By COLlive reporter
The family of Rabbi Benny Wolff OBM, the Chabad Shliach in Hanover, Germany, who tragically passed away at the age of 43, stood up on Sunday from shiva.
Since his passing on Friday night, the Wolff and Greenberg families have been flooded by condolences and warm memories from community members, friends and people he has met and influenced around the world.
“The brothers and sisters, and even our father and mother, had no inkling as to the extent of the wide reach of influence by Chabad of Hanover,” noted his brother, Rabbi Zusha Wolff, an author and director of the JEM organization in Israel.
“Sitting with my parents and seeing the number of calls and messages they received, I thought, that it is ironic that if this hadn’t been the toughest week of their lives, it was the week they received the greatest nachas,” he said.
As reported on COLlive.com, Shlucha Mrs. Shterna Wolff heroically decided to have her husband buried in Hanover and assumed the full-time role of Director of Chabad of Hanover, in addition to raising her family of 8 young children.
A Charidy campaign to support her and the Shlichus has raised 1 million euros and then spilled over into a bonus round whose aim was to raise another half a million euros. (Click here to donate.)
In the midst of Shiva, she already had the first activity to lead: A Bar Mitzvah of a 13-year-old boy in the community on Thursday. Her son Ari Wolff read the Torah, while she oversaw the entire event.
The next morning, on Friday, the Bar Mitzvah boy announced that he decided to undergo a Bris Milah, adding a second milestone Mitzvah at Chabad of Hanover amid the sorrow and grief.
A headstone was placed on the gravesite of Rabbi Wolff on Sunday with the participation of the family, Rabbi Yehuda Teichtal of Berlin, Rabbi Shlomo Bistritzky of Hamburg and members of the community, while keeping a social distance.
A virtual farbrengen was held in Hebrew in his memory on Sunday with the participation of colleagues from Germany and Europe, relatives and friends:
Kol Hakavod to Rebbezin Wolff:)))) May Hashem guide and support through these difficult moments, and lot of Hatzlacha in continuing your amazing work!!!!