By COLlive reporter
Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Chitrik, a scion and father to a respected Lubavitch family, has passed away on the last day of Chanukah – Wednesday, 2 Teves 5772.
He was 84.
His father was Rabbi Yehuda Chitrik, a Mashpia who lived to see 3 Chabad Rebbes. His mother Mrs. Kayla Chitrik was the daughter of Rabbi Aharon Tomarkin, a Chabad rov in Kharkov, Ukraine.
In the turmoil that followed World War II and the Holocaust, R’ Hirschel and his family moved to Belgium and were instructed by the Friediker Rebbe to remain there to support the Jewish community.
In 1949, the family emigrated to Montreal, Canada, and later moved to the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn.
When the Rebbe assumed leadership of Chabad-Lubavitch in 1951, Rabbi Hirsch Chitrik was the first to be sent out on Shlichus – outreach to Jewish people, which was then seen as a novelty and considered very daring in the Jewish community.
Together with his wife Rivka (nee Karasik), he traveled to Rio de Janeiro, the second to largest city in Brazil, and assumed a rabbinical position there. He later returned to Crown Heights and entered the jewelry and precious stones business as Chairman of the Citra Trading Group in New York.
R’ Hirsch was active in Crown Heights institutions, being honored by the boys schools Oholei Torah and United Lubavitcher Yeshiva over the years.
He is survived by his wife Rivka Chitrik and their children Rabbi Yosef Chitrik of Tzfas, R’ Ari Chitrik of Crown Heights, Mrs. Esther Piekarsky of Tel Aviv, Mrs. Sarah Zalmanov of Crown Heights, Mrs. Ella Lerman of Crown Heights and Mrs. Rochi Shemtov of Uruguay; grandchildren and great grandchildren.
His brother, Rabbi Aaron Chitrik, editor of the Otzer Hachasidim publishers of the chassidic works, passed away 2 months ago.
Levaya will take place Thursday, leaving from Shmorei Hadas in Boro Park at 1:00 pm, passing by 770 at approximately 1:50 pm.
Baruch Dayan Haemes.
Video: The Rebbe officiates at the wedding of Rabbi Hirshel and Rivkah Chitrik, the second wedding at which he did so after assuming leadership of the Lubavitch movement.
A great man that taught me the value of trust, faith in God, and family.
Baruch Diyan Emes.
He was a pleasure to do business with and always treated me and all my employees with respect. What a mench! He is loved and well be missed…A great lose to this world.
he was a real tzadik when ever i came up to the office he would share with me a bautifull story of rhe rebbe z”l he will really be missed …..
Our condolences on your terrible loss.
המקום ינחם אתכם בתוך אבילי ציון
He will be missed and remembered.
alav hashalom.
Rivkah
hamokom yenachem eschem betoch sheor aveilei tsion virushalayim.
Pinson Family from Brunoy
Though I knew him but a short time, I will miss seeing him .
Bob La Perla
He must have Known he had a Chush in Niginah. Those days , It was an Icon & something to be proud of;
To 34 I know that ,he told me Shloime used to come to 770 to give over Harav Aharon Kotler z.s.l. Shir to the then Rosh Ha Yeshivha of 770 Rav Gustman,So Rabbi Chitrik knew him as a learner not a singer
REB Yehuda was very fond of his boys , he spoke a lot about .his son arron ,how the Rebba keeps him bizzy with work on sefforim , and how his son hershel is such askone in the Rebbas shecunah,.
wow what a losse of both of them .
may we see them all when moshiac comes
H.y.e.b.a.t.b.
CAY was far from alien to Rabbi Chitrik, He was a Chavrusah the original: Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach. I heard from him when he was sitting shivha for brother just 2 months ago that he sat across from Rabbi Carlebach for some time and yet he never knew that Shlomo Carlebach had the “chush hanegina” rather that he had a “gevaldigah kup” Yehi Zichro Boruch. We should see all the above mentioned “Beinei Muchash” with Moshiach now!
Hamokoim Ienacheim Esjem besoich shear abeilei Tzion Birushalaim.
Only good news.
He stood up above the rest.
Nothing like him.
He will be missed by the many people he influenced.
I’ll miss you
of the few.
those who had to do with him should cherish the time and learn and emulate what they can.
Someone should write a book about Rabbi Chitrik and about other chassidim who are/were elderly chassidim.
I remember when Sima and Yechezkel opened CAY after a few weeks some “holy” people where giving them a lot of grief .I was wondering what Rabbi Hirsch Chitrik thought about the Shul and the critics .All doubts where laid to rest when Friday night in walked Rabbi Hirsch Chitrik with the dignity poise and strength only he had ,to show his grandchildren his support. And stand behind them even if maybe the shul was a bit foreign to him. My wife and I also loved him for his love of history and stories .When ever we ate with him… Read more »
Rochi, we are very sorry. Baruch Dayan Haemes.
Jorge, Regina, Nathalie, and Nicole Czarnievicz, from Uruguay.
he was the best brother and most wonderful person. everyone in the family, brothers, aunts, everyoneone loved him. We will miss him very very much and we love him.
REB S.Z.GANSBURG’S wife BATSHEVA was first cousins to his wife RIVKA (both KARASIK).
if anyone has any stories or memories of our grandfather that they’d like to share with the family please email sam at citra.com
thank you.
Baruch Dayan Haemes
His grandaughter is married to the Gansburg from Montreal.
wow ! what a big losse..
a very classy yid and a big lamden ,
ah tiera yid ……………..
the old dor is going, we now have to step up to the plate and do what is necessary!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ad mosi dude
how are all the Gansburgs related?
uncle hirshel!
Oy!
Didn’t know until now…two hours too late!
What a terrible loss for ‘Chabad!’
“Ha’makom yenahem etkhem betokh she’ar avelei Tziyonvi’Yerushalayim.”
BDE
He will forever be missed.
Hamokoim Ienacheim Esjem besoich shear abeilei Tzion Birushalaim
Boruch Dayan Ha’emes, may the family only know of simchas…
BDE. EVERYONE WHO NEW HIM WILL BE MISS HIM
Very sad to hear this.
He was an iconic figure, a real gentleman. They don’t make them like that anymore.
May he rest in peace.
,,,,,,and another sister in Belgium, Rebbetzin Lieberman.
i love u!!
he also has a sister Sheindel Shneerson
BD”H
Baruch Dayen Emes. A special man and family.
Baruch dayan haemes
He will be missed!!!
our family should know only simchas now!!!!
Was he 83 or 84?
I loved working for this gentle man. He was honorable, respectful and genuine. I learned one can be ethical and succeed in business and family. He was a rare person, and is forever in my heart.