By Yehuda Ceitlin, Editor of COLlive
Rabbi Volf Greenglass, a symbol of the hardships of the Jewish people in the previous generation and Judaism’s current prosperity, passed away Wednesday, 22 Teves 5771.
He was 94.
Menachem Zev Greenglass (halevi) was born to a non Chabad family in the Polish town of Krasnik, near Lublin, and was sent to learn in the Chabad Yeshivos Tomchei Tmimim in Lodge and Otwock where he acquired his vast knowledge in Torah, Kabbalah and Chassidus.
Legend has it that when he was drafted to the Red Army, he asked a friend to break his toes so he could not run or walk properly and thus be disqualified from the many dangers and challenges for an observant Jew in the battlefield.
With the Second World War taking its toll on Europe, and the Nazi troops heading into Poland, Rabbi Greenglass and his classmates fled to Shanghai, China, where they learned in the newly opened exiled branch of the Chabad Yeshiva.
From there Rabbi Greenglass traveled to Montreal, Canada, as one of the 9 shluchim sent by the Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, to cultivate the Jewish community there.
Their first achievement was establishing the Rabbinical College of Canada, also known as Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim. Thousands of students from non observant families got the taste and love for Judaism in the school.
When the Yeshiva Gedola was established, Rabbi Greenglass was soon appointed as the Head Mashpia spend many years teaching and inspiring thousands of Lubavitch bochurim who went on to become leaders in their own right.
He was known to say, “I never put down (criticized) a bochur, I only elevated him.”
Together with his longtime friend Rabbi Leibel Groner, who served as the Rebbe’s secretary, he made the first attempt to document Chabad customs in the monumental book “Sefer Haminhagim.”
In Montreal he was referred to by members of the Jewish community as a Tzaddik and Malach (righteous man and angel). The Rebbe once called him “my Kabbalist.”
In 2006 he fell during davening at the Yeshiva shul and went through a few operations. He miraculously survived and returned to teaching and guiding young and old.
His wife passed away many years ago and he is survived by his sons Avremi Greenglass, Yossi Greenglass and daughter Surie Cohen; grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Baruch Dayan Haemes.
LEVAYA & SHIVA
The funeral will take place Wednesday, 22 Teves at Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim Lubavitch of Montreal 6405 Westbury at 2 PM.
The family will be sitting Shiva at the Cohen residence 4987 Plamondon.
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…)
sholom b feigelstock , ¿could you post the havdolos story?
to number 32: can you please tell the full story?
Thanks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7h09EfGRdo&feature=related
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.
to number 37: yes, he looks like a tzadik, BECAUSE HE WAS A TZADIK!!!!. PSHITO!
thank you collive for the pictures and bakovedike article
yehei zicro boruch
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
his hand looks like the Rebbe’s hand….
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.
he knew who went to mikva.
ask to put wool tsitsis.
.
Very special person
moshiach now
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.
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.??)
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
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 »
Could you please post the havdala story?
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.
i was by the lvay’ today
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.
What an incredible man… Moshiach now
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
he was a special mashpia, lurnt with us tanya, and instealed in us yeras shamayim, and tught us the yesodos of kabalah. (the map).
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
he looks like a tzaddik i should of went to him for a miricle
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 »
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”
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 »
Rabbi Greenglass used to teachTania to the Tosh Rebbe
when they used to live downtown
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 »
will there be a live feed from the Levaya?
A grus fun Izzy Gold.
Menachem Zev OBM
during chasidus and kick around the tishues on the floor
baby faces in his hand
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
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!
anyone notice the two baby faces in his hand?
Captures Reb Volf in every sense!!!!!
Rashi in this week’s parshas: chaval al d’avdin v’lo mishtakchin
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
He made me feel special. BDH. We are so much worse off now.
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 »
that was a low blow he really cared that every bocher davend marriv EVERY NIGHT !! i will miss him:(
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
may we merit to see the coming of MOSHIACH NOW!!
vet mein mekubal Reb Menache Ze’ev Volf Halevi (Greenglass) zagen Lechaim nisht nor benistar nor eich beniglah
Rabbi Gerlitzky and Rabbi Greenglass past away at the age of 94
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-retz in the full sence of the word. A holly Jew. A Heiliker Yid
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 »
a tikun for that was to learn gantz hilchos tfilah
Boruch Dayan Hoemes.
Thank you COL for the beautiful photos.
Thank you # 5 for your comment – Vihchai Yiten El Libo
i forgot to daven maariv last night…
for shivah call 5147356008
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 »
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!
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 »
What a Tzadik. Boruch Dayan Ho’Emes
is priceless!!!
there are none more like them!!!
oy meh haya lanu!