BDE: Rabbi Yehuda Leib Alevsky, 86, OBM

With great sadness we report the passing of Harav Hatamim Rabbi Yehuda Leib Alevsky OBM, a long-time Shliach to Cleveland’s Chabad of Northeast Ohio. He passed away on Monday, the 3rd of Iyar, 5786.

He was 86 years old.

Rabbi Alevsky was born on the 1st of Sivan, 5699 (1939) in Chernigov, Ukraine, to his mother Mrs. Sima Chaya, daughter of the Tomim Reb Gavriel Zalkind Kagan, and his father Reb Chaim Baruch Alevsky, son of the shochet Reb Yeshaya Alevsky.

In 5709 (1949), he began his studies at Yeshivas Tomchei Temimim in Brunoy, France. Later that year, on Yud Elul, he traveled to Eretz Yisroel, where he continued learning in Yeshivas Tomchei Temimim in Lod.

On Rosh Chodesh Sivan 5718 (1958), he arrived in the United States and joined the central Yeshivas Tomchei Temimim at 770, in the courtyard of the Rebbe, where he was counted among the outstanding students. He was among the first selected as one of the “Shivas Knei HaMenorah” in the study of Chassidus.

In 5722 (1962), while still a bochur, he began compiling short reports received from Shluchim in remote locations, along with other updates for their benefit. When this initiative was presented to the Rebbe, the Rebbe responded with reservation, though he expressed that the concept was fundamentally correct. That same year, he merited on two occasions to substitute for the Rebbe’s secretary, Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky, driving the Rebbe when he was unwell, and also drove Reb Shlomo Hornstein (an uncle of the Rebbetzin and a prominent Boyaner Chossid) to his home in the Bronx at the Rebbe’s request.

He married his wife, Mrs. Devorah Devonia, on the 18th of Elul 5722, daughter of the chossid Rabbi Shlomo Shneur Zalman Kaizen, one of the first Shluchim appointed by the Rebbe to spread Yiddishkeit. Shortly before the wedding, which was to be attended by prominent rabbanim in Cleveland—including the heads of Yeshivas Telz—he was contacted by the Rebbe’s secretariat. Rabbi Chadakov conveyed that the Rebbe requested he prepare points from a farbrengen that had just concluded, so he could review them during the wedding.

From 5722 until her passing in 5725 (1965), Rabbi Alevsky merited to serve Rebbetzin Chana, the Rebbe’s mother.

Following his marriage, he worked for several years with Tzeirei Agudas Chabad of Central USA, where he oversaw the mail department. In this role, he would submit letters for the Rebbe’s review. On one occasion, the Rebbe, who appreciated the wording of the letters, took them along and showed them to his mother, Rebbetzin Chana, during his regular visit.

When he entered yechidus ahead of his 28th birthday, he asked the Rebbe whether his mother and sister, who lived in Eretz Yisroel, should leave due to the tense situation preceding the Six-Day War. The Rebbe responded prophetically that there was no cause for concern, as the war would conclude within ten days.

In 5732 (1972), he joined his father-in-law’s activities and went out on Shlichus to Cleveland.

During the events of 5738 (1977), when news broke of the Rebbe’s health episode during Yom Tov, he was actively involved in efforts on behalf of the Rebbe’s recovery, including facilitating the urgent arrival of Dr. Romberg.

In 5744 (1984), he faced severe financial hardship when the bank threatened to foreclose on the Chabad House building. He traveled to the Rebbe and submitted a detailed report. The Rebbe responded, “Azkir al hatzion,” and within days, he miraculously succeeded in raising the entire sum. Just half an hour before Shabbos, he received a call from the secretariat, as Rabbi Binyomin Klein inquired on behalf of the Rebbe about the status of the debt—despite the short time remaining before Shabbos.

Among his many activities, he organized groups of mekuravim who would travel to receive the Rebbe’s bracha and counsel during the Sunday dollar distributions.

He also built a replica of 770 in his place of Shlichus—though instead of the original red brick facade, it was constructed using the local building style.

He is survived by his wife Devorah, and children; Rabbi Chaim Baruch Alevsky (Cleveland, OH), Rabbi Menachem Mendel Alevsky Cleveland, OH), Mrs. Keila Sosunkin (Akron, OH), Mrs. Chana Glitzenstein (Maaleh Ephraim, EY), Mrs. Sarah Friedman (Bahia Blanca, Argentina), Mrs. Miriam Greenberg (Solon, OH), Mrs. Nechama Dina Greenberg (Shanghai, China), Mrs. Esther Morozov (Cleveland, OH), Mrs. Rochel Sudak (London, UK), and Mrs. Rivka Friedman (Cleveland, OH).