By COLlive reporter
Two respected members of the Stamford Hill Chabad community have been selected as recipients of British orders of chivalry as part of the new year’s honors.
Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) will be given to askan Rabbi Herschel Gluck, former rabbi of the Walford Road Shul in Stoke Newington and founder of the Muslim-Jewish forum which promotes good relations between the local Jewish and Muslim communities.
Gluck, son of the Rebbe‘s Shliach Rabbi Avrohom Yitzchok Gluck OBM, has been involved in activities to promote Yiddishkeit and in negotiation to resolve conflicts around the world, the Jewish Telegraph reported.
A father of 8, Rabbi Gluck is also a leading member of the Committee for the Preservation of Jewish Cemeteries in Europe.
An MBE award (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) is going to R’ Tzvi Rabin, a retired Tower Hamlets librarian from Stamford Hill who founded the Lubavitch lending library 40 years ago.
Rabin told the Jewish Telegraph that he was pleased to be awarded an MBE for services to libraries, but said he was accepting it on behalf of the library rather than for himself.
Rabin and his wife Faigie Rabin were inspired to help start the library after reading an appeal from Rebbe who wrote that it was a mitzvah to open lending libraries for the Jewish public.
Library users run from Stamford Hill locals to university students and members of regional Jewish communities. They currently have about 18,000 volumes.
Mr. Rabin said he was looking forward to going to the palace to collect his honor, and hoped to combine celebrations for the library’s anniversary with those marking his award.
Having an OBE nominee as my father makes me so proud. There is no man who deserves this more than him for no one can know just how much he puts himself out to help people, not just those he knows but for random strangers he will be willing to turn around his schedule to come to their aid. And, I must add, that my mother, his wife, deserves one as well for she always hosted his guests with such hospitality and always supported him in his work. May Hashem bless me and my siblings to be zoche to follow… Read more »
Well deserved Rabbi, you do fantastic work.
go Chani Odel and her grandfather!!!!!
After being convinced to get up at 2 AM to hear the Rebbe’s farbrengen vov tishrie 40 years ago, Mr Rabin – professional librarian – hears the Rebbe asking for lending libraries to be established. The Lubavitch Lending Library is established then and there, today set in the beautiful Lubavitch Children’s Cente, you can find in the library Yidden from every one of the 50 or so local Shuls and shtiblach, and some who don’t go to shul yet. Open more then 50 hours per week, there is always the knowledgable Mr or Mrs Rabin. Mr & Mrs Rabin –… Read more »
Go Rabins!!! We’re so proud of you, Zaida!!!
Love the Odels and Chanie!!!
Rabbi Gluck, is the man. Well done! I ate shabbos meals by him and his wonderful family for a long time, what a choshuv family. Mazal tov to you are your wonderful family
Why is only Mr Rabin getting the award? Both Rabins deserve it! If only for still having a smile for me despite having so many overdue books.
What a selfless Rabbi, who goes out of his way to help anyone. He has many connections and uses them to help the Jewish communities. He deserves this award, and glad he gets the recognition he deserves. His family should be proud.
Mah Nishtanah HaLaiLa HaZeh MeKol HaLeilos?
Cause these are Jewish Knights
The Rabins are one of the most helpful, genuine, and intelligent couples. Thank you for building the library from scratch. You are a true inspiration.
I’ve known both these individuals all the years I lived in London. If you want to see examples of unassuming selfless devotion to the Rebbe, each, in their own way typify it completely. They are very, very special people. And so are their wives who bear their burdens jointly. A very special moment for London. I also will add that this is a zecus for one of the very, very special soldiers of the Rebbe, who was a conduit for many accomplishments in Europe and a conduit for many miracles of the Rebbe, R’ Avrohom Yitzchok Gluck OH, who, along… Read more »
What worthy recipients of this great honour. You have built up an amazing library enjoyed by the whole Jewish community. You have both been unsung heroes for far too long.
Great job! So proud
It’s so nice to see worthy individuals being awarded such honours (spelling deliberate!) from Her Majesty. Very often, infamous celebrities make the list & it’s great that”ordinary” people are recognized for their selflessness. The fact that they are frum, Chassidishe mentchen is a huge Kiddush Hashem and Kiddush Lubavitch. May they go mechayil elchayil! Can’t wait to see the pictures after the award ceremonies!
GO LONDON!! Mazeltov to both nominees! Very well deserved on both counts!
Whoo hoo London! So we have the Best Winter Camps and best nominees!!
Wonderful that the Rabins are (at last) getting recognition of their years of selfless devotion to the Library, which they have lovingly built up & nurtured for over 40 years, without much support. They are true chassidim and followers of the Rebbe, unrelentingly carrying on the Rebbe’s work without fanfare or monitory gain. London is proud of their achievements. (And so, it appears, is the HM the Queen)
You deserve more than an award – you should be paid for your services!!!
Lubavitch lending library is where my passion for reading started. Thank u Rabins, u really deserve this!
Rabbi Herschel Gluck was my Rebbe @ Mechina some 25 years ago. Good job Rabbi Gluck.
The Lubavitch Lending Library is a really wonderful place.