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Remembering Reb Shmuel Tanchum Shuchat AH

Chof Gimmel Menachem Av marks three years since the tragic and untimely passing of Reb Shmuel Tanchum Shuchat OBM at the young age of 46 after battling a terrible illness, known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Reb Shmuel is remembered by family and friends as cheerful and infectualy happy, “his good morning and smile brightened anyone that crossed his path” wrote a family member, and added “His beautiful, sweet voice that he was blessed with was not only used for himself, but also for the sick and to enlighten a Simcha that was in need.”

Continued in the Extended Article.

Sixteen years ago Reb Shmuel started a Minyan in the Kingsbrook Jewish Medical center, which he poured his life into, the Minyan continues to this day. This was but one small act of his selflessness which expanded in his Bikur Cholim [visiting the sick] and providing aid to the needy.

Personally I would like to share my own memories of this great man. When my family and I lived on Lefferts Avenue I would see Reb Shmuel walking on Shabbos to the hospital where he would visit his mother. His voice was something special, as a young boy I remember him Davening as chazzan in the Shul, Beis Eliyahu Nochum on Lefferts.

He is survived by his wife, Rachel, his children Mrs. Roni Cozacaru of Montreal, Mrs. Sari Faescher of Israel, Yitzy, Zvi, Rivka and Lifshy. In his memory the family created a blog where people can post their Hachlatos and stories about Reb Shmuel, shmuelshuchat.blog.com

The following was written by a member of the family on the blog:

From an early age, I learned the importance of discipline from my father. I watched my father, in all aspects of his life, walk on the proper Derech. Not only did he walk a straight path, never tempted to walk astray, but he made sure that we, his family followed suit. The values that he instilled in us remain with us-the two overwhelmingly most important were Emunah in Hashem and Chesed, giving to others.

My father lived his life for his wife children and family, for Klal Yisroel and for every other living human being that Hashem created. As a Kiddush Hashem, one of the caregivers at the Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center, where my father Davened every Shabbos, put it best, while placing a tiny rock on my father’s Matzeva, he declared that this rock is symbolic of my father’s devotion to even the littlest person.

I chose to talk about Chesed first, since my father touched so many people throughout the years. His beautiful way warmed so many of us who had the good fortune of being in his presence. My father’s devotion to the sick people in the hospitals was marked by his regular visits to see them and sing for them. He especially concentrated his efforts on consoling those patients who were suffering from cancer or who were on life support machines and unfortunately had no family of their own to give them Koach.

He was there when no one else was, he gave them the feeling that there was someone left who cared; his singing strengthed them, bringing tears to their eyes. That strength is what helped them fight that extra day. In addition, he was responsible for organizing the weekly Shabbos Minyanim for all the patients at Kingsbrook who were now able to enjoy full Shabbos services. He was also a patient advocate constantly fighting for their rights-constantly fighting for better care and treatment with more dignity.

What was remarkable about my father was that he found the time to carry out all of this Chesed. He would come home from a long day’s work, tired and worn down. After eating a brief meal, he would gather the reserve amount of energy that he didn’t have and walk to the hospital. He never complained he was tired even though to all of us-he clearly was. He never thought about himself-the adrenaline rush of helping one more patient was his motivation. In the last few years of his life, when his fatigue was increased due to the beginning stages of his disease, ALS, his unrelenting nature persisted. He continued to visit the patients of the hospital and provide them with joy.

On one trip to the Ohel, when my father was already in the advanced stages of ALS, he prepared a pan, a letter to the Rebbe, we were all shocked to learn that he asked Hashem to give him the strength to walk back to Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Hospital.

While he is suffering himself so much, most people would understandably think and ask only for themselves and their own health, he felt that his purpose in life was to help others and only wanted enough strength so that he could continue to carry out his duty on behalf of the patients. How inspirational he was!

In addition to all the Chesed my father did, his general way was one of kindness, giving and empathy for people. He would greet complete strangers, Jewish or non-Jewish alike, and he would offer his help to anyone in his path that needed it.

He opened his home to scores of children and people who had no other place to go. He used to take pride in the fact that people who came to his home felt so comfortable that they never wanted to leave. He truly executed the Mitzvah of Hachnasas Orchim, with happiness and excitement for each new person who walked through his door.

My father’s unwavering faith in Hashem was so inspirational not only to us, but to anyone who visited him during his illness. He created an acronym for ALS, the deadly disease that paralyzed him, making it impossible for him to sing or eat and do Chesed. He decided that ALS meant Always Live Sweetly. While the disease was torturing him, he constantly smiled not letting anyone feel sorry for him. He always had a glow in his eye. He was more positive than ever, and his appreciation for every single visitor and visit was extraordinary.

Whenever someone asked him anything related to his illness he always pointed his finger to Shamayim-whatever Hashem wants and took it with happiness. So strong was his Emunah in Hashem that even through a gruesome illness, his love for Hashem did not decrease-if anything his love for Hashem grew.

There is a Pasuk that describes my father: “Mitzvah Buh Leyadcha Al Tachmitzenah” [Mitzvah that comes to your hands don’t squander it.]

Whenever an opportunity of a Mitzvah came across my father, he did it right away with a big smile and an open heart -never postponed it,

I want to leave all of you with a message from my father that I heard, and learned by example every day of my life-and that message is self sacrifice for the benefit of others. And even more so an unshakable Emunah in Hashem that even a disease like ALS could not change.

I would like to take a moment to acknowledge and thank all of those people who supported my father and our family throughout those difficult times in our lives.

MAY WE ALL MERIT TO SEE THE ULTIMATE REDEMPTION OF THE COMING OF MOSIACH AND TO SEE ALL OUR LOVED ONES ONCE AGAIN!

Readers are welcome to visit the blog and take on new Hachlatos in honor of Reb Shmuel by visiting shmuelshuchat.blog.com

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11 Comments

  • yanqui

    Three years already. Seems like just a few months ago I was at the shiva. Rachel is my wife’s second cousin.

    Always positive about pretty much everything, everything was for the good, that’s how I remember Shmuel. Also a bit of tune-swapping as chazonim (me the amateur, he the pro).

    Also, thanks to the brother-in-law whose name I can’t recall who pointed me to his recordings of R’ Paltiel’s A-Eter shiurim.

    BTW, it’s Lou Gehrig’s, not Gherics. He was a famous baseball player for the Yankees, 1925-1939. He was 36 when he got the disease, just shy of 38 when he died. He still holds the record for career grand-slam home runs (23).

    It’s so rare a disease, that one doesn’t expect to know anyone who has it, but there is also a woman in my shul who is dying of it.

  • Chana

    As a long-time Shabbos visitor in Kingsbrook while a student in Beis Rivka, I personally witnessed Rabbi Shochet’s commitment to the Jewish patients in the hospital. For the patients, often neglected and isolated in less than desirable conditions, his enthusiasm and concern was a lifeline. He was someone who listened, and someone who tried to advocate for people who had no one else in the world.

    May his family be blessed, and may he rest in peace.

  • Yonasan Gordon

    I was a co-worker of Shmuel’s. He would always make it a point to say–in his cheerful, bellowing voice–“good morning” to everyone. He always would bring out a laugh or smile in you. It seems those days when a person was having an especially rough patch, he would make it a special point to bring that smile.

    When I heard the news of Shmuel’s passing, I was in the middle of reading a book entitled “Is there a Chance for Love”. There the author, Dovide ben Yosef, tells how much of societies’ ills are caused by lack of love. That human beings want to feel loved. That if we all truly cared for, and were truly concerned about others, then the world would be a much healthier place. Spiritually, Emotionally, Physically…

    Shmuel brought tremendous healing to to this world. He reminded me of the Simcha and Ahavas Yisroel a Chassid should endeavor to bring into his/her life.

    He was always ready and willing to do a favor. Throughout the day at work, I was witness to some of the many acts of kindness he performed.

    One day a long-time tzaddah collector in this neighborhood, came to work to deliver a package. Shmuel cared deeply about this man’s health. Expressing concern over his smoking habits, etc…

    May his neshama have the highest aliyah, and plead for us and all klal yisroel … asking that Hashem have rachmonos on us and bring Moshiach Now!

  • Mendy Hecht

    Reb Shmuel was one of those friendly strangers who know just when to join the conversation.

    I remember eating breakfast one morning in the Bagel Shop. Reb Shmuel was sitting at another table. An American Jewish couple, an older husband and wife who obviously weren’t from Crown Height, were at a third.

    A casual conversation about age was underway between the couple and their guide. You could tell the man wished he were a bit younger.

    At the perfect moment, Shmuel Shuchat jumped in with his trademark smile and personality: “Hey, age is just a number!”

    May his positive attitude and good cheer be an inspiration to us all.

  • Zee

    Reb Shmuel was one of a kind, I will forever remember him and all his kindness and selflessness.
    May his neshama have an aliya

  • Chan

    Thank you Crown Heights info for giving a good man his due. Shmuel a”h was one of the unsung heroes of the Crown Heights community, always with a good word for one and all. A devoted and loyal husband, father, brother, and friend.

  • Just a randomer....

    i remember shopping at kehos as a kid and going to the hospital as a bocher and i sill remember him always singing (bim bum) with a smile.

  • shmuelshuchat.blog.com

    as i read all these comments it brings back alot of memories of my father. while reading them i was saying to myself wow that really is something my father would do or say.

    my father really did put all that he could to make ppl. happy especialy the onse in need of it the most. it is nice to see that my father was appreciated for his doings

    may we be reunited with our loved onse once again quickly in our days

    thank you all