By COLlive reporter
Rabbi Shlomo Schneur Zalman Kazan, one of the Rebbe’s first Shluchim in the United States and from the eldest living Chassidim, passed away Sunday, Tammuz 8 5771 – 10 July 2011.
He was 92.
He led Congregation Tzemach Tzedek on Lee Road in Cleveland for over 50 years and together with his wife, Rebbetzin Shula Kazen help sustain and expand the Jewish community in Ohio.
The Kazens helped welcome Russian Jewish immigrants to the city. One of their activities was the opening of the Russian/Kosher Foodbank providing food and spiritual nourishment to newly arrived Jews from the former Soviet Union.
Rabbi Kazen is the son of Mrs. Sarah Katzenelenbogen OBM, known as the fearless “Mumme Sarah” who sacrificed her life to help Jewish people under Communist regime.
While constantly being followed and interrogated, she helped many Jews with documents to leave Soviet Russia on their way to freedom, including Rebbetzin Chana Schneerson OBM, the Rebbe’s mother.
As a young boy he learned in the underground Chadorim (Chabad schools). At the age of 9, in 1927 (5688), he was present at the last Simchas Torah the Previous Rebbe spent in Russia.
He once recalled how his father R’ Michoel Katzenelenbogen held him up high in the packed Shul and made sure he listened to the Haftora read by the Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Schneerson, and was later taken in for a private Yechidus audience.
He is survived by his wife and their children: Mrs. Devorah Alevsky – Cleveland, Ohio; Mrs. Henya Laine – Crown Heights; Mrs. Bluma Wineberg – Overland Park, KS; Mrs. Rivka Kotlarsky – Crown Heights and Mrs. Rochel Goldman – Johannesburg, South Africa.
They had a daughter, Mrs. Esther Alpern – a Shlucha in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and a son Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Kazen, founder of Judaism site Chabad.org. Both passed away.
He has over 300 grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
LEVAYA & SHIVA
His funeral will take place on Monday, Tammuz 9, at Shomrei Hadas Chapels at 12:30PM and will be passing by 770 Eastern Parkway at 1:15 PM, for burial at Old Montefire cemetery in Queens.
Shiva will be at Mrs. Kazen’s apartment, 658 Montgomery St., Brooklyn NY 11225.
Baruch Dayan Haemes.
zeidy i miss u so so so much!!! i want to see u!!
My husband and I received a very warm welcome to Cleveland by the Chabad community and we received special attention from Rabbi and Mrs. Kazen. Because we became frum after we were married, the Chabad rabbis were instrumental in putting another wedding together for us (as our reform ketubah was not valid). We had an outside chupah in record-breaking cold and ice. Memories are a funny thing, but I recall that we were all wearing gloves, except for Rabbi Kazen who held a frozen Kiddish cup in his bare hand for quite some time , and, unlike the rest of… Read more »
Rabbi Kazen was like a father to me and my memories of him will be with me always.
I used to daven at Tzemach Tzedek, although I met the rebbe some years earlier. I don’t believe I ever met a more extraordinary human being.
If the word Tzaddik did not exist, there would be no succinct way to describe this wonderful human being.
I am immeasurably richer for having known him, and so is the world.
we are very sad at the news of the passing of our Elter Feter Zalman, we wish mumme Shula and all the family “arichas yomim, ”
from Cape Town,
hamakom yenachem eschem besoch shaar aveilei tzion veyerushlayim
No one sang Shabbos Zmiros like Rabbi Kazen. I’m thankful for his having been an influence and role model in my life for over 40 years. Baruch Dayan H’emes.
h was my zeide
With a smile on his face, a hearty slap on the back, and the words, “You come fah cholent, yeh” Rabbi Kazen Z”L would reach out to people on the street to invite them to his Shabbos table. He was the Pied Piper of Cleveland Heights, inviting guests not only for every Shabbos and Yom Tov meal, but like Avraham Avinu his home was open 24/7/365 to every Jew in need. May Rabbi Kazen be a maylitz yosher for his family and Klal Yisroel, and may Rebbetzin Kazen be blessed with good health…ad mea v’esreem.
with his inyeilding vibrance in every thing he did
Although we never met him personally, it is well-known that he and his wife-tibdl”ch, raised an exemplary and illustrious dynasty-from these beautiful comments, it is easy to see why.
May your family know no tzaros-only simchos for you and all K’llal Yisrael,
A. and Z. Sasson
I remember sleeping on the benches in Tzemach Tzedek, and waking every shabbat morning at 4am to the sound of the Rabbi & Rebbetzin saying the book of Tehillim, I remember learning Torah Ohr and Lekuta Torah with Rabbi Kazen with banana cake and warm drink . I remember the stories I heard just hanging out on my free time. someone told me in the shull, I should right them down… but I never did. I think its time I do. The rabbi and Rebbetzin were and still my guide on how to live life. It was a honer to… Read more »
we will try to follow in your ways and bring you much nachas…
baruch dayin haemes.
you gave us such a good exemple
your smile, your kind words, your learning with us we will NEVER forget them
you’re mesiras nefesh is a true example for all of us, your eineklach and for all klal isroel
we love you and we miss you !!
ZEIDE!!
a real chosid
A TRUE TZADDIK AND CHOSSID HOW HE INSPIRED ALL WHO KNEW HIM…. BORUCH DAYAN HOEMES…
No words will be enough to describe the greatness of R Kazen, OBM. I remember when we fist came to the USA, Rebettzin Kazen invited us to her house, and we never met R Kazen yet and the first thing we heard him say was “Nu , Shulya, did you give them something to eat?”.. This is how he was- always caring about others…always neglecting himself.. We will miss him dearly and we are glad to have been able to learn from the true tzaddik. May he pray for us all in Gan Eden.
what can certainly be considered his greatness are the excepional children he raised and for whom he set such an impeccable example as chossid and shliach. may he continue to impact us all through the dedicated work of his dear children in doing the Rebbe’s shlichus. May their numbers increase and may they be blessed with continued success b’gur.
!
The most humble Tzaddik i have met in my life. A true complete Chasid who welcomed me and my family to Zemach Zedek when we moved here, making it our second home. Inspired me so much, i will remember your beautiful teachings forever!
We will miss your ever-present smile. The smile that burst the the challenges and Yisurim, The Smile that beamed from your face whenever any of your einiklach came to visit. We will miss the smile, but we will keep it alive on our faces. We will also keep alive your divrei Torah, your unwavering commitment to shlichus — the way you drove the 15 passenger van to bring the Russian Jews to Zemach Zedek even when you hit 90! (and used two walking sticks — still smiling of course) You have left us with a treasure trove of inspiration, for… Read more »
Baruch Dayen Emes
I was very shocked to hear of this great loss. What a wonderful family. Sincere condolences from my family.
A huge loss to the family and Cleveland anash. We are are stunned and saddened.
Baruch Dayen Emes
HE WAS A VERY NICE MAN. I FEEL VERY BAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So saddened to read the news of Rabbi Kazen leaving this world. Due to his family I am proud to be a Jew, love Hashem, his Torah & mitzvot. Due to his and the Rebbetzin’s work. their shul in Cleveland is THE MOST WELCOMING synagogue in Cleveland Ohio for any Yid. My thoughts and tefillot are with his family. I will leave off with a story about Rabbi Kazen. One year around Rosh Hashanah time there was a group walking to do Tashlich. Suddeny Rabbi Kazen comes zooming by like it’s the Boston Marathon. Somone from the group asks “Rabbi… Read more »
He was a special person I will truly miss him , only Simchas for the whole family and my zaida in london
Hamakom Yenachem Eschem Besoch Shaar Avalay Tzion V’Yerushalayim
Always with a smile and a chasidishe vort and Niggun. We will miss you very much.
BS:D
Dovened with him In Rabbi Shain,what a captivating warm smile
I miss u zaidy zalman!!!
Saddened to hear of Rabbi Kazens passing. I saw first hand his devotion to other Yidden ,his Zemach Zedek shul, and the friendly smile and helping hand,that were his trademark. he will be missed ,may Hashem comfort his wife, children,and family.
A clevelander and long time admirer of the Kazans.
A man with a heart of gold.
hamokoim ienachem eschem besoich shaar abelei tzion biyerusholaim.
min hashomaim tenujamu!
the benayon family
I am shocked and saddened by this news 🙁 may his family bring him even more naches!
A truely special family!!!!!
He also has 2 brothers in England KAH Rabbi Yehoshua Raskin and Rabbi Moshe Katzenelenbogen
We need Moshiach NOW!
he is survived by two brothers living in london, england reb yehoshua raskin and reb moshe katsenellenbogen, they should live and be well.
his oldest daughter was mrs esther alpern obm, shlucha from brazil .
A real Chossid and Shliach!!!
he was a true shliach.
he was zoche to have his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren shluchim of the rebbe all over the world together with his wife she should live and be well.
MOSHIACH NOW
Moshe Katzenelenbogen and Yehoshua (Heyshke) Raskin in London
I am so saddened to read this news. I owe my life to the Kazen family. My first encounter with Chabad was through Mrs Kazen. All of their children were so instrumental with my journey back. Hamakom Yenachem Eschem Besoch Shaar Avalay Tzion V’Yerushalayim