Boruch Dayan Hoemes: Rabbi Yosef Waldman, 84, OBM
With sadness we inform you of the passing of Rabbi Yosef Waldman, OBM, a longtime resident of Crown Heights and a chossid whom the Rebbe credited with inspiring the continuation of the Rashi Sichos. He was 84 years old.
R’ Yossel was one of four brothers and a sister, born into a Galitzyaner family who lived in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. After celebrating his Bar Mitzvah, his father sent him to study in Lubavitcher Yeshiva – then in 770 – in the 1940s.
In 1958 he and his wife Miriam got married and settled in a home on Montgomery Street near Schenectady Avenue.
His friends and neighbors described him as a very organized and private individual, who had a great interest in learning and enjoyed tapes of the Rebbes Sichos.
Although not a Lubavitcher Chossid by origin, after getting married he began growing his beard and started wearing a kapoteh, a change the Rebbe noticed and commented on by saying “yashar koach.”
He particularly enjoyed the Rebbe’s Rashi Sichos, and after hearing them on Shabbos afternoon he would ‘run’ to other shtieblach in the neighborhood and share what he heard and learned. In 1965, he described himself as ‘then without a beard,’ he had heard that the Rebbe was dismayed by a waning interest in the Rashi Sichos, and that the Rebbe would no longer give them over.
Disheartened, he penned a heartfelt letter pleading with the Rebbe to reconsider. “Not because I was a Chossid; I was simply farkoched [engrossed] in them,” he said in an interview. The Rebbe answered that he needed to speak with a number of people, which he did and wrote again to the Rebbe, and received the answer “hamaaseh hu haikar.” Thinking that this was the end, R’ Yossel was shocked that the following week the Rebbe once again gave over a Rashi Sicha. Even more shocking was the Rebbe’s introduction to that Sicha: “A Yungerman who is not even from the Shpitz Chabad claims that the biurim in Rashi are being Koched in, and moreover it is a Geshmake thing…”
In his trade as a jeweler, he developed an idea improving upon a common diamond polishing practice. In 1976 he was granted a patent on his idea, which is in use to this day.
He is survived by his wife, Miriam, and daughter, Chantzie Meth (New Jersey).
The Levaya will take place Sunday, leaving from Shomrei Hadas at 10:00am and passing by 770 at around 11:00am.
Boruch Dayan Hoemes
48 yr in the hood,
BDE WOW VERY SAD
THE NICEST PERSON YOU CAN FINED
moishe
If I recall correctly thanks to him A. H. we would frequently know in advance which Rashi the Rebbe would discuss at the upcoming Shabbos Farbrengen and enabled all to prepare ourselves to have a better understanding of the topic!
His daughter Chantzie.
Her name is not Chanie.
His daughter
Chantzie meth
rashi sichos
The niftar z”l would come shabbos morning and wait by the fan Eden hatachton. When the Rebbe came from home, the Rebbe told Reb Yossel which Rash I he will talk about and what the main question is.
Kapotte
I seem to remember that hw began waring a Kapotte in the late 80’s.
BDE
He was a kind gentle person and was a real mensch and became a Chossid of the Rebbe. What truly was evident about Rabbi Waldman was his speech was only of Torah and kindness and his clean appearance was that of a mensch. May his family be comforted and only have revealed goodness!
friend
His family originated in Munkacs, and his daughter`s name is Meth.
doc
BDE
it brings tears to the eyes realizing that amongst us Tzaddikiim walked and probably still walk amongst us.
May the family be zit to many zechuyios
Freilechen Chodesh kislev
Is there Shivah info. avail. yet?
Please post when known (both for wife and for daughter). Thanks.
with the old breed
He was a great jew and a hidden gem of crown heights….