By Bracha
Today we count the 7th year since the tragic passing of R’ Gedalya Shaffer, OBM. He is the person who is responsible for keeping many of us in Crown Heights.
When we were searching for answers he was the go-to person. Whether about chassidus, or about nigleh, or science or anything in history, or about cultures of the world, he always knew the answers to questions. And make the time to answer us.
He was a brilliant scholar in Torah and also in anything else, from science to philosophy, or history to art and music. His brilliance and vast knowledge was matched only by his humility. Among an ocean of sifrei kodesh and books, he was knowledgeable of every single one in his vast library.
R’ Gedalya’s love and reverence for the Rebbe was in his every deed and word. Without fanfare of his hiskashrut, he was deeply devoted to the Rebbe and to the Rebbe’s teachings.
He was a tremendous baal tzedaka, greeting every person who came to his house and giving them time, always offering a listening ear and a drink. His gracious and delightful wife Bronya, continues to inspire and teach people all over the world. The best way to describe her is the jewel in the crown who was R’ Gedaliah.
His children all are worthy of their name. If you need favor, ask a Shaffer. If you need to know about something, there’s a Shaffer who is an expert in it. Whether it be Jewish history, Gemara, a Maamar, medicine or computers. Or music. You can ask a Shaffer.
May this sad day be turned into a day of joy, and Hashem should bless Mrs. Bronya Shaffer and all her children and grandchildren with bracha and hatzlacha.
To the kind people who have written these heartwarming words: thank you. They are both comforting and inspiring.
D Slutzkin
Gedalya was one of the most remarkable men I have ever met. He was an expert in everything but as humble as they come. Bronya was his true soul mate and a very beautiful couple raising an incredible family. Each of the children was remarkable in their own way and Gedalya nurtured them. May his memory be a blessing for us all. It was a true honor to have known him and to be his friend.
Devorah Shaffer Slotzkin is a true role model of a bas chabad and bas yisroel. With a and dignity of presence she is always avalable for any favor someone needs Her father’s legacy is felt on this part of the world also.
May her father’s neshomo have an aliya and her mother and silbings be blessed with only simchos.
Mr Shaffer’s legacy continues as well all the way in South Africa. Although I didn’t know him personally, I do know his grandchildren, daughter and son in law, the Kievmans. They are an incredible couple who are one of the dynamic pillars of our diverse Jewish community here. They started a unique Shul in the city centre and invite many people to their home for Shabbos meals and weekday classes for the young and old. I the short time since their arrival they’ve built a noticeable reputation. There’s no doubt that their charisma and unparalleled Ahavas Yisrael is testimony of… Read more »
Thank you all for your wonderful words.
Anyone who has ANYTHING to share with us about my father please contact any one of us or post here. You can email [email protected] as well.
Anyone who wants to be interviewed for a video about my father can email [email protected]
Bronya…
There is nothing to say to adequately express my feelings for you, your husband, and your entire family…
Thank you for being the incredible people that you are, and may you have the strength to continue all the wonderful work that you’re doing…
May we all be reunited once again, very soon, with the coming of Moshiach tzidkainu bimhaira viyamainu
No words can describe this G-dly man
Despite being a man of such lofty thought and ideas he proved to have an excellent understanding of human nature and was amazingly empathetic to all.
Hashem has alot to answer for, snatching away Gedalia the best of mankind at the peak of his life.
His chochmo his bina his daas his middos his yiras shamayim
plus everything we did not know has left a huge hole in Lubavitch and the world at large.
No shaliach or mashpia achieved what Gedalia a foot soldiar in the Rebbe’s army did .
You are the gentlest of souls, the kindest person, and your friends are thinking of you today with love and sadness of heart. May you have only happiness and joy and mazel in your whole life!!!
Well written. Albeit just a drop in the bucket of who this giant of a man was. Those who knew him , know to magnify the article a thousand fold. Those who didn’t , sorry that you didn’t have the opportunity to get a glimpse into the life of this man who is sorely sorely missed by so many.
May you and your family be blessed in every way-may all the challenges turn to brochot. From your friend who wishes you and yours joy and mazel!!
thank you for this beautiful article.
Reb Gedalya was brilliant,a baal chesed and modest. His passing was a tremendous loss. V’hokeetzu v’raninu shoichnay ofor.
BS”D My vivid, everlasting and inspiring memory of Gedalya is Friday nights as we waited for the Rebbe to come into Shul, he stood in the back by the bookcase with a sefer never looking up until Dovening began. A quiet and humble individual, yet a true Talmud Chochem. May he bring Brochos to his family
you won’t even know the true emes of how incredible this man was. He certainly lives on with his deeds still having an incredible peula on this world. GREAT and gebensched familyl. MOSHIACH NOW, AD MOSSAI
I just would like to pay tribute to an extraordinary couple — Reb Gedalia z”l, and his most gracious, special Eishes Chayil — Mrs. Bronya Shaffer. Having the honor to have known them is part of what remains special to me — and I thank them for being “them” — “VeHachai Yiten el Libo” — and may we very soon merit to the time of “Vehakitzu veranninu sochnei afar…” We WANT Moshiach NOW!!
AD MOSAI! WILL G-d CONTINUE THIS GOLUS? WITHOUT ANY LEGITIMATE REASON THAT ANYONE CAN OR WILL UNDERSTAND……