Boruch Dayan Hoemes: Reb Reuven Sirota, 83, OBM

With sadness we inform you of the passing of Reb Reuven Sirota, an elder Chosid who ran an underground Matzah bakery in Tashkent and was the Rebbe’s Matzah baker. He was 83 years old.

R’ Reuven was the son of the Chosid R’ Mordechai Sirota of Tashkent. When he was a young boy, he learned in the underground yeshiva Tomchei Temimim in Tashkent, learning from the known Mashpia Rabbi Shlomo Chaim Kesselman, who also would farbreng in their home together with other Chasidim of that generation that lived in Tashkent during the war.

He later married his wife Rochel, and together they raised a generation of Chasidishe children with true Mesiras Nefesh.

An underground Matzah bakery was built in his parent’s home, and as the eldest son he was in charge of the operations. For many years they produced Matza for thousands of Jews who lived in Tashkent.

In the 1970’s they emigrated to Israel, and R’ Reuven would fly to New York for a few months each year to work in the Crown Heights Matzah bakery.

After a few years, at the direction of the Rebbe, he moved his family to Crown Heights, and he continued to work in the bakery, with dedication and professionalism. He had the merit of providing the Rebbe with Matzah each year.

His home on Empire Boulevard in Crown Heights was open to many guests throughout the year, hosting relatives and other visitors.

In the past few years he had retired from work, and spent his days learning in the Kollel Tiferes Levi Yitzchok.

He is survived by his wife, Rochel and his children Rabbi Aaron Avrohom Sirota (Denver, CO), Yitzchak Sirota (Crown Heights), Mrs. Sara Geinsisky (Crown Heights), Mendel Sirota (Crown Heights), Tzippy Dalfin (Crown Heights).

He is also survived by his siblings Zev Sirota (Crown Heights), Clara Goldshmidt (Nachlas Har Chabad, Israel), Rochel Klein (Nachlas Har chabad, Israel), Moshe Sirota (Israel), Boruch Sirota (Israel), Hershel Sirota (Israel) and Yisroel Sirota (Montreal, Canada)

The Levaya will take place today, Wednesday, leaving Shomrei Hadas at 10:00am and passing by 770 at around 11:00 am

Baruch Dayan Hoemes