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Wednesday, 26 Adar I, 5784
  |  March 6, 2024

Rabbi Volf Greenglass, 94, OBM

The legendary Rabbi Volf Greenglass, a revered Mashpia who educated thousands and helped establish Lubavitch in Montreal passed away. Full Story, Photos

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Be-ayni roeesi
February 14, 2011 12:28 am

I remember at the Chasuna of his daughter and Dovid Cohen that someone (I forget who) got up to speak, and started describing Reb Volf as “der kroin fun Montreal” (the crown of Montreal). Reb Volf burst out laughing and rolled his head sideways on his arm, it sounded so ridiculous to him.

Contrast that with the conventional reaction of oneself hearing praised (looking down, holding back a smile…)

s.h
January 1, 2011 11:48 pm

sholom b feigelstock , ¿could you post the havdolos story?

shloime
January 1, 2011 11:37 pm

to number 32: can you please tell the full story?

he has the face of a baby in his hand just like the rebbe!
December 31, 2010 2:32 pm
To 57, please share what was said
December 30, 2010 4:04 pm

Thanks

Rabbi Greenglass Sings
December 30, 2010 2:06 pm
Zvi
December 30, 2010 1:18 pm

As a young bochur travelling to learn in Eretz Yisroel in the 80’s, he gave me a sefer and a letter to bring to Reb Lazer, son of the renowned mekubal, Harav Asher Zelig Margulis and instructions to visit with him. At the time, I wasn’t aware that Reb Volf had hoiros from the Rebbe to keep a strong kesher with the Margulis’es and oft encouraged him to do so. Reb Lazer said some amazing things about Reb Volf as well as the connection between his father and Reb Volf.

shloime
December 30, 2010 1:09 pm

to number 37: yes, he looks like a tzadik, BECAUSE HE WAS A TZADIK!!!!. PSHITO!

thank you
December 30, 2010 1:01 pm

thank you collive for the pictures and bakovedike article
yehei zicro boruch

to #16
December 30, 2010 10:43 am

I remember:
He called the bochur over nd told him ess shatyt vehau hadvarim haeleh asher anochi metzavecho hayom al levovvecho, UBBer nish G-A-P al Livovcha!!! I remember this liked yesterday. Just his sharpness and wit could inspire someone to his bone. BD”E. Yossi

Boruch Dayan Hoemes
December 30, 2010 6:39 am

his hand looks like the Rebbe’s hand….

To #42 (Zvi):
December 30, 2010 12:33 am

Maybe you could be mezakeh the crowd & post online the letters you got from R’ Volf with the seder halimud/hayom/hachayim? It would be greatly appreciated.

tahor @kadosh
December 29, 2010 11:51 pm

he knew who went to mikva.
ask to put wool tsitsis.

.

baroch dayan hemes
December 29, 2010 10:25 pm

Very special person
moshiach now

Shimon Eisenstein
December 29, 2010 9:58 pm

As talmid of the Yeshiva in Montreal I had the “sechus” to learn Chassidus with Reb Wolf on a one-to one basis; but,in later years when I left Mtl and came to visit my home town, I had the Additional “sechus” to farbreng with him, on a one to one basis in his house till all hours of the night. Now that he is “b’ginzei m’romim”; for sure he is more with us all now more than earlier b’chaye alma deyn; and will bring blessings to all of us, See Ageres Hakodesh , Chp. 27.

to # 29 from # 4
December 29, 2010 9:28 pm

I think I know who’s sending the regards (from NV?). VOSS HOSTU MOIREH GEBBEN DEIN NOMMEN, ICH HOB GEGEBEN MEIN NOMMEN??
Besuros Toivos!! (to K.S.??)

shloime freundlich
December 29, 2010 8:41 pm

BORUCH DAYAN HAEMES – RABBI MENACHEM ZEV GREENGLASS OBM THE GREATNESS OF THIS MAN WAS WHILE BEING A VERY HOLY JEW HE RUN A FUND TO BUY CLOTHES FOR POOR BOYS IN THE YESHVIHA AND LET ME TAKE A SHOWER IN HIS HOME WHEN SHOWERS DOWN AT THE YESHVHA HE WANTS SHOWED ME A 1899 HE WROTE BY HAND ON BOAT SHANGHAI TO SAN FRANCISCO 1944 IN RED INK MAN PLAYED VIOLIN BY FARBERNGS

a talmid
December 29, 2010 7:48 pm

Reb volf (although having learnt many years in litvisheh yeshivos before coming to the yeshiva of montreal could NEVEr bring myself to call him that, and I think he understood it and allowed me to call him “rabbi Greenglass”) was an INCREDIBLE person…he had a way of looking at you that seemed to pierce you to your very core…especially when he used to ask his famous questions about saying brochos, or putting on Rabbeinu Tam etc…the only other person who had that look was the Rebbe himself…I remember a friend of mine who was asked one of those questions by… Read more »

To #35
December 29, 2010 7:46 pm

Could you please post the havdala story?

OMG!!!
December 29, 2010 7:38 pm

The pics with rabbi greenglass and rabbi gerlitzky are unreal!!!! gems!!!! priceless!! put a huge smile on my face and a tear in my eye…. lubavitch look what we had…!! anyone who met them were inspired by their genuineness. v’hachai yiten el liboi, lets learn from them.

bd"h
December 29, 2010 7:15 pm

i was by the lvay’ today

Zvi
December 29, 2010 6:41 pm

I merited to be close with him in my many years ago, and received personal, detailed, handwritten letters from him when I studied out of town, complete with a seder halimud, seder hayom and seder hachayim. He even went to the lengths of mailing the letters express, from Montreal to Israel, so I would receive it on time for my birthday.

Baruch Dayan Haemes
December 29, 2010 6:11 pm

What an incredible man… Moshiach now

a miracle worker
December 29, 2010 5:42 pm

Rav Greenglass was able to perform miracle above nature

Being a great chasid of the REBBIIM of lubavitch he most probably abstained to do so…. becaue the rebbiim said that things must happen naturally, so the nature itself will change naturally

what a mashpea.
December 29, 2010 5:06 pm

he was a special mashpia, lurnt with us tanya, and instealed in us yeras shamayim, and tught us the yesodos of kabalah. (the map).

Thinking of you Down under
December 29, 2010 4:23 pm

What a zchus that you had him, and what a bracha that he had you as his family! The devotion of your family is an inspiration!
Baruch Dayen Emes

chossid
December 29, 2010 4:08 pm

he looks like a tzaddik i should of went to him for a miricle

He had a beautiful kind face
December 29, 2010 4:03 pm
Sholom B. Feigelstock
December 29, 2010 3:55 pm

BDE. Montreal, the Lubavitch community, Klal Yisroel has lost a great giant. I don’t know where to start, growing up in Montreal there were a couple of pillars from the many that made our community lead Montreal; Rabbi Isaac Schwei, Reb Nossen Fellig, Rabbi Hendel, and Harav Volf. When talking with my freinds on Shabbos, Harav Volf would inform us that “Mir Ret Nit Goyish Oif Shabbos”, I will never forget the story about Havdala that Harav Volf said at the Shloishim of his wife. I had the Zechus of Harav Volf being my Sandik. I will definitely make a… Read more »

talmid
December 29, 2010 3:53 pm

Reb Volf tested me on some tanya baal peh.

He onced asked my chavrusha if he said krias shema before its time was up? YES. Did you say todays tehillim? YES. Did you bentch after dinner? YES. Did you put on Rabeinu tam? YES. Did you daaven Mincha & maariv? YES.

Rabbi Greenglass: something is missing! “es felt zich epes”

Some memories
December 29, 2010 3:30 pm

When he saw me coming to shul holding my teffilin bag by the corner he came over to me and told me I have to hold it under my arm and close to my heart. It shouldn’t be treated like a peckel. If he saw someone talking in middle of kaddish, his finger would go into his mouth and he would say “ehh”…”ehh”. When bochurim left their hats and jackets on the bima he would clear them off saying a bima is not a place to hang your clothing. His davening lasted long after the minyan was finished Friday night… Read more »

unknown
December 29, 2010 2:41 pm

Rabbi Greenglass used to teachTania to the Tosh Rebbe
when they used to live downtown

One of the great Tzadikim of our time
December 29, 2010 1:57 pm

I’m a Montreal and a Talmid of Reb Volf (that’s how he liked to be called: “Volf uder Reb Volf”) in the Nuns. This is a big loss for the entire world. A true Tzadik was nistalek. How many people do YOU think about every day? Or say at least a few times a week? Reb Volf is a person who I think about very often. Why? Because of the gentle and loving way he would encourage every talmid. “Hastu heint gezugt tehilim?” He would ask me. “Uber mit a hitel un rekkel?” Since then, every time I’m sitting during… Read more »

levaya
December 29, 2010 1:39 pm

will there be a live feed from the Levaya?

To #4
December 29, 2010 1:30 pm

A grus fun Izzy Gold.

R' wolf = nickname
December 29, 2010 1:15 pm

Menachem Zev OBM

he realy kept the entire zal cleen he would walk around
December 29, 2010 1:04 pm

during chasidus and kick around the tishues on the floor

# 22 what do you mean
December 29, 2010 1:01 pm

baby faces in his hand

Rebbe's Correspondence
December 29, 2010 12:54 pm

The Rebbe’s letters to Reb Volf, a”h, both those printed in the Igros Kodesh, as well as those not yet printed…would make a huge Sefer unto itself

talmid
December 29, 2010 12:53 pm

i was a talmid of RG in 1985-87 and remained close to him ever since. RG was very witty but he was also extremely sensitive. I had an opportunity to talk to him privately in 2001 when i was going through some personal life hardships. i took down notes of all his advice and suggestions and i look at it regularly and i am always impressed at how he ‘got it’ completely understanding my issues even those that one would think of as being understanding to the “younger” generation. he will be sorely missed!

picture of hand
December 29, 2010 12:44 pm

anyone notice the two baby faces in his hand?

sensational pictures!!!!
December 29, 2010 12:43 pm

Captures Reb Volf in every sense!!!!!

chaval al d'avdin v'lo mishtakchin
December 29, 2010 12:42 pm

Rashi in this week’s parshas: chaval al d’avdin v’lo mishtakchin

אבד חסיד מן הארץ
December 29, 2010 12:35 pm

חבל על דאבדין
ל-13#
הי’ מספר שהגיע לליובאוויטש מתפלת מעריב של הרב גערליצקי
און אין א וואכענדיקן טאג
שנזכה לוהקיצו ורננו
ע”י משיח נאו

A alumni
December 29, 2010 12:34 pm

He made me feel special. BDH. We are so much worse off now.

his was a holy man
December 29, 2010 12:30 pm

if u ever laind krias shma after zman he would sence it and ask u “host haint gelains krias shma bizmano” ? when there was no levono for kidush levono he knew how to wave that hankerchif and out it came, a true chosid grait lamdon extremly smart and sharp like a razor, his farbraingens in the 50’s 60’s and 70’s were really hart warming til today by evreone who atended, er hot zich gechoct in moshiach yeder tog since i remember him 50 years at least zol er zain a guter beter far zain mishpocho talmidim and klal yisroel… Read more »

To 7
December 29, 2010 12:15 pm

that was a low blow he really cared that every bocher davend marriv EVERY NIGHT !! i will miss him:(

there was a bochur warring a GAP sweatshirt
December 29, 2010 12:01 pm

Reb Volf looked at him made with his face and said i dont remember the exact words goishe letters on your hart does is vos men leigt oifen hartzen vehau hadvarim haeleh asher anochi metzavecho hayom al levovvecho

baruch dayin emes!
December 29, 2010 11:39 am

may we merit to see the coming of MOSHIACH NOW!!

the Rebbe said
December 29, 2010 11:38 am

vet mein mekubal Reb Menache Ze’ev Volf Halevi (Greenglass) zagen Lechaim nisht nor benistar nor eich beniglah

how intresting
December 29, 2010 11:33 am

Rabbi Gerlitzky and Rabbi Greenglass past away at the age of 94

an amazing person
December 29, 2010 11:17 am

Reb Volf was a rare individual and anyone that learned by him is truly lucky. We have really lost a tzadik.

OVAD CHOSSID MIN HO-ORETZ
December 29, 2010 11:12 am

Ovad Chossid min Ho-retz in the full sence of the word. A holly Jew. A Heiliker Yid

Please post stories and anecdotes from R' Volf
December 29, 2010 11:10 am

A few stories to start the trend – please share yours. When I first met Reb Volf, I introduced myself by saying “Sholom Aleichem Rabbi Greenglas” he answered “Ich Bin Nisht Kein Rabbi” What should I call you I asked “Ruf Mir Volf” was his humble reply. I once asked him if he remembers the Geulah of Yud Beis Tamuz ” Nein, Ich bin ersht geboron in Tzadik Vov” he replied (in Hayom Yom it says that Chasidim considered their birthday to be the day they first saw the Rebbe). Reb Volf was also very sharp/witty During his weekly Tanya… Read more »

to #7
December 29, 2010 11:07 am

a tikun for that was to learn gantz hilchos tfilah

Talmid - Tuf Shin Nun Hey
December 29, 2010 10:44 am

Boruch Dayan Hoemes.

Thank you COL for the beautiful photos.

Thank you # 5 for your comment – Vihchai Yiten El Libo

uh oh
December 29, 2010 10:37 am

i forgot to daven maariv last night…

info
December 29, 2010 10:07 am

for shivah call 5147356008

from these polishers you can realy learn
December 29, 2010 9:41 am

what the other person has is lav davka good for me they were hatznei leches people who just wanted to serve hashem with out being big shots they did not get nispoel about cars houses cloth phones vechulu……constantly focused in the derech of Torah and mitzvos so vehachai yiten el libo learn a bit more Tanya or Mishnayos go to the Mikvah say a Kapitul Tehilim Rabbi Greenglass would ask buchrim hasto gezagt brochos heint in der fri he was very carful in washing negel vaser the right way he encouraged people to answer to Kaddish and not to talk… Read more »

Shloma Leib Abramowitz
December 29, 2010 9:32 am

Boruch Daya Ha’emes! May he be a meilitz yoisher for his family, talmidim and klal Yisrael. V’hokitzu V’raninu Shoichnei Offor, v’hu b’soichom, Teikif Um’yad Mammosh!

A niece
December 29, 2010 9:27 am

Thank you so much for all the pictures of my special uncle. He was my favorith uncle who had a special place in his heart for me. The rebbe called him “mine mekubal”. He also had the frierdike rebbe’s typewriter which was given to him. I remember spending my summers at his home and seeing him learning each night until five in the morning, and then was back in yeshivah in time for the seder of the bochurim. If a bochur ever addressed him as rabbi greenglass he would respond “ich hais wolf”. Whenever he would come to new york… Read more »

BDH
December 29, 2010 9:26 am

What a Tzadik. Boruch Dayan Ho’Emes

picture of Rabbi Greenglass and Rabbi Gerlitzky
December 29, 2010 9:11 am

is priceless!!!
there are none more like them!!!
oy meh haya lanu!

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