with empire shul all these people dying…wake up call!!!

Chills
January 9, 2019 4:23 pm

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

Beyond Belief
January 9, 2019 4:19 pm

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

He made my son's shidduch
January 9, 2019 4:10 pm

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

BDE
January 9, 2019 4:01 pm

Shocked beyond shocked. Cannot fathom. No words!!! Strength to the family!!!!!

BDE
January 9, 2019 3:55 pm

Ad Mosai

BDE
January 9, 2019 3:38 pm

We will miss you Uncle Yaineh.
The nicest man who was always helping everyone out

Kalman
January 9, 2019 2:57 pm

So SAD, Moshiach NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

so sad to hear
January 9, 2019 2:40 pm

He really tried so hard to help with shidduchim

Ben Abrams
January 9, 2019 2:36 pm

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 »

ND Dubov
January 9, 2019 2:31 pm

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!

LEAH!!!💖
January 9, 2019 2:21 pm

BDE. We are so sorry for ur loss and look forward to only simchos❤
Lots of love,
Your family at Bais Rivka:)

);.
January 9, 2019 2:14 pm

There is no words to express…

OY OY!
January 9, 2019 1:54 pm

Horrific news, so sad – BDE

Leah ❤
January 9, 2019 1:44 pm

Bde we love you Leah , Brhs freshman’s

Bde
January 9, 2019 1:33 pm

Looking at his beautiful and special family one by one, you can see who Rabbi Avtzon was.

Bde
January 9, 2019 1:14 pm

Horrible news
Such a great person will definitely be a guter better far di gantze Mishpochah

BDH
January 9, 2019 12:57 pm

Such a friendly, good man. What a loss.

Yoel Seliger
January 9, 2019 12:53 pm

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!!!

Great guy.
January 9, 2019 12:45 pm

Nicest guy. Accomplished tons for the Rebbe MhM.
Sichos In English invaluable source. BDE.

BDE
January 9, 2019 12:31 pm

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.

Shocking! So sad!
January 9, 2019 12:20 pm

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?!

ברוך דיין האמת
January 9, 2019 12:17 pm

Hashem is taking the very best, משיח עכשיו!!

ברוך דיין האמת
January 9, 2019 12:17 pm

So sad to hear, No words

aside for shadchan
January 9, 2019 12:14 pm

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 - Man of Truth - The Rebbe's man
January 9, 2019 12:10 pm

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.

Bde is smile
January 9, 2019 12:08 pm

I never speak to this person but I member him in 770 always with a smile
Is look like a real חסיד

Boruch Dayan Ha'Emes
January 9, 2019 11:53 am

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.

Mrs. A G
January 9, 2019 11:43 am

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

Horrified to hear this
January 9, 2019 11:41 am

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

so sad
January 9, 2019 11:40 am

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

BDE
January 9, 2019 11:30 am

such a shock!! My husband was just on the phone yesterday with him regarding a shiduch!!! We need Moshiach Now!!!

BDE
January 9, 2019 11:27 am

Baruch Dayan HaEmes

BDE
January 9, 2019 11:27 am

BDE

BDE
January 9, 2019 11:24 am

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.

Lubavitch
January 9, 2019 11:23 am

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!??

Ad mosei!
January 9, 2019 10:59 am

Baruch Dayan Ha’emes

Such a loss to the community
January 9, 2019 10:56 am

This is a tradegy, he was behind the Translation of the Alter Rebbes Shulchan Aruch! And much more!

BDE
January 9, 2019 10:52 am

his work made him perhaps be the largest partner to most shluchim in helping thier people get educated towards the rebbe’s teachings.

big Z Schapiro
January 9, 2019 10:41 am

BDE

BDE MOSHIACH RIGHT NOW !!!!!
January 9, 2019 10:34 am

Tragic Loss for Lubavitch
Irreplaceable Pillar of Publishing the Rebbeim Chassidus

BDE
January 9, 2019 10:33 am

This is very sad and shocking news.
He was always ready to help with Shidduchim, and will be missed.
Moshiach now!

BDE
January 9, 2019 10:31 am

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!!:(

Former Detroiter
January 9, 2019 10:11 am

Baruch Dayan HaEmes – very sad news. Yonah will be missed.

so so sad
January 9, 2019 10:07 am

Chenny. and the whole avtzon family. we are thinking of you! this is such a terrible loss. so sorry

BDE
January 9, 2019 10:06 am

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

Ditto 34
January 9, 2019 10:06 am

BDE He helped so many people get married A True Shadchan .

Boruch Dayan Emes
January 9, 2019 10:05 am

Aibeshter! Moshiach NOW!

A Dedicated Chossid who loved the Rebbe!
January 9, 2019 10:02 am

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

BDE
January 9, 2019 10:02 am

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.

עד מתי
January 9, 2019 9:49 am

יהודי שעזר להרבה בחורים להשתדך ועוד רבות ורבות דברים טובים
היה מגיע במוצאי שבת לאוהל של הרבי היה ניכר עליו לפני הכניסה לרבי

Always always carrying seforim
January 9, 2019 9:47 am

A terrible shock – a huge loss
Ad Mossi ????

BDE
January 9, 2019 9:46 am

Ad Mosai!!

Big Loss
January 9, 2019 9:38 am

He gave me an opportunity to edit and write when no one else would, good man, big loss. Sorry to the family, BDE

One of a kind
January 9, 2019 9:35 am

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 !!!

Heartbroken
January 9, 2019 9:31 am

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.

Bde
January 9, 2019 9:29 am

Moshiach now! Ad mosai!

Very bad news
January 9, 2019 9:28 am

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.

Boruch Dayan Emes
January 9, 2019 9:24 am

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

So Tragic!
January 9, 2019 9:22 am

He was a good man;; an irreplaceable loss.
BDE

Bde
January 9, 2019 9:21 am

So sad.
Great family.
Great man.
Always doing the Rebbes work..
Moshiach now

Brokenhearted and shocked
January 9, 2019 9:19 am

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

BDE
January 9, 2019 9:18 am

A real man of chesed, his children are as well. Lubavitch is really not going to be the same without him.

BDE
January 9, 2019 9:17 am

What a shock , he was such a kind man .

WHAAAT????
January 9, 2019 9:16 am

IM JUST CONFUSED?
IS THIS REAL?
MY SHADCHAN….

Boruch Dayan Emes
January 9, 2019 9:15 am

I don’t have the words…

BDE
January 9, 2019 9:14 am

So Sad to hear! Was an incredible Shadchan! BDE

Unbelieveable
January 9, 2019 9:13 am

WHY WHY WHY

Boruch Dayan Ha’Emes!
January 9, 2019 9:07 am

Moshiach now!

BDE
January 9, 2019 9:02 am

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.

BDE
January 9, 2019 9:01 am

Sorry for your lost

Terrible
January 9, 2019 8:57 am

Such shocking news
Can’t believe it

עד מתי !!!!
January 9, 2019 8:52 am

בד״ה עד מתי השם ירחם על עמו ישראל וישלח כבר עכשיו ומיד את מלך המשיח . שנזכה כבר לגאולה האמיתית והשלימה עכשיו ומיד ממש !!!!!!!

Jack
January 9, 2019 8:52 am

BS”D This must be a bad dream BDE

Relative
January 9, 2019 8:51 am

Bde, so sad, enough is enough

A tremendous loss BDE
January 9, 2019 8:49 am

He will be greatly missed!!

Oy!
January 9, 2019 8:49 am

We need Moshiach already!

Sharing Zalman Moshe's Yohrtzeit!
January 9, 2019 8:47 am

Both great chasidim

BDE
January 9, 2019 8:46 am

Terrible. Such a kind person.

Baruch Dayan Haemes
January 9, 2019 8:45 am

Please Hashem
Ad Mosai
So sorry for family

BDE
January 9, 2019 8:44 am

So sad

Bde
January 9, 2019 8:44 am

Ad mosai!!!! Moshiach now

Ad Mosai!!
January 9, 2019 8:43 am

Bde!!

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