BDE: Doby Emanuel, 30, OBM

With great sadness we report the passing of Doby Emanuel OBM, a Chabad husband, father, and son, just two weeks short of his 31st birthday, following an extended illness.

Doby’s parents, Menachem ob”m and Devorah Emanuel, settled in Chicago after their marriage to take advantage of the strong Chabad community, including Cheder Lubavitch of Chicago, where Doby learned in his youth. Following cheder, Doby learned at the Mesivta in Chicago, followed by zal in Montreal, New Haven, Yeshivas Ohr Elchanan Chabad, Yeshiva Gedolah in Melbourne, and Morristown.

Doby had a magnetic personality. Wherever he went, he made friends. As a dorm counselor, he inspired the younger students to daven and learn with passion, to attend farbrengens, and to go on mivtzoyim.

After his years in yeshiva, Doby returned to Chicago and became very active in the Anash community and Congregation Bnai Ruven in particular. Working closely with Rabbi Hertz and Rabbi Markowitz, he was at the forefront of arranging new shiurim, organizing farbrengens, and launching new projects. He helped organize, got other people involved, and saw the programs through to success.

Doby was dedicated to the Rebbe, and joined his shul’s trip to the ohel for Shabbos.

He joined a Daf Yomi class, and, when he was short on time, he listened to a shiur while he drove to work.
Together with his wife, he also took a leadership role in getting help for people and families, whether it was financial assistance, or other pressing needs. They anonymously sponsored people in need to attend events such as Shabbatons.

Doby liked to see people happy, and he went out of his way to make that happen. He had a discerning eye and a sensitive heart to notice when people needed help, be it financial, emotional, or a friendly call.

He was the go-to guy for new ideas. When other people had ideas for new projects, they would turn to him to help get the project off the ground.

People knew they could turn to him to discuss their ideas. He was ambitious and determined to succeed. At the same time, he solved problems, was generous, and remained calm.

When he had radiation early in the day, he would first go to shul at 5:30 to daven. His plan was to beat this disease. When he finished a successful round of radiation, it was not enough to sponsor the kiddush and make a seudas hodaah. He brought Rabbi Zalman Leib Markowitz to farbreng for the community as well.

At that time, he made an offer on a house that was accepted. As he underwent treatments, he discussed his plans to grow at work and go into business for himself. He made plans for a family vacation after the treatments would be done.

His passing leaves a large void in the Emanuel and Kosofsky families, as well as the Congregation Bnai Ruven, and the wider anash community of Chicago.

The family thanks all the people and organizations who have assisted them the past year and one-half, such as Cong. Bnai Ruven; Chicago Mitzva Campaign; The Chicago Center; Chai Lifeline; RCCS; his doctors and the teams at Rush and at the University of Chicago. They are also deeply grateful to his bosses at work, and for all the people who stood by him and his family and assisted in many ways.

He leaves his wife, Chaya Emanuel (nee Kosofsky); a 3-year old son and a 7-month old daughter.

He is also survived by his mother, Devorah Emanuel, and brothers Meyer and his wife Ellisa, Chaim,Avi, and Shmuel, all of Chicago; a sister,Rivka and her husband Gil Shoshan of Tel Aviv; his in-laws, Chaim and Rochel Leah Kosofsky of Longmeadow, MA, and their children; nieces and nephews on both the Emanuel side and the Kosofsky side; and his bubby in-law, Joanne Brown.

Doby’s father, Menachem Efrayim Emanuel, passed away in 2021.

A special fund will be set up in his name to sponsor people to attend programs. Donations should be made to Cong. Bnei Ruven, 6350 N. Whipple, Chicago, IL, 60659. https://bneiruven.shulcloud.com/payment.php. Indicate that it is for the fund in memory of Doby Emanuel a”h.

The levaya will take place tomorrow, January 1st at 12:00 p.m. at the Bnei Ruven section of Waldheim Cemetery, 1303 S. Des Plaines Ave. Gate #5.

Shiva information to be announced.

Boruch Dayan Hoemes