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Boruch Dayan Hoemes: R. Menachem Meir Blau, 70, OBM

Rabbi Menachem Meir Blau OBM, a passionate Chossid devoted to the Rebbe and his instructions, passed away on 21 Sivan 5776. He was 70.

Rabbi Blau was born in Shanghai to Rabbi Moshe Yehuda and Chaya Hena Blau. Rabbi Moshe Yehuda served as a Rav in Boro Park and was most famous for his magnum opus the 40 volume Shitas Hakadmonim. Chaya Hena was a daughter of Reb Meir Shmaryahu Schochet.

Rabbi Menachem M. Blau invested himself for nearly 50 years in spreading the Rebbe’s teachings beyond Lubavitch.  To this end he spared no effort including endeavors such as the weekly Torah Gedanken column which he prepared for the Algemeiner.  In addition, he publicized and brought people to the Rebbe’s farbrengens. He also distributed “thought for the week” to thousands of homes weekly to ensure the Rebbe’s message reached the masses.

In 1988 he started the Crown Heights Newsline to further spread the Rebbe’s Horaos and farbrengens.  He facilitated weekly Chazara of Farbrengen for Anash and Shluchim worldwide each Motzei Shabbos.

Rabbi Blau served as principal of Hadar Hatorah for several years and inspired many to become Baalei Teshuva, several of whom have kept in touch with him through the years.

In recent years he said selected excerpts from the Rebbe on inyonei moshiach ugeulah connected to the specific time. He hardly missed a day of sharing these messages in 770 to inspire others to await for and take action to bring Moshiach.  He yearned for and lived to bring Moshiach every day.

Together with his wife, Esther, tibadel lchayim tovim, they established a warm and open home built on strong Chassidishe values and selflessly dedicated to so many causes.  He was a strong source of encouragement and support to his wife’s involvement in many community projects and was extremely proud of his children’s devotion to Chinuch and Shlichus.

He is survived by his wife, Esther, and children: Devorah Layeh Kosofsky (Crown Heights), Chanie Brand (Montreal), Sternie Mellul (Montreal), Rochie Storfer (Miami, FL), Rivkie Blau (LA, CA), Aidel Zaklos (Vacaville, CA), Shainy Edelman (Crown Heights), Rabbi Mendy Blau (Crown Heights), Rabbi Dovber Blau (Crown Heights), Rabbi Yosef / Levi Blau (Toronto), Chyena Yusewitz (Crown Heights), and Yisroel Blau (Crown Heights) and many grandchildren.

He is also survived by his brother Rooven Blau and sisters Nechama Kastel and Rochel Elishevitz.

The Levaya will take place Tuesday, 930:am at Shomrei Hadas and passing by 770 at around 10:45am.

Shiva will take place at 852 Eastern Parkway

Shachris: 7am, 8am, 9am, 10am
Mincha: 8pm (4 minyanim)

Maariv: b’zmana (4 minyanim)

The family requests that 4-7pm family time for the aveilim be respected.

Nechama Kastel will be sitting at 424 Sterling St. from 8-10pm. Rochel Elishevitz will be sitting with the Blau Family on Eastern Parkway during the day and on Sterling St. in the evening.

Boruch Dayan Hoemes

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10 Comments

  • Devastated

    Aibershter! Please bring Moshiach! NOW!

    Yidden! We need to work on our achdus!!

    The Rebbe writes that sinas chinam had no basis. And to rectify this we need ahavas chinam! This means, that loving another yid, even where we have no basis to! Even if we think we have valid reasons to hate them/slander them, etc. And yet, we must still love them and respect them! Thats the kind of ahavas chinam that we need to bring Moshiach! (Think… Bad-mouthing our rabbanim in public, anonymous forums, even if we THINK we have a right to. If even one person would withhold a hateful comment, perhaps it will just tip the scales… Lets each be that one person!)

    Rabbi Blau was all about Moshiach! He was a Geulah Yid! Let’s continue his holy work and finally bring the Geulah!

  • BDE

    Mrs Blau and your entire family, we are so sad with you! May the Aibershter comfort you in this trying time! Moshiach Now!

  • malcab

    .
    Bd’e
    Such an amazing person, chossid, husband, father, zaide. In the more the 30 years I’ve known rabbi blau and his family I never heard him raise his voice in anger. Always a kind word for everyone no matter you were.

    My heart goes out to his family, May his neshama always have aliyahs

  • Vhokitzu vrane'nu

    May we see that all the Nshomos higher up, can back down bgufim. that is the highest aliya.

  • ms3

    the Blau’s are very emesdik, fine people.
    BDE, but I’m sorry they lost him so early.
    Wishing strength to the mishpacha and I know that his many mitzvos will stand for him here. He surely left many maasim tovim here.

  • Moshe Eliyahu

    Wow 70, that’s very young, I wish the family only Simchas & Happy things, may they know “No sorrow” anymore.

  • Hpg23

    I remember the tall red headed guy in Rabbi Fuchs class on the 3rd floor @ Bedford & Dean. But that was 58 years ago

  • Crown Heights Resident

    I learned a lot about the Rebbe’s Hora’ah’s Lemaseh from his Crown Heights Newsline