By COLlive reporter
Rabbi Yosef Kramer, one of the English-speaking Shluchim that the Rebbe sent to influence Jewish life in the holy land of Israel, passed away on Monday, 28 Iyar 5785.
He was 71 and has battled an illness in recent years.
His life was defined by Shlichus – the mission to help fellow Jews spiritually and materially – having been born on Shlichus, serving on Shlichus for close to 50 years, and all his children becoming Shluchim themselves.
He was born in Montreal, Canada, on the 3rd of Tammuz, 5713 (June 16, 1953), to Rabbi Leibel and Chaya Kramer. His father, a holocaust survivor, was one of the 9 Shluchim the Frierdiker Rebbe sent to the city to build the Chabad community and its institutions.
In his childhood, Yosef studied at Yeshiva Tomchei Temimim Lubavitch of Montreal and then continued to learn at the Central Yeshiva Tomchei Temimim Lubavitch at 770 Eastern Parkway at the end of 5732 (1972).
Despite his plans to be near the Rebbe for an extended period, he was selected to be among the group of talmidim shluchim sent to Yeshiva Tomchei Temimim in Melbourne, Australia.
He went on this mission together with his friends Rabbi Aharon Eliezer Ceitlin, Rabbi Yosef Chitrik, and Rabbi Yaakov Reitzes. He worked extensively to strengthen Judaism in the city and deepen the connection to the Rebbe. They returned to New York in 5735 (1975).
He then married Ita Friedman, and the Rebbe selected them in 5736 (1976) as one of his Shluchim to Eretz Yisroel. The Kramers settled in Teveria (Tiberias), establishing a Chabad center and bringing additional Shluchim to the city.
Since the establishment of the Rambam’s daily study cycle, Rabbi Kramer has organized the Siyum completion ceremonies held at the Rambam’s gravesite, following the Rebbe’s instructions.
He is survived by his wife Mrs. Ita Kramer, their children, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Kramer – Ashdod; Mrs. Devorah Gerlitzky – Tel Aviv; Mrs. Malka Blau – Kineret; Rabbi Eliyahu Kramer – Poria; Mrs. Sara Zalmanov – Mordot; Rabbi Akiva Kramer – Riga, Latvia; Mrs. Rochel Gerlitzky – Poria Illit; Mrs. Mushka Alperovich – Teveria; Mrs. Chana Mendelson – Arad; Rabbi Aryeh Kramer – Teveria; grandchildren.
He is also survived by his siblings: Rabbi Yitzchok Michel Kramer (Crown Heights), Sara Gutnick (Melbourne, Australia), Esther Shneur (Montreal) and Rabbi Shmuel Kramer (Montreal).
The levaya will be held on Monday.
After their return from Israel, Rabbi Michel Kramer and Sara Gutnick (Australia) will continue sitting Shiva for their brother Rabbi Yosef Kramer OBM, Head Shaliach of Tverya, at 620 Montgomery St.
Visiting times:
Tonight, Thursday: 9:15 – 11pm;
Friday: 9:30am – 1pm, then 2 – 4pm;
Motzo’ei Shabbos Kodesh: 10 -11:30pm;
Sunday: Shacharis at 9am.
Baruch Dayan Haemes.
ברוך דיין האמת
What a man. A reall Shliach
Rabbi Kramer was my teacher at Machon Alte in 1986. I still remember his refined demeanor, kind manner and smile. It’s very sad that he passed at such a young age. May his family be comforted.