By COLlive reporter
Rabbi Yosef Loschak, one of the veteran and respected Chabad Shluchim in California, passed away on Tuesday, 3 Tammuz 5774.
He was 62.
Rabbi Loschak grew up in Australia where he began his Rabbinic ordination.
He has been the Director of Chabad in S. Barbara since 1979. The outreach center has grown since to include two facilities on Stow Canyon Road and at University of California, S. Barbara (UCBS), three Rabbis, the Aleph Bet Preschool and numerous programs.
He was also the director of the Chabad Chaplaincy program for Jewish inmates in California, in which the number of Jewish prisoners overall is in line with the overall Jewish national population.
“Everybody has made mistakes — and some of these prisoners have made terrible mistakes — but our mission is not to judge them for their past,” he would say. “These inmates are still human beings, regardless of what brought them to prison; we have an obligation to reach out to them.”
He is survived by his wife Mrs. Devora Loschak, their children Rabbi Mendel Loschak – Isla Vista, CA; Mrs. Shterna Kudan – S. Barbara, CA; Mrs. Ella Potash – Redwood City, CA; Mrs. Nechama Dena Dinerman – Crown Heights; Rabbi Ahrele Loschak – Crown Heights; Rabbi Hersh Loschak – Glassboro, NJ; Mrs. Mushkie Rabin – Crown Heights; Mrs. Yochi Lipinski – Crown Heights; Mrs. Estee Steinmetz – Crown Heights; Avi Loschak, Miri Loschak and Chaim Loschak – S. Barbara, CA; and grandchildren.
The levaya will be taking place in S. Barbara on Wednesday 1:00 pm and then passing by Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad at 6pm.
Levaya in New York on Thursday, leaving Shomrei Hadas at 12 pm and passing by 770 at 12:30 pm.
Shiva will be taking place after the levaya at 1584 Carroll St. Brooklyn NY only until Thursday night.
Mincha at 7:30pm; maariv bizmanoi.
They are in need of five minyanim for shacharis in CH on Friday at 4 a.m.
If you are able to help make a minyan please text Rabbi Mordechai Dinerman 917.806.2539.
Shiva will continue in S. Barbara on Friday until Wednesday morning.
Davening times in SB:
Sunday Shacharis 7:30, 8:00, 8:30am; mincha/maariv 8:00pm
Monday/Tuesday 7:00, 7:30, 8:00am; mincha/maariv 8:00pm
Wednesday 7:00, 7:30, 8:00am
To donate to the Rabbi Loschak Memorial fund to support the continued growth of Chabad of S. Barbara, visit www.sbchabad.org/memorial.
Baruch dayan haemes.
Very sad news indeed. I knew Rabbi Loschak & his family during my 17 yrs. in S. Barbara. He was a really smart and humble guy. Truly a “Mensh”. He will be missed here in Eugene, OR. Reuven ben Yaacov
Before there was Reb Yosef, there was Joey, the son of Romek and Lola who were close family friends. His uncle was my Sandek. While so saddened by this news, I’m uplifted reading all these messages. To his family, HaMakom yenachem et’chem b’toch shar avay’lay Tzion vee’Yerushalayim.
From Melbourne Australia, condolences to the family.
Life will never be the same without Rabbi Loschak.
Baruch Dyan Haemes
A brilliant man !
It’s suvh a tragic loss.
He was beloved by everyone her in California.
Enough Hashem,enough !
How to explain what a special person he was? I was zoche to be in close contact with him for a number of years. He was a true chossid, his motto always being ‘think good and it will be good!’ And so it was. He didn’t want people to know he was ill – when i asked him why he did not even tell close friends he replied ‘because i live my life focusing on the positive’ That was my special Rabbi. No matter how much he suffered he still managed to smile and see the good. No words can… Read more »
We’re thinking of you and in pain for you. You are incredibly strong and may Hashem not test that strength any more and fill your life with only simchas.
May you be comforted, with the ultimate nechomo- Moshiach NOW! AD MOSAI????????
-a friend
Rabbi Loschak transformed my hometown. When I met him and his incredible family I needed a new path in my life. He helped guide me to find the wonderful life of Yiddishkeit and transform my life. Words can not express what I feel hearing of his passing. What a loss, not just for his family, but all of us.
A native from S. Barbara,
We need Moshiach NOW!!!
Yaakov Wachner
Dear Rabbi Loschak will be remembered in Vero Beach Florida. He has been a precious friend and inspiration to our family. He was a tzadik. We send all our love to Devorah and the children. Jane Bialosky
thinking about you brother, sending lots of love
will miss seeing him at the Jewish Festival
By advising me away from a bad decision. Thank you R Loschak. I know his son is a wonderful Mentch and Anav. Love to his family. BDE.
I never had the zchus to meet or write to Rabbi Loschak OBM but I’ve been “getting to know” him via these heart-warming messages. What a powerful oheiv Yisroel he was and I’m sure he’s doing exactly the same thing in Gan Eden.
As someone who’s lost her parents, I know that as comforting as these beautiful messages are, I think it would be even more meaningful for the family if everyone signed their name.
Wishing the family arichas yomim and that Hashem should dry their tears with the coming of Moshiach bimheira.
With love, Judy Kanar from London
yinachem eschem b’soch she’ar avaylay tzion viyrushalayim.
Rabbi and Mrs. Moshe Feller
i was in australia in late 1971,when he made his life-goal transformation of leaving monash university and to dedicate his entire life to torah and chassidus.he started to go on merkos shlichus with me in jan. 1972 to perth and adelaide.he was dedicated and devoted to chassidus and the rebbes goals,and always with a smile.this is a 42 year period correlating to the 42 maasoais that a yid journeys.his entire family has a great zechus to have such a special father.may he bring much blessings,strength,and success to his wife and children . mendel rivkin.
I emailed him two weeks ago and told him I had heard he was sick and I wanted to talk to him on the phone. He emailed me back and said he would call me. Still waiting for that call…. On top of everything else…(and there was a lot of good things about him) He was a really nice down to earth person… and I personally benefitted from my relationship with him; way back when… when he ran the Chabad House in Austin, Texas. I don’t think I have ever met any Jew who inspired me more than he did.… Read more »
So sorry!!!
I was in s.barbara long time ago
And I have the best hospitality by them
They made me feel like family
And just saw what’s shlichus it’s really suppose to be!!!!
Sanding love and support
Moshiach now!!!!
He should storm shomayim with the koah hamishaleach and demand from Hashem the geulah now and we should be reunited with him and the rebbe and all the others
Rabbi Loschak was a special person. I didn’t get to know him well, I knew him through his exceptional children. He will not be forgotten. He always had a smile and a funny comment and he was a real mentsch.
May Hashem send menucha and simcha to his wonderful wife and children.
Rabbi Loschak was great chossid dedicated to the Rebbe’s shliach. He will be missed.
He was my chavrusa in Kolel.May hashem grant the family the strength to continue his work.
Rabbi Loschak had such warmth and charisma..a true example of a chossid. Moshiach we need you!!
My thoughts go back to 37 years ago, when he and his wife were Shluchim in Austin, Tx. I was a young student then at the University of Texas, and he introduced me for the first time to the Chabad outlook on life. The rest is history. We will miss you. HaMokom Yenachem eschem to all the family.
loshacks, my heart is broken for you all… This is it, MOSHIACH NOW so you may be reunited with your father now and forever
i heard there will be a levaya in yoec at 6 pm
so sad. i spent a shabbos at his house. such special people. may ur family somehow find comfort.
hamokom yenachem eschem
Rabbi Loschak helped my family on many occasions regarding sensitive issues which he handled with tremendous understanding and care. Whenever a truly personal halachic matter came up, we only felt comfortable calling him. My family owes much to Rabbi Loschak. We miss him terribly!!
So Sad. BDE. He was a true Tzadik a gentle and lofty soul
I was privileged to know and be close.
He is in a better place. But us??
His tremendous merits should protect and nourish his family and community
We should merit the geula shleima Bekorov
Oy! Rebbe!
May his family be comforted. What a loss.
I never had the honor of meeting Rabbi Loschak in person, however I used to go on the website askmoses quite a bit in order to ask questions of the Rabbis there. Rabbi Loschak was a scholar on askmoses, and after communicating with him several times through that website, I knew that whenever he was On-line as the supervising Rabbi there, I could be assured of an answer given with great care, kindness and patience. And i had alot of questions! Although we never met face-to-face you really do get at least a very small sense of the character of… Read more »
So so sad. Your fellow Anash/shluchim are heartbroken.
May Hashem give the family the strength to get through this terrible loss!! and may we be zocheh to see him again with moshiach now!!!
A friend of his son Chaim,
You took a beautiful SB and made it only more beautiful by adding Kedusha to it.
I am so very sorry to read this sad news and for your loss and for your family’s loss.
My deepest sympathies to you all.
I never met your husband, but I of course remember you.
May he rest in peace BDE
Stephanie Zaft (a friend from Michigan)
Rabbi Yosef Loshek will be missed.
words can not describe him, he was a real mentch.
besides being an understanding rabbi, mashpia, dayan, etc, he was a friend that was always there for me from the late 70’s in Austin and throughout the years, I am very sad that our tehillem and mishaberachs weren’t enough.
May you (we) be consoled and only have simchas until the ultimate simcha immediately!
Yitzchak Horvitz
Heartfelt sympathy and wishes of comfort to his family. Pain felt for Mendel and the Kudans. HaMokom Yenachem Eschem BSoich Shaar Aveilei Tzion Virushalayim.
May you only have good things from now on.
Yomin P.
boruch dayan emes
mosiach now……………………………………
how can i help ????
Dearest Devorah and family, I am in shock. It’s hard to even fathom a world without your dear husband and father. He was truly larger than life- such a tremendous influence on so many people. I will always remember his smiling face, sense of humor, booming voice, and singing Shir Hama’alot to Waltzing Matilde. A great, great man whose legacy will live on forever. I like to think that our “Easy Rabbi” will be in Gan Eden comforting the 3 murdered boys from Israel. What a terrible loss for the entire People of Israel. May Hashem comfort you among the… Read more »
ברוך דין אמת
Hirsh and to the whole Loschak family: very sad news! Hahsem should give you the strength to carry on! Hamakom Yenachem Eschem besoch shar aveley tziyon verushalayim!
Miami Shluchim 5768
How can this be?! Rabbi Loschak was the person who initially brought my father closer to Yiddishkeit, and ever since then, they were good friends. I remember as a little girl, we would go up to S. Barbara for Shavuos. I remember Rabbi Loschak sitting at the head of the table, always smiling and conversing with everyone around him. I remember, even as a little girl, I noticed how he always looked happy. This news is heartbreaking.
May Hashem comfort his family and bring Moshiach NOW!
I can’t believe this news….I’m so sorry…..i have no words….have strength for your beautiful children….
fay
Rabbi Loschak’s OB”M tremendous influence on those he knew, and all his good works will live forever! Because of his outreach and the love he had for his fellow Jews, it set in motion the creation of my own family and our 4 children. May Hashem comfort you, Devorah and all your children. With much love, Rivkah Shifren and family
Boruch Dayan Haemes. WE need Moshiach NOW! No more tzoros.
I never met R Loshak, but if the apples dont fall far from the tree than he must have been an exceptional man.
Remember him from Yeshiva. Always with a sense of humor!!
So sorry to hear sad news. HaMakomYehachem eschem b’soch shaar avlei Zion v’Yerushalayim.
Yocheved (Lettich) Zuntz
Whats his full hebrew name?
As a dear friend of Rabbi Loschak OB”M, I share in your grief and send you our heartfelt condolences.
Hamokoim Yenachem Eschem besoich sha’ar aveilei Tziyon veYerusholayim.
He was a true chassidisher lamplighter!
Sending love to a beautiful beautiful family as they grieve.
Sorry to hear this sad news.
the whole family should be comforted.
Yossi
Dear Devorah,
May Hashem comfort you and your family as only He can. I did not have the pleasure of meeting your family, however, your husband must have been a very special person as only someone as special as you merits! Hamokom yenachem eschem b’soch shaar aveilei Zion v’Yerushalayim! May your husband be a gutter better for your family and for all Klal Yisroel.
He was a Tzadik.
He changed my life.
I will miss him ever so much.
We visited S. Barbara and they treated us like family…when will it be enough!!! Shluchim go to such places and work for the Rebbe…we need to see that the Golus is over!!!
This is so horrible.
BDE
Such a loss to an amazing family of Shluchim! May his family and community take comfort in in his great accomplishments. Ad Mosai? The pain of losing Shluchim is too much to bear.
A terrible loss of a dear friend. Enough already
May he have the zcoos to farbreng with the Rebbe and all the tzadikkim in himmel. Borich dayen hoemes.
Baruch Dayan Haemes
And wishing much strength and comfort to his family, to his AMAZING talented and positive kids…
Bde
Really really sad.
No words
From all of us at Chabad of Poway