Reb Reuvein Bleich, 93, OBM

Reb Reuvein Bleich, a Kapishnitzer chossid, also affiliated with Stolin and Novominsk and the patriarch of an illustrious family of rabbis and shluchim, passed away at 93 years old.

Reb Reuven was born in the Bronx in 1932. In his youth, he studied in the Nitra Yeshiva, where he was a talmid muvhak of Reb Michoel Ber Weissmandel, who is quoted as saying that, “if only for Reb Reuven, my entire Yeshiva was worth it.” Reb Reuven was a chossid of the Kapishnitzer and Novominsker Rebbes, and treasured Chassidus all his life.

He married his wife, Sarah Lew, and they first lived in Williamsburg and then later Boro Park. He and his wife had ten children, whom they raised in a home replete with yiras shamayim, emunas chachamim and askonus.

Reb Reuven worked for New York Life for more than 40 years, and after his retirement he went back to yeshiva, obtaining semicha at an advanced age.

Reb Reuven developed a relationship with Lubavitch, largely due to the friendship and influence of his brothers-in-law, Rabbi Shmuel Lew and Rabbi Moshe Feller, sheyichyu. He was also zoche to go into a yechidus with the Rebbe.

In 5748, he visited the Rebbe in the Rebbe’s home, together with his youngest son, Moshe. In an encounter whose impact continues to resonate, the Rebbe blessed them that Moshe should “also be a chossid by us.” Today, Rabbi Moshe Bleich directs Chabad of Wellesley-Weston, and his son Rabbi Mendel Bleich and family are shluchim nearby at Babson College.

Reb Reuven is survived by his wife, Sarah; children R’ Pinchos Bleich, Brooklyn, NY; Mrs. Rochel Kalmanowitz, Brooklyn, NY; R’ Sholom Shachne Bleich, Lakewood, NJ; R’ Chaim Bleich, Woodridge, NY; Rabbi Yaakov Bleich, Kyiv, Ukraine; Mrs. Yenty Halpert, Monsey, NY; R’ Michoel Bleich, Forshay, NY; Mrs. Reina Tabak, Woodridge, NY; Rabbi Avrohom Bleich, Detroit, MI; Rabbi Moshe Bleich, Wellesley, MA; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Levaya Information:
The Levaya will take place on Wednesday 26 Av – Aug. 20th at 12:30 p.m. at Shomrei HaDas Chapels, 3803-14th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY. Kevurah at Har Sholom Cemetery, 44 Hillside Avenue, Airmont, NY.

Shiva Information: Rabbi Moshe Bleich will be sitting shiva with the family at the Kalmanowitz Residence: 2024 East 7th St., Brooklyn, NY, 11223, on Thursday and Friday morning, and on Monday and Tuesday morning Shachris 8:00AM Mincha 7:25 Mariv 8:45.

He will be sitting shiva in Wellesley on Sunday at 4 Westminster Cir, Wellesley Hills, MA.
Shachris 10:00AM Mincha 7:15PM Mariv 8:15PM.

Baruch Dayan Ha’emes.