Family, friends, colleagues and students of Rabbi Yitschak Meir Kagan OBM, associate Director of the Lubavitch Foundation in Michigan, will be marking his 10th yahrtzeit at a Farbrengen in Crown Heights.
Rabbi Kagan, an innovative educator and author, was considered one of the great orators and communicators of Chabad-Lubavitch in the last generation.
He compiled “A Thought for the Week” adapted from the works of the Lubavitcher Rebbe and taught Chassidic philosophy at various universities in Michigan and was a sought-after speaker at many Jewish functions.
This beloved Shliach, friend, rabbi, husband, and father was tragically killed in a car accident in 2001, after hosting an inspirational Shabbaton at the Rebbe’s Ohel for visiting Chabad House members of Montreal.
The event marking his Iyar 20 yahrzeit will take place Monday, May 23, at 8:30 PM, at Ahavas Chesed Center, 271 Kingston Avenue (between St. John’s Place and Lincoln Place) in Brooklyn.
Men and women are invited to hear and share memories and lessons from the life of a dedicated Chossid and Shliach. Speakers will include his brother Rabbi Chaim Dovid Kagan, and Stamford Shliach Rabbi Yisroel Deren.
VIDEO: Parts of Rabbi Kagan’s speeches
Below is a congressional statement by Michigan’s U.S. Senetor Carl Levin which was submitted to the president in honor of Rabbi Kagan’s shloshim.
Congressional Record
107th Congress
First Session
Friday, May 25, 2001
In Memory of Rabbi Yitschak Meir Kagan
Mr. President, Today I would like to commemorate the achievements of a beloved religious leader, dedicated father and husband and friend from my home state of Michigan, Rabbi Yitschak Meir Kagan. On June 3 of this year, people from around the world will be gathering in Southfield, MI, to honor the life and memory of Rabbi Kagan.
Through hard work and an unwavering commitment to the ideals of Chabad-Lubavitch, Rabbi Kagan’s work has made an indelible mark upon countless individuals. His deep faith, keen intellect, and concern for others have led him to give generously of himself.
Born in England, Rabbi Kagan’s extensive education assumed an international flavor. After early instruction in Great Britain, he studied at the Lubavitch Yeshiva in Israel, the Central Lubavitch Academy in New York and the Rabbinical College in Montreal where he received his ordination.
Central to Rabbi Kagan’s life was the Chabad-Lubavitch movement. In 1966, Rabbi Kagan joined the Michigan Chabad-Lubavitch. For thirty-five years he worked tirelessly to expand the Lubavitch Foundation’s presence in Michigan. Chabad-Lubavitch is a Hasidic sect that originated in Lubavitch, Russia. Lubavitch means “brotherly love,” and Chabad is an acronym for a philosophy that pursues wisdom, understanding and knowledge of God. Rabbi Kagan’s life embodied the ideal of brotherly love as he sought “to increase the knowledge of Judaism within every Jew” by educating people about the Torah, providing worship services and performing charitable acts.
As Associate Director of the Lubavitch Foundation, Rabbi Kagan expanded the Foundation by establishing Chabad houses in Ann Arbor, Flint and Grand Rapids, developing “the Campus of Living Judaism;” counseling students, and tending to the spiritual development of countless individuals.
Rabbi Kagan’s work reached far beyond Michigan. The printed word enabled his thoughts and insights to span the globe. He published essays adapted from the works of Lubavitcher Rebbe that were read by a multitude each month. In addition, he edited and translated the Rebbe’s classic text, Hayom Yom, edited philosophical texts and translated commentaries on the Torah.
Rabbi Kagan has been a community and spiritual leader for over three decades. I have been able to witness, firsthand, his enthusiastic commitment to helping others in need. Rabbi Kagan touched the lives of all who met him.
He worked with and helped immigrants, prisoners, drug users, families in need and others with characteristic zeal, kindness and love. I know my Senate colleagues join me in commemorating the life of Rabbi Yitschak Meir Kagan, and in offering their condolences to Rochel Kagan, his wife, and his entire family.
As a young teenage mekurav to Lubavitch, I was registered
on the mailing list of Rabbi Kagan’s Thought of The Week.
It had a strong impact on my connection to the Rebbe. Many years had passed and I had the zchus to thank him
personally. Meeting him back then and seeing him on this video one can tangibly feel his erlechkeit and kedusha.How we could use him now during these last moments of galus.
May he be a guter oisbeter for his family and Klal Yisroel!!
Moshiach Now!!
He was a real pnimi,we have so much to learn from such a Chosid,may his family only have simchas.
A alum from Detriot
The vido was produced by JEM for Lubavitch Foundation of Michigan. It was shown at a shloishim event.
wow, i miss him
Rabbi Kagan OBM had a tremendous effect on connection to my Rebbe and yiddishkite.
The world miss’s him
I never met him.
I would have loved him.
May his neshama experience a great aliyah!! He was a true Chossid with total Ahavas Yisrael, and all done with a keen intellect and sensitivity. As far as Ann Arbor, the Chabad House he helped to establish is where my husband and I met; were it not for him, we would not have the brochas we have today.
If he did not set up what he did in Ann Arbor I do not know where I would be today. I miss him very much and wish I could have spent even more time learning from him. The recordings of his classes on Chabad.org are fantastic and I wish he would have lived to translate more of the Rebbes Rashi sichot into english. Such a special and holy man. A real Tommim and Chossid. May he draw down bucket fulls of brocho for his whole family, his Shluchim, and his talmidim.
An amazing and true chosid, no bluff. although just a bochur, when you met Rabbi Kagan he had all the time in the world for you and was most approachable.
Jem made the video. cant u tell from the logo on the bottom right?
what a beautiful tribute to a special man. who made the video? please identify yourself, its very well done
Thank you COL for this beautiful article and Video about the amazing and inspiring Rabbi Y.M. Kagan OB”M