By COLlive reporter
Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok “Fitche” Itkin, a Shliach of the Rebbe who was a living example of a chossid for the Chabad community in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, passed away on Monday night, eve of 7 Teves, 5784.
He was 69 and has battled an illness in recent years.
Rabbi Itkin was born and raised in the Crown Heights neighborhood, living at 760 Eastern Parkway near the iconic 770 – Lubavitch World Headquarters, the Shul of the Rebbe.
Even when he moved on Shlichus to Pittsburgh to serve as a Mashpia for the students of the Yeshiva and the community, some in Crown Heights thought he never left.
That’s because Rabbi Itkin was known for his deep hiskashrus to the Rebbe and for utilizing every opportunity to be near the Rebbe. Family members told COLlive how he would catch a ride to New York when he heard the Rebbe was distributing a kuntres, for example.
He also made it a point to bring his family to spend yomim tovim near the Rebbe. “He was a transplant of 770 living in Pittsburgh,” is how one family member described it. “You can say that he never left 770.”
Despite that, he had a lasting impact on the Pittsburgh community. With his home next door to the Yeshiva, he was a role model of hiskashrus to the Rebbe and devoted to the ways of Chassidus.
He taught and worked with young bochurim, giving extra time and special care to those who needed it most. Many of them are now Chassidim with families thanks to him.
On Thursday nights, he would host a farbrengen for bochurim. He loved sharing Divrei Torah specifically from the Rebbe, and stories of Chassidim to whoever visited his home, which was known for its hachnosas orchim.
In the community, he was known for his unflinching ahavas Yisroel and for seeing the positive in people. He lived for sholom and achdus among people, and worked to elevate everyone he met.
Over the years, he had the merit of bringing many people from Pittsburgh and surrounding areas to visit the Rebbe. In fact, he brought a group on 27 Adar 1 to receive a dollar from the Rebbe before the fateful stroke.
His love for Chassidus and understanding of others was also expressed in the Chassidus Club he opened specifically for Chabad girls who complained about the bochurim being taught a higher level of Chassidic education.
He was also the founding member of the Vaad Hakashrus of Pittsburgh, ensuring that the Jewish people in the city could enjoy cholov Yisroel and glatt kosher products.
After suffering from an illness, his family and many students and admirers from around the world davened for his recovery. The family thanked all those who said Tehillim for him.
He is survived by his wife Mrs. Nechoma Itkin (nee Junik) and their 11 children Mrs. Chana Mondshine – Smolensk, Russia; Mrs. Shaina Stolik – South Palm Beach, Florida; Mrs. Tzivi Kivman – Mansfield, Massachusetts; R’ Avraham Itkin – Kingston, NY; R’ Chaim Itkin – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Mrs. Chaya Posner – Toronto, Ontario; Mrs. Alte Raskin – Crown Heights; Mrs. Goldie Ohana – Binghamton, NY; Mrs. Rivky Raichik – Los Angeles, California; Leah Itkin and Menucha Itkin; grandchildren.
He is also survived by his siblings Mrs. Feigie Rapaport – Mequon, WI; Mrs. Shana Tiechtel – Crown Heights; Rabbi Leibel Itkin – Scranton, PA; and Mrs. Chana Geisinsky – Great Neck, NY.
He was predeceased by his brothers Rabbi Zalman Itkin of Hamilton, Canada, and Rabbi Mendel Itkin of Sydney, Australia.
The levaya began on Monday night in front of the Yeshiva in Pittsburgh, with a large crowd taking part.
It will pass by 770 Eastern Parkway on Tuesday 2:30 PM to the old Montefiore Cemetery in Queens.
The family will be sitting Shiva at the Tiechtel home – 405 Crown St., Brooklyn, NY, 11225
Hours:
Tuesday 6-9 PM
Wednesday 10 AM-1 PM, 6-9 PM
Shachris times for Wednesday and Thursday, 8 and 9 AM.
Mincha & Maariv bizmano on Wednesday only
Shiva will continue for the siblings, Thursday and Friday at 405 Crown street
Thursday from 10 -1 and 6-9 pm.
Friday from 10-12
At 405 crown St.
Mrs. Tiechtel will be sitting Sunday at 405 Crown St from 10-1 and 6-9 pm.
Boruch Dayan Haemes: Yosef Yitzchok ben Meir
May Hashem comfort and strengthen the family and bring the ultimate nechama of Moshiach now! Thinking of my friend, Tzvi Kievman, from Yerushalayim
I remember R’Itkin was always kind and caring. I saw him personally ask students how they were doing to try helping them in Yeshiva
I myself struggled in Chassidus class, and he made sure that I learnt Chassidus at a pace different than the class, so that I was able to learn Chassidus. That kindness helped me stay connected to yidishkeit years later.
He was a true Chassid. His connection to the Rebbe was so strong that it helped inspire not just him, but us students as well.
We just lost a great giant!
BDE
I literally had the same experience.
I saw first-hand how he took special interest in every single student, no matter where they were holding. In fact the ones who were struggling he took the most interest in, and made them feel important.
B”h
Condolences to the Itlin family. The Pittsburgh Anash community has lost
one of the most caring community members. HaMakom Yenachem Eschem Besoch Shaat Avlei Tziyon BeYerushalayim!
A tremendous loss for the Pittsburgh community. May he be returned to us very soon with והקיצו ורננו שוכני עפר!
BDE What a loss! Before going to Pittsburgh, he served as a chasidus teacher in Oholei Torah 8th Grade. I learned Tanya from him. I remember one specific story that demonstrated what a unique person he was. He created a competition about knowing Tanya bal per. The winner was going to get a certain sefer. I came in second place and he noticed my disappointment. Immediately after class he called me aside and told me that the next day he would bring me a sefer as well. He always noticed people’s feelings and responded accordingly .
חבל על דאבדין
A real freshwater Chosid with a special warmth loved by all. Will be dearly missed. His will live on through his beautiful family and talmidim.
Oy, BDE! Rabbi Itkin was a real chossid down to his bones. I remember that NY trip, very special experience that he made happen. Zachiti to be in his class a see what a chossid is. May hashem send the family whatever nechama they need! Moshiach Achshav!
What a loss. He was an amazing person. Always kind and smiling. Always personable and caring no matter who you were or what your background was. May his neshama have an Aliya.
Rabbi Itkin lit up the world around him, spread light into people’s homes and hearts.
A chossid that you imagine lives only in old books.
BDE
He was a great family friend and mashpia.
Went out of his way to help us in our time
of need.
What a loss! Who can replace him?
BDE, an amazing teacher!
😢
א דערהויבענע יונגרמאן
אבד חסיד מן הארץ
bde
such an amazing person
oy hashem bring moshaich
his kids are angels
This is for Menucha,
You were my favorite counselor. The best one I ever had. You helped me through so much. Your smile was always shining so brightly. I once asked you how you managed to always keep a smile on your face. You really changed my life in ways you don’t even know how…
For years I thought about asking you to be my mashpia but we haven’t spoken in years so I wasn’t sure how.
Hamakom y’nachem etchem b’toch sh’ar availai tziyon ee yerushalayim:
you were always an inspiration to me. you had so much joy and always made everyone around you feel special. you are so special. im so sorry for this tremendous loss
sending a lot of love
Rabbi Itkin was my Mashpia & my friend. I am heartbroken!
I loved him so much! Such a warm chosid!
Even when he was in pain he asked me to tell him a gut Vort & about what I’m doing. He lit up a room with his warm smile.
I will miss him dearly!
To Mrs. Nechoma Itkin & your beautiful family:
May Hashem comfort you & may you know of only simchos!
Yirmiyahu Cohen
Always cared for the bachurim,
Spent hours on end with them as if they where his only priority
I have no words to describe the pain of this loss to our community
whenever i saw him he always would give me a hug and give me a Doller which for me felt like a million
Menucha-you are an inspiration to me! I’m so sorry for your loss. You have always inspired me to do the right thing. You always make everyone around you smile!