By COLlive reporter
Rabbi Mordechai Tzvi Sufrin, a beloved figure of the Lubavitch community in London who helped educate many students over the years, passed away on Wednesday night, 12 Elul 5776.
He was 79 and would have turned 80 on Rosh Hashana.
A world renowned speaker and teacher for over 50 years, Rabbi Sufrin was one of North West London’s most well known Jewish educators. During his lifetime, he has touched many with his depth, passion, inspiration and his signature sense of humor.
Originally from Manchester, he began his long service of education by teaching at the King David High School in the city and was the director of the Lubavitch summer camp in Manchester.
He later worked as a teacher the Lubavitch High School for Boys while it was located on Kingsley Way in London. He then joined the staff of the Lubavitch Mechina in London and taught generations of young Chabad bochurim for many years.
Living in Golders Green, Rabbi Sufrin served as a Mashpia for the Lubavitch community in London and mashpia at the Heichal Menachem chassidus center since its establishment 18 years ago, speaking on Shabbos and leading farbrengens.
His phenomenal breadth of knowledge of the classical commentaries, Midrashim and Chassidic literature, always made an eventful discussion at the Lunch & Learn he gave on Wednesday at Chabad House of Hendon.
Rabbi Sufrin established and run the Keren Menachem and Keren Chanah, foundations that assisted with covering tuition fees of boys and girls whose families couldn’t afford Yeshiva and seminaries.
He ran a travel camp for many years, and even when it became difficult for him, he had many experiences by hashgocha protis which he felt were due to the Rebbe’s blessings that he should continue and keep the camp going.
He is survived by his wife Mrs. Frayda Sufrin, children Chavi Spalter – Florida; Mendel Sufrin – Leeds, England; Chani Bukiet – Florida; Shlomo Simcha Sufrin – Toronto, Canada; Eli Sufrin – London, England; Shmuly Sufrin – Los Angeles, CA; Yisroel Sufrin – Melbourne, Australia; Trina Tager – Johannesburg, South Africa; Boruch Sufrin – Long Beach, California; Devorah Leah Kievman – Israel; Dovid Sufrin – New York; Moishe Sufrin – Israel; Faige Sufrin – Israel; grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He is also survived by his siblings Baila Goldberg – Manchester, England; Yitzchok Sufrin – London, England; Shlomo Sufrin – Manchester, England; Chana Liberow – Manchester, England; and Ettel Westheim – Manchester, England.
The Levaya will take place today, Thursday in London at 6:15 pm from 36 Ashbourne Avenue NW11 and then will proceed to Eretz Yisroel.
The family will be sitting Shiva in London at 36 Ashbourne Avenue.
Baruch dayan haemes.
bde to such a special family .i will truly miss his wise insights and jokes
Baruch Dayan Haemet. thank you for sending my son to Israel to learn.
he once hosted me in his house when I went to London such a sweet and erlicheh person Baruch Dayan hoemes!
…….חבל על דאבדין
Watching everyones faces yesterday at R’ Sufrind very sad levaya, the same look was reflected over and over again; Shock, sadness and confusion at this huge loss in our community. Around me, i heard countless stories of people who had, at some point in their lives, been touched by him, and whose lives had been forever changed as a result! What a great man! What an absolute tzaddik of a person! I don’t think that anyone of us, even those who had some idea of his tremendous deeds and dedication to so many people he had, could have possibly imagined… Read more »
We used to look forward to seeing Rabbi Sufrin z”l and his Rebbetzin when they visited their daughter in Boca. We will miss him but will always have a warehouse of great memories to cherish.
ברוך דיין האמת
Reb Mordche as he was known was always very humble.
Was a great talmid chochom. Rabbi Sufrin knew all of Shas as well as chassidus and Halacha L’masah.
Rabbi- The unconditional love you had for every Jew regardless of their background and the way you delivered Torah is such a kind humorous fashion will sorely be missed. I personally had and felt a strong connection despite our distance over the years although my best years in London were those trips to NYC and the fun overnight camps you did for us. Those memories and photos will stay with me forever. ברוך דיין אמת – you’re already being missed so much
A true mentch. A father figure in every way. Now he’s reunited with the Rebbe.
A great teacher and inspiration to me and thousands of other Talmidim and Mushpa’im. I will miss him and his unique wisdom and humor.
ברוך דיין האמת
I only met R’ Mordche z”l once, but can never forget him. Warm, unassuming, big smile, and a proper talmid chochom. Heard lots about him. Middos to be admired.
BDE, very sorry for the loss of Rabbi Sufrin. I heard him speak several times when he and his wife visited the Boca Raton community and was deeply moved with his words of Torah. My sincere condolences to the entire Sufrin family.
Reb Mordche z’l would pop in most weeks shabbos after shul for a lechaim and vort. The kids loved him and proudly read their divrei torah to him.
If the kids were wild and jumped on him he would always laugh with them. He spoke to every child at their level and would constantly shower praise.
Yiddishkeit was running through his veins and every fibre of his being. He firmly believed and lived with the ideology that everything is for the good and NOTHING is bad.
He will truly be missed.
Rabbi Sufrin was a special man, I was lucky enough to be one of his students. I say lucky because growing up in England and going through the “System” there was no teacher that cared like he did. Always had a smile and a joke.
a few years after he was my teacher I was kindly “asked” to leave yeshiva and he took me in until the end of the year.
He was the only one that cared when everyone else turned away.
I will always be indebted to you.
Reb Mordche always asking me if there was any new Seforim on rashi and if I would say no his reply there must somebody must be writing something always a smeichel
May you be a melitz yosher for you rebbitzin your children and klal Yisroel
Reb Mordechai Sufrin had the z’chus to change the spiritual lives of thousands of people all done with ahavas yisroel love and humility He went to teach at King David High school in Manchester at the request of the Lubavitcher Rebbe when everyone thought he was crazy to mix with these non religious kids. What a frum and chasidic generation came out from those efforts Sora Jacobs, Yehudis Ives, Binyomin Wineman, Benzion Lewis to name just a few few.. He reached the life of my Sora and, reached out to me when I was in Manchester yeshiva learning with me… Read more »
Reb Mordechai mentored me and helped me with advice when I first began teaching 30 years ago.
He was patient and always took the time to explain ideas of chinuch.
Reb Modcha was a mesiras nefesh Yid wealthy beyond imagination re his ahavas ha Torah and in the amount of people he was zoche to influence by his learning speaking a true living example may he have a lichter gan Eden and a gutter ousbetter for his rebbetzen and family and us all
Ve hachai yiten el libo
A true chosid,an outstanding talmud chomom,a good friend,and so much more.The world lost a special person.May his family be comforted in their time of need.
Very sorry for your loss!
Our hearts are with you and the whole family.
You Chavrusa in Morristown
המקום ינחם אתכם בתוך שאר אבלי ציון וירושלים
I have some very fond memories of Rabbi Sufrin. As a bochur I came from the united states to learn in Yeshiva Gedola on Kingsley way. It was my first time away from home and he used to come to yeshva some days to daven mincha with us and there was alaways a conversation he was having weith bochurim about what was going on and he took interest in to how yeshiva was going. He was a true dugma chaya of what a chossid is. Kol kulo a walking breathing ahavas yisroel yid and always with a sefer and very… Read more »
Bde very sad news.
Klal Yisroel in mourning.
BDE will be missed by our family always had good Vort I cant belive he wont visit any more on Purim
Rabbi Sufrin was the world’s best teacher in our generation.
With his humour – he was able to articulate to each student accordingly!!!!
A true example to all.
In addition to the fact that he was my best teacher, he also brought my father to Chabad and for that I am forever thankful!
may he be a Malitz Yosher for Klal Yisroel and bring an end to this bitter and painful Golus.
BDE. A truely great chosid , he and his rebetzen, brought a great light into this world which is shining ever greatly to this day and untill moshiach will be revealed. . So many miylos, true ahavas yisroel was his guide. Rabbi Sufrins ongoing hashpoh is surely still smiling.
.A MENTCH OF A YID, NEVER LOOKED FOR KOVOID, TREATED EVERYONE HE MET AS AN EQUAL, A MASSIVE IRREPLACEABLE VOID HAS BEEN LEFT IN LONDON,
First person ever (from England at least) to pick himself up (around year 5732) with all his family, wife and and all children by”h, to travel to the Rebbe (even though he himself never learnt in Tomchei Tmimim). Many prominent Chasidim followed later HIS EXAMPLE). Placed 1000 (or more) Mesusos on houses of non observant Yidden a short while after the Rebbe launched Mivtsah Mezuzah. A TRUE Chosid of the Rebbe. Believed in MOSHIACH with true simplicity ALL THE WAY. Dedicated, and inspired others (frum and not frum) to no end and limit. Never sought after (and never received…) recognition.… Read more »
Will be sorely missed…
Nechamos to the whole family on the loss of this special person. His unique sense of humor and twinkle in his eye warmed every neshama he came in contact with. In addition to being a favorite adult cousin he also was a Rebbe of mine in Hampstead-Kingsley Way He opened my eyes to Rashi and the Rebbe’s approach to understanding Rashi through the eyes of peshuto shel mikra. BDE and warm regards to all my cousins and to his wonderful wife Frayda תבלח״ט – many wonderful memories
Boruch in LA
A very sad loss of a wonderful man, loved each and every Shabbos we stayed with Modcha and Freyda, warmth, hospitality, humour and Torah discussions, all given with a broad smile which will be sadly missed. Cousins Kayla and Zalmy Binstock
לכבוד משפחת ספרין שליט”א לפני יותר משלושים שנה זכיתי להיות תלמיד במכינה והרב סאפרין הי’ מגיד שיעור בין הדברים שאני זוכר הי’ מגיד שיעור מציון לימד אתנו הרבה שהגיע התקופה אחרי פסח הסביר לנו המנהג של לימוד מסכת סוטה וכולם קנו גמרא ונתן לנו החיות ללמוד כל יום דף גמרא וכן הסביר לנו באריכות שהוא מניח כל יום תפילין של יד על יד שמאל ויד ימין ואם אני זוכר נכון שהי’ גם תשובה מהרבי על זה מילתא בדיחותא שכל פעם שהינו מגיעים כל תלמידי הכתה מהפסקה באיחור של כמה דקות הי’ כל פעם מסביר שהביטול תורה זה לא רק כמה… Read more »
Chabad has lost an incredible educator and Chasid, not to mention a remarkable and kind man. He will be very much missed by everyone whose lives he touched, even indirectly. We wish Rebbetzin Fraidel & his children and siblings arichas yamim – may he be a meilitz yosher for us all.
Simcha & Hindy Lewis, Israel
Baruch Dayan Haemet, He will be greatly missed
Reb Mordche Sufrin z’l was a teacher with special Chushim. He could make deep and penetrating points with his dry humor and sharp wit. He taught Chumash with Rashi Sichos to us in High School and brought admiration of the Rebbes Torah to his hundreds of students. The devotion that he showed his talmidim beyond the class, with his organizing and running the school Melaveh Malkas, camps etc, left an eternal mark on each and everyone us.He really was THE beloved teacher. His dedication to the Rebbes inyonim and Chassidisher shtell could fill a book – which hopefully will be… Read more »
Frayde & cousins!
Countless family memories fill my mind…..
Our thoughts are with you at this time.
May Modcha be a gutta Betta for the entire family!
Besuros Tovos!
Baila H & fam
Thats where it all started in the 1960’s in a house called Uforatzto. He was a father figure ( & yblc”t Reb Fraida was a mother figure) to nearly every member of Anash in M/C in their sixties today. Throughout all these years I have cherished the small Tanach he gave me as a Bar Mitzvah present, & looked forward to each time I saw him. His smile was infectious & the twinkle in his eye never diminished. He has left us a legacy of Ahavas Yisroel in its purest sense & it is our responsibility now to continue &… Read more »
BDE
בס”ד המקום ינחם אתכם בתוך שאר אבלי ציון וירושלים we first met R’Mordechi in London, at the wedding of our son Yitchok and Rivkie, his neice. later that year, while visiting The Rebbe, I met r’Mordechi and another English relative. someone asked how do I know them? I responded they are א ביסעל מחותנים. the other gentleman felt slighted, saying א ביסעל? no, א מחיתין ! I asked r’Mordechi “what are the boundries of machatenimshaft?” he quickly replied “what ever you want it to be. if you like them, they are machatanim, if you don’t ……..” he was sharp. he… Read more »
Whenever I spoke with rabbi Sufrin – he was very well versed in all sections of Torah.
An amazing man, who will be greatly missed by Klal Yisrael!!
He was my best teacher I ever had I learned so much from him . I remember so many things he thought me . He was a dedicated teacher . Will be greatly missed
Rabbi Sufrin is responsible for the yiddishkeit of countless chasidim and shluchim including myself.
He also taught me in mechina and patienttly taught me the maamer for my bar mitzva, took us to the Rebbe for yud shevat.
He was an amazing chossid.
B.H MRS. FRAYDE SUFRIN, AND FAMILY.
WE ARE SO VERY SORRY TO HEAR OF YOUR LOSS, AND AT THIS TIME, ARE WISHING YOU ALL LONG HEALTHY YEARS, FULL OF SIMCHAS.
Rabbi Sufrin always made you feel comfortable.
Always had a kind word with great humour.
Rabbi Sufrin was my favourite teacher, and mentor. He taught us two things: 1) no one in this world is perfect – hence don’t think too much of yourself. 2) every encounter is Hashgacha pratis. Rabbi Sufrin Always found a good reason of why he missed the bus, train, plane…, He always found a good reason of why his car broke down. Rabbi Sufrin taught us of how to look at the Bigger picture of our life. Rabbi Sufrin knew Every part of Torah. He was always seen with a Sefer, yet he was very down to earth. His love… Read more »
1969 Lubavitch Hampstead Grammer School. Good memories Varmkeit, Ehlechkeit, Talmid Chochom. Sholem Perl LA
A special man. My favorite teacher in Mechina, he knew Chumash with all meforshim by heart and he LIVED and LOVED Yiddishkeit. He also taught me how to lain, prepared me for my barmitzva and spoke beautifully at my seuda… words that I have re-listened to and still inspire me to this day. He lived every moment of his life with full appreciation of hashgocha protis and every time I met him, he had countless new stories to share. It won’t be the same without him… This is a great loss to us all. Wishing R’ Mordche’s entire family only… Read more »
Sufrin Cousins my deepest condolences to you. Your Dad ZL was an amazing man. I have so many wonderful memories from Gan Yisroel and the countless yidden that he with Frayda LOYvSh”T brought back to Yoddishkeit and Chassidus and it goes on. Words are insufficient on the void that is being left.
My deepest condolences to his sisters and brother.
His Neshomoh should have a lichtigen Gan Eden and merit immediate Geulah V’ hikitzu …
Eli Sufrin and family baltimore
I stayed by his home once, he was an amazing man, he will be greatly missed
A special man! Warmest smile kindest heart and a dear friend of the family. So so sorry to hear this news.
My sincerest condolences to all the Sufrin family.
IT WOULD BE NO EXAGGERATION TO SAY THAT FEW SURPASSED HIM IN NIGLEH AND CHASSIDUS, AND HE WAS AN ONOV WITH IT.
Rabbi sufrin was a very special man who helped hundreds of mechina boys prep for there bar mitzvah by taking them on a class trip to the Rebbe I merited to be on one of those trips. It is a memory that will stay with me forever and is one I have shared with my own children to give them an idea of what it was like to be in the Rebbe’s presence. His living testament is the amount of people who are frum today because of his guidance at the critical age of 13. This love for yiddishkite has… Read more »
I will never forget his humor or his incredible knowledge of Rashi.
Dovid Shepherd
BD”E
A great man who was the epitome of serving Hashem with joy & sincerity..
The world will not be the same without him.
How sorry we are to have heard such sad news. BDE.
May all of his many many mitzvos bring nachas to Hashem and help to bring Moshiach Tzidkenu more quickly.
U will forever be in our hearts, and very much missed
The world has lost a true leader ..he is also survived by his brothers and sisters baila Goldberg chana liberow shlomo sufrin etel westhiem of Manchester and my dear father yitzchok /ikky sufrin of London #BDE ..we know your in a better place with zaida and booba sufrin ..but your presence will surely be missed by all of us down here ..
Who was a very special man and helped many of people may his neshama go straight up to gan Eden
We are sorry for your loss and wish you only good news.
Uncle Modche will surely havr a licthige Gan Eden
in Mechina
Thanks for taking us to NY for our Bar Mitzva you changed the lives of hundreds of boys. what an opportunity you gave us