BDE: Rabbi Yehuda Leib Posner, 97, OBM

With great sadness we report the passing of Rabbi Yehuda Leib Posner OBM, a older Chossid who merited to have Yechidus with the Frierdiker Rebbe as well as a Shliach of two Rebbes. He passed away in Crown Heights on Monday, the 19th of Tammuz, 5785.

He was 97 years old.

He was born in Eretz Yisroel on the 11th of Nissan to Rabbi Shalom and Chaya Posner, and was named Yehuda Leib after his maternal grandfather. When he was one year old, his parents immigrated to the United States at the behest of the Rebbe Rayatz in order to engage in the spread of Yiddishkeit.

At first, his parents lived in Linden, NJ before moving to Chicago. He remained with his parents while his older brother Yitzhak Zalman Posner was sent to Brooklyn to study in a yeshiva.

In 1951, at the age of 12, he joined his brother by the Rebbe. When he arrived, he went into Yechidus along with his older brother, where they were given special kiruvim. A short time later, he learned of the opening of an additional class for young people at the central Tomchei Temimim Yeshiva, and was among the first group of children to study in the new Yeshiva.

After finishing his years in Yeshiva he went on to study Shchita, and became a well-known and respected Shochet.

After the passing of the Frirdiker Rebbe, he joined the Chasidim delegated to the task of digging the plot where the Frierdiker Rebbe was buried. During the funeral procession itself, the Rebbe asked him to join and enter the vehicle that transported the coffin to the Beit HaChaim, along with three other members of Anash, including Rabbi Shmuel Levitin, Rabbi Israel Jacobson, and Rabbi Dovber Rivkin.

In the month of Elul ה’תש”י, he received instructions from the Rebbe through Rabbi Khodkov to travel to California on a mission to spread Yiddishkeit, while at the same time the Rebbe sent a letter to one of the local activists and asked him to assist him in whatever he needed.

On the 1st of Shevat ה’תשי”א, he married Esther Tirzah Primark. The couple was blessed to have the Rebbe be Mesader Kiddushin and participate in their chuppah. This wedding was the first wedding the Rebbe attended after the end of the year Aveilus. The Rebbe arranged the kiddushin, said all seven blessings, and even had a short conversation with the new couple.

Over the years, they lived and engaged in the Rebbe’s mission in several places, including Wisconsin and Borough Park.

He was predeceased by his wife Mrs. Esther Thirza Posner OBM in October of 2016 at the age of 87.

He is survived by children; Mrs. Channa Sonnenfeld (Nachlas Har Chabad, Israel), R’ Yosef Yitzchok Posner (Skokie, IL), R’ Uri Posner (Crown Heights), R’ Yechezkel Posner (Crown Heights), R’ Shmuel Posner (Boston, MA), Mrs. Brocho Sapochikinski (Westlake Village, CA), and Mrs. Elisheva Mishulovin (Beitar Illit, Israel), as well as many grandchildren and great grandchildren.

The Levaya will take place on Wednesday, passing by 770 at approximately 10:45am.

Shiva information to be announced.

Boruch Dayan Hoemes