By COLlive reporter
Rabbi Zushe Wilhelm, who led a Mesivta, smicha program, authored seforim and was known for his Torah scholarship and knowledge, passed away on Wednesday night, the eve of 4 Shvat 5782.
He was 62.
Born to R’ Avrohom Dovid and Mrs. Chana Rivkah Wilhelm, he was named after Rabbi Yeshaya Zushe Shubov, who was known as the Boider Rav and led the Marina Roscha shul in Moscow during Soviet times. He was a descendant of the known Chassidic Rebbe R’ Zusha of Anipoli and Rabbi Yeshayahu Horowitz, known as the Shelah HaKaddosh.
As a bochur, Rabbi Wilhelm was sent as a talmid-shliach to Yeshivas Tomchei Temimim in Caracas, Venezuela subsequently learned at the Central Tomchei Tmimim Yeshiva Lubavitch – 770 in 5741.
Following his marriage to his wife Esther Sperlin, the couple spent several years serving as Chabad Shluchim in Panama in Central America, facilitating the growth of the local Jewish community.
Rabbi Wilhelm served as the Principal of the Oholei Menachem High School – Oholei Torah Mesivta in Crown Heights for 32 years. He was renowned for his phenomenal knowledge and superb explanatory skills, helping raise thousands of Chassidim and Shluchim around the world.
Rabbi Wilhelm authored several halachic works including Ziv Hasheimis, Yiddish Siddur, “What’s in a Name: Laws and Customs Regarding the Naming of Children and Related Topics.” He also published a weekly publication titled “Yesh Litmoah” which was loved by its many readers.
His Jewish trivia and process of “She’eilos Lechazoroh” helped educators around the globe with intriguing students and imbuing a sense of curiosity in all areas of Torah.
Two years ago, he founded the American branch of the now well-known Lemaan Yilmedu organization, which provides Crown Heights residents the opportunity to learn Yoreh Deah with a thorough, down-to-earth curriculum.
He is survived by his wife Esther Wilhelm – Crown Heights, their children Berele Wilhelm – Los Angeles; Rabbi Chaim Yisroel Wilhelm – Crown Heights; Rabbi Levi Wilhelm – Las Vegas; Rabbi Mendy Wilhelm – Crown Heights; Mrs. Mushkee Raskin – Montego Bay, Jamaica; Mrs. Mashee Begun – Crown Heights; Mrs. Sara Shur – Crown Heights, and Moshe Wilhelm – Crown Heights; and grandchildren.
He is also survived by his mother Mrs. Chana Rivka Wilhelm (nee Lokshin) – Crown Heights and siblings Mrs. Leah Fradkin – S. Diego, California; Rabbi Moshe Wilhelm – Portland, Oregon; Rabbi Yisroel Wilhelm – Crown Heights; Mrs. Rochel Lapidus – Buenos Aires, Argentina; Rabbi Nachman Wilhelm – Monsey, NY; Mrs. Chaya Sarah Barber – Crown Heights; Rabbi Zalman Wilhelm – Crown Heights; Rabbi Motty Wilhelm – Toronto, Canada; nieces and nephews.
The Levaya will take place on Thursday, leaving Shomrei Hadas in Boro Park at 12 PM, passing by Oholei Torah Mesivta at 1:00 PM, and 770 at 1:15 PM.
Shiva will take place at 25 Balfour Pl.
Shacharis: 7:00, 8:00, 8:30, 9:00, 9:30
Mincha and Maariv B’zmano
Baruch Dayan Ha’emes: Yeshaya Zushe ben Avrohom Dovid
One of my favorite rosh yeshivas will definitely be missed may his neshama have an aliyah
We need meshiach now
HASHEM!!!
ENOUGH ALREADY!!!
Please send Moshiach this second!!!
So hard to accept…
How does a Talmid mourn? Is there halcohos we should know?…
-A Tamlid in Oholei Torah Mesivta, who learned so much from him for 3 full years…
Dont want to believe
we need Moshiach!!!!
He will definitely be missed, a kind soul.
Baruch Dayan Ha Emes
A major loss to the community.
A giant of a man.
We need moshiach now!!
ברוך דיין האמת
Inspiration through my years of oholei torah
2 siblings within a month ???????? HASHEM HAVE MERCY!!!!!!!!!
What a huge loss .
Very sad to read this. Rabbi Wilhelm was the Rosh Mesivta during my years there and was always an inspiration. Enjoyed saying hello to him on the street long after finishing Mesivta and sharing a good word. He will be missed! May his Neshama have an Aliya.
Eibershter, how much longer? Haven’t we suffered beyond and beyond? And for what reason? YOU ARE OUR FATHER! Fathers have loads and loads of Rachamim towards their children. We are being taught THESE DAYS over and over again. Non judgemental LOVE! Outward LOVE! No matter what transgression they might be guilty of NO punishment LOVE LOVE LOVE! Not hidden love, unadulterated love and not the “it’s all for the best love.” Why must we face Your Middas Hadin Hashem when you OWN Middas Harachamim just as well?? HASHEM, it’s Your sincere duty, to give all of your sons and daughters… Read more »
Oy bde
A real brilliant man with a very warm and generous heart!! He did not stop working and growing!! What an inspiration!!
He will be very much missed!! OT 97-99
Special person I spent this past summer with him he gave off that warm and welcoming heart
B DE
What a zchus to learn from him. Passionate for Torah and very kind.A true Talmud Chacham. I will miss him greatly.
Ad mati??
He was a caring Menahel and teacher while we were in Mesivta and for beyond till his last days. A huge loss for the community.
Levi H.
He was a really kind man, so much depth and knowledge. What a loss-BDE..
A special person with a true passion for Torah. May he be reunited with his family and loved ones with the coming of moshiach right now. Ad mosai!
One of the best principles out there,
A real tzaddik!!
An empty hole in the world.
Only simchos!!!
What a special person. I would see him every morning in Empire Shteeble and he gave the Friday night shiur sometimes. What a Geshmake shiur. We will all miss him.
Really kind, open minded, and fabulous menahel. A gift to all the bochurim of Oholei Torah. I will miss him. ברוך דיין האמת
Beyond words
So saddened to hear!! Hashem should send strength to the family and extended family.
A very special person and a beautiful family! Hashem should comfort and strengthen you, and bring the ultimate nechama of Moshiach now. Nechama Dina (Kalmenson) Hendel
Zushe was a fabulous menahel of Oholei Torah. He genuinely cared about the bochurim and was open to helping the bochurim at their level. When we were bochurim on Troy Ave., we wanted sports so he arranged for the OT gym to be open for us a few nights a week and for the pool to be open. He was someone I greatly admired.
B”SD
When a prominent person of a community dies it impacts everyone regardless of whether one has met him or not. He will be sorely missed!! HASHEM, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH PLEASE BRING AN END TO THIS BITTER GALUS & LET US SEE MOSHAICH NOW!!!!!
I’ll miss you Reb Zushe!
So sad
Rabbi wilhelm treated every one with respect! he didnt care if we were a bachur that wasnt from a great background or a last name. When my father would stop him in shul to ask how his son was doing, he took the time to respond and would treat him with respect !
A דוגמא חיה!
An extraordinary person with a true passion for Torah. May he be reunited with his family and loved ones with the coming of MOSHIACH IMMEDIATELY!
!!!עד מתי
YY € Reevy
My heart is full of pain for you and your family. Your dedication, devotion, love and care to every student in bais rivkah is a great inspiration and the rebbe promises revealed brochos for working in bais rivkah. We must see revealed good. Mrs. Wilhelm shows tremendous kindness to the students and the parents. Hashem should bring moshiach and comfort the family and bring only revealed good.
Mrs. wilhelm, so devorted , caring kindest dedicated principal in bais rivkah who truly cares about every student and is there to guide parents. Hashem promises tremendous brochos for working in bais rivkah founded by the friedike rebbe, as the rebbe writes in many letters. Mrs. wilhelm is a great inspirationto every one around. My heart is so full of pain for her and and her family, Hashem should comfort and remove the pain and bring moshiach now and the family should only see revealed good.
BDE
ברוך דיין האמת.
So terribly sad to hear. I was friends with R’ Zushe since kindergarten. He turned 63 in Elul.
There wasn”t a gentler kinder person than Zushe, period. A huge talmid chacham. Vai al hai shufrah dbalah barah.
So sorry for your loss, Esther.
Bd”e.
Hashem should give you lots of strength and shower you only with simchas.
Rochi Shemtov Uruguay
Dear Family שיחיו,
It’s a bitter day, one we hoped would never happen. Rabbi Wilhelm ע”ה meant a lot to me, the CH community and Lubavitch in general.
He truly cared for the Mesivta bochurim, treated them fairly and was accessible to the parents. He greeted people kindly wherever he was.
Even though he had a full schedule he found the time to answer people when in Shul or on the street.
הקיצו ורננו שוכני עפר והוא בתוכם
המקום ינחם אתכם בתוך שאר אבלי ציון וירושלים
I was fortunate enough to spend countless Shabbosim at the table of Rabbi Zushe and his family. His words were only exceeded by his deeds. The man was brilliant yet humble. Esther and their children are made of the same fabric. Baruch Dayin Emes.
Abe Schrage
Rabbi Wilhelm will be sorely missed! He was a wonderful mechanech and leader for our sons as they learned in Oholei Torah Mesivta. He was tuned in to the bochrim and was very approachable. Our boys loved Rabbi Wilhelm’s shiurim. They would often come home and share what they learned with a special chayus.
Hamokom yenachem eschem bisoch shaar Aveilei Tzion viyerushalayim.
Aaron and Mina Sputz
I did not know Rabbi Wilhelm on a personal level but he & wife ate by Mrs. Sperlin one Sukkos where I was a Tishrei guest many times. He was such a mentsch, seemed very kind, always set the tone in the Sukkah with Torah & beautiful singing. It is almost 20 years later, and every Sukkos, I ask my children to sing “Hasukkale, a Kleine” and I am nostalgic of the days when Reb Zushe used to sing it beautifully with his sons and brothers in law. His wife is just as special. Gorgeous family, truly good people! Baruch… Read more »
אדם אהוב I will never forget the chabasim I spent by you with your family. Your hospitality and your kindness were no limit
All best wishes to the family to strengthen and prepare themselves to Mashiah that Zuche ע״ה worked for through the Sichos of the Rebbe and certainly will continue
BDE
A Pilar of the Comunity
ברוך דיין האמת
What a great loss, no words to describe, such a wonderful person with such great Midus, Never loosed his focus on what is the real TACHLIS on this world. A true example.
May Hashem give strength to his wife Esther and to his entire special family!
המקום ינחם אתכם בתוך שאר אבלי ציון וירושלים
Yoel Moskowitz
הצטערנו צער רב לשמוע על פטירת הרה”ח ר’ זושא ע”ה מחנך בחסד עליון , אדם יקר חביב על הבריות שהלך לעולמו בדמי ימיו.
שנזכה לגילוי משיח צדקנו בקרוב ממש ולא נדע עוד בשורות כאלה אמן ואמן
המקום ינחם אתכם בתוך שאר אבלי ציון וירושלים ולא תוסיפו לדאבה עוד
יעקב וטובי לידר
סידני אוסטרליא
I met him once and his passion for Torah and life radiated through him. May HaShem be with his family and Esther during this difficult time.