Montreal Community Remembers Reb Volf

On Motzei Shabbos, members of the Montreal Lubavitch community gathered in the “Yeshiva Zal” for a Farbrengen and Melava Malka commemorating Rabbi Menachem Zev Greenglass, OBM, affectionately known in Lubavitch as “Reb Volf,” whose Yahrzeit was on the 19th of Teves.

Reb Volf was one of the 9 founders of the Lubavitch community of Montreal, sent by the previous Lubavitch Rebbe.  He established Montreal’s Yeshiva and central Chabad Shul. For many years he was the Mashpia (spiritual mentor) of the Yeshiva, and he was much beloved by the Yeshiva Bochurim. He was also a well-known Kabbalist, the Lubavitcher Rebbe once called him “my Mekubal.”

Rabbi Dovid Cohen opened the evening describing the affect Reb Volf had on the Yeshiva Bochurim, infusing them with Yiras Shamayim (fear of heaven) and teaching them the importance of being careful in everything down to the smallest details, for example to eat when sitting down, not to put large portions in your mouth. “His advice was always practical, for use in day to day life, and he was a walking example of a Chossid,” said Rabbi Cohen.

A video was then presented, showing Reb Volf Fabrenging with the Yeshiva boys. It tied in very well with what Rabbi Cohen had just said, since in the video Reb Volf was talking about how the Rebbe Rashab (5th Lubavitcher Rebbe) wrote pamphlets on how to Daven and learn, and a pamphlet was supposed to come out detailing how one should eat, and Reb Volf stressed to the boys that there’s a holy way to eat, and holiness isn’t confined in the boundaries of praying and learning.

The Skvere Dayan, Rabbi Yochanan Wosner, spoke about how Reb Volf was an example of how a Jew should always be happy, even when life brought challenges. He stressed the Emunah (belief) and Anivus (humility) of Reb Volf, and shared a story of how the Skvere Dayan was once chatting with Reb Volf, discussing the definition of a Jew. Is it Torah? Is it Mitzvos? Finally they concluded that a Jew is Emunah. “This was Reb Volf,” said Rabbi Wosner. “A Jew with Emunah and Simcha.”

The Skvere Dayan’s son-in-law also said a few words, telling the story of how at one of his grandchildren’s Bar Mitzvahs, Reb Volf was in a wheelchair, looking and feeling very weak, having just returned from the hospital after having a procedure done. As soon as the Bar Mitzvah boy (Sholom Ber Cohen, now a Shliach) started saying the traditional Maamar (discourse) by heart, Reb Volf was energized. “Reb Volf may have been physically sick,” he said. “But when it came to his grandson saying a Chassidic discourse, that was everything to him.”

Reb Volf’s son, Reb Avraham Greenglass, shared the history of his father, how he was one of the “original 9″ who came to Montreal to build the Yeshiva. He spoke about the many Lubavitch men influenced by his father. “He really showed a lot of love and a lot of care for the Bochurim,” he said. “And the boys loved him in return.”

Rabbi Itche Meir Gurarie, Mashpia of Montreal Yeshiva, then told the crowd how he’d learned under Reb Volf for five years as a Yeshiva Bochur, and the studies affected change in his behaviour at home. Rabbi Gurarie’s father got worried about the traditions his son had undertaken and asked the Lubavitch Rebbe what he should do, and the Rebbe responded by telling Rabbi Gurarie’s father that “Reb Volf is the best that we have left.”

Rabbi Yosef Feigelstock, a Shliach from Argentina, also spoke about life in Yeshiva with Reb Volf. A Montrealer, he had gone to the local Yeshiva at a time when Reb Volf had just published a book on Chabad Halachas and traditions (which has been translated into English and French).

Rabbi Feigelstock stressed how Reb Volf, a man who was close to the Rebbe, who regularly corresponded with Kabbalists in Israel, was able to write a book that was so simple and practical and could be easily read by anyone. “The only reason he wrote it was because he saw it was something that was needed,” said Rabbi Feigelstock.

On a personal level, I was lucky to learn in the Lubavitch Yeshiva of Montreal when Reb Volf was the Mashpia for one year, and while it wasn’t discussed much at the Farbrengen, one thing that always surprised me was how he seemed to know whenever I didn’t go to the Mikvah in the morning. I never went at the same time he did, so I have no idea how he knew, but on the days where I wouldn’t go, he’d always remind me later in the day to make sure to Toivel the next day.

Reb Volf was a founder of the Lubavitch community of Montreal, now the second largest Lubavitch community in North America (after Crown Heights). He would be proud to see what the community he built is today, and we were lucky to have him in our midst.