By COLlive reporter
Reb Zusha Rivkin, one of the builders and elders of the Kfar Chabad village in Israel, passed away Sunday, 17 Adar 5772.
He was 86.
Reb Zusha fell on Sunday morning, injuring his head, a sudden and tragic ending to a life of a living example of an honest and sincere chossid, devoted to the Rebbe in his heart and soul.
In 1978, Reb Zusha built the large Beis Manecham shul in the center of the village. It is used daily for davening, simchas, and farbrengens traditionally attended by people from around the country.
Ahead of the opening ceremony, Rivkin flew to New York to personally hand the Rebbe an invitation signed by many chassidim. The building was one of the few to be named after the Rebbe with his permission.
The Rebbe did not attend, but instead gave Rivkin 1,800 single dollar bills to pass to those who signed and the bills that remain should be used for “good things.”
Those extra dollars were later used by Rivkin to develop his grand plans to build the Rebbe a mansion in the village (When it was suggested to the Rebbe in 1978, the reply was: “He wants to build me a home in Kfar Chabad? A palace!”).
However, the Rebbe told Rivkin that “now is not the time.” Only in 1992 did the Rebbe give the green light and said it should be built near the replica of the 770 building in the entrance of the village. A cornerstone was put down, yet no progress was made since.
LIFE’S STRUGGLES
Reb Zusha was of the children of R’ Yechiel Yosef Rivkin and his wife Sheina (nee Azimov) who raised their family through the many hardships that life in Russia posed for chassidic Jews.
His siblings are Mrs. Freida Levin (today in Kfar Chabad), R’ Hirshel Rivkin OBM, Mrs. Risha Rochel Reichman OBM, Mrs. Gita Ceitlin OBM and R’ Chaim Rivkin OBM.
Zusha inherited his warmth, strong love and care for Yiddishkeit from his parents, even as they frequently moved homes in the cities of Kremenchuk, Klimovich, Homil, Yegurvsk (near Moscow), Tashkent, Levuv and towns in Poland.
While being arrested for suspicion on possessing gold, R’ Yechiel Yosef bravely resisted the Communists cutting off his beard. “Cut my head off first,” were his immortal words which scared them off.
The Rivkin family later immigrated to Israel, after escaping to Paris and living there for 2 years.
Zusha married Naomi and they had a daughter Chaya Bracha. She married Rabbi Aaron Dov Halperin, founder and editor of the Kfar Chabad Magazine. She passed away without children.
Life’s struggles did not deter Reb Zusha’s spirits. With a smile on his face, he would remind clients in his Yeshurun restaurant in Tel Aviv to say a bracha before enjoying his traditional Jewish dishes.
When Nshei Chabad in the Kfar dedicated a new Torah, Reb Zusha flew to invite the Rebbe and in return was entrusted with bringing to Israel the silver crown for the Torah.
He is survived by his wife Naomi. His funeral took place Sunday in Kfar Chabad, with hundreds including Rabbi Mordechai Shmuel Ashkenazi in attendance.
He was buried in Har Hazeisim in Jerusalem.
Baruch dayan haemes.
Zusman is certainly correct; I am not sure about Alexander. In Gan Eden they know his name well, don’t worry.
I think he was just called Zusha with a Alef or Zusman, im leaning towards Zusman.
He did after 2 other cousins named Zushe (i believe after their great grand father), one was called Zusik im not sure what his full name was but i believe Zusman too, the other was called Yekusiel Zusman.
BDE
Yes, you are right- I am confusing him with someone else re: haCohen.
he was most certainly not a kohen
Can anyone provide a phone/fax no. to reach his wife and sister?
what was his name? Meaning how did he get called up to the torah?
Almost sure his full name was Alexander Zusman haCohen Rivkin. Anytime I was in Tel Aviv, I used to like to eat at Yeshurun just to see him give Bamba to kids for saying psukim and making brochos (and of course because it was 1000% kosher which was not always easy to find in Tel Aviv until recently). Vehekitzu…vehu besoicham NOW!
We must build the palace and usher in the redemption!!!
http://www.MoshiachPalace.com
Meaning how did he get called up to the torah
86 or 82?
We will still carry on with the Rebbe’s wishes to build the Palace
Please help to build it! go to MoshiachPalace.com
Boruch Dayan Hoemes.
Ad Mosai?
There are so many difficult things happening at this time that it’s hard to move. The answer is to increase in kindness and good deeds. Through this we will see Salvation.
Kol Tuv