By COLlive reporter
Rabbi Meir Halberstam, the Tshakover Rebbe of Bnei Brak, passed away Thursday, 20 Kislev, 5772.
He was 85.
A descendant of the first Sanzer Rebbe, Rabbi Chaim Halberstam – the “Divrei Chaim,” he was born in Galicia in Eastern Europe. He remained with his grandfather when his parents emigrated to Israel.
When the Second World War broke out, he ran with his grandfather to Russia and was later sent to a Christian orphanage in Mumbai, India. With great mesiras nefesh, he put on Tefillin every day.
“It was a constant war of existence because I knew I must not forget where I come from and who are my parents,” he later said, according to a report in the haredi website bhol.co.il.
“I walked around and spoke Yiddish so I don’t forget the ‘Mame Lashon’. Some people thought I was not normal…”
After his arrival in Israel, he raised a respected family and upon the passing of his father, he was crowned the Rebbe of the small Tshakover community in Bnei Brak.
Two of his children went on to become recognizable figures in Crown Heights and the Lubavitch community.
His eldest, R’ Chaim Boruch Halberstam, recorded and filmed happenings in 770 Eastern Parkway with the Lubavitch Rebbe as part of his WLCC organization.
Another brother, R’ Chesed Halberstam was a Mashbak (helper) in the Rebbe and Rebbetzin’s residence on President Street for many years.
Baruch Dayan Haemes.
He was Ari’s grandfather.
any relation to ari halberstam obm?
does that make Rabbi C.B. Halberstam the next Tshakover Rebbe?
wow it suits him
he is a very wonderful man and great mashpia
was also he grandfather of the esteemed rabbi sholom ber halbersstam the menhel of the greatest yeshiva in lubavitch.