Tearful Colleagues Mark Gedalia Greenzayd’s Shloshim

Last night, the students of the Lubavitcher Yeshiva in Morristown, NJ gathered to mark the Shloshim since the passing of their colleague Hatomim Gedalia Greenzayd, OBM, of Vinnitza, Ukraine, who was tragically killed in an accident on Kingston Ave. last month.

The event began with an address by Rabbi Chaim Schapiro, head of the Smicha program. He gave words of Chizuk to Gedalia’s grieving family and friends, and spoke of the special dedication Gedalia had to keeping Seder punctually.

Rabbi Moshe Herson, head Shliach to New Jersey, spoke of Gedalia’s exceptional Ahavas Yisroel and diligence in Torah study. He encouraged all those present to emulate his ways in this regard.

Rabbi Leibel Surkis, of New Square, NY, spoke of Gedalia’s early childhood in Ukraine, and how he was Mekarev Gedalia’s family closer to Yiddishkeit in the early years following the collapse of the Iron Curtain, when he was sent to Vinnitza to rebuild the Jewish community by the Skverer Rebbe Shlita. Rabbi Surkis compared the situation to when Aharon Hakohen was informed that two of his children died. The Posuk says “Vayidom Aharon,” Aharon remained silent. He didn’t understand why it had to happen, but he didn’t question Hashem’s ultimate plan – and neither can we, he said.

Tal Louis, a student of Yeshiva Tiferes Bachurim – where Gedalia studied before joining the Smicha program, made a Siyum on the 6 tractates of Mishnah that were completed by the students of the Yeshiva in Gedalia’s memory.

Rabbi Zalman Dubinsky, Rosh Yeshiva of Tiferes Bachurim, spoke of Gedalia’s thirst for the study of Torah and Chassidus, and how this thirst brought him to the doors of his Yeshiva.

Gedalia’s very close friend, Yehudah Ivanov, spoke of how great a role model Gedalia was for those around him. As he spoke, Yehudah broke down in tears; in short time there was not a single dry eye in the room.

Gedalia’s father participated in the event via telephone. When his turn came to speak, the entire room fell silent as they listened intently to the sound coming from the small speakers. Gedalia’s father spoke in Yiddish about what a good and special son he was, and how he misses him. Barely able to hold back his tears, he spoke of how difficult it is to lose an only child, and how hard it is to accept Hashem’s judgment.

The event concluded with the resolution of all the students present to learn and complete the Mishnayos in Gedalia’s memory.