Rabbi Avrohom Ziskind (1904-1967)

Reb Avrohom was born in Warsaw and studied in Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim. Later he was advised by the Previous Rebbe to move to Israel (1926-1931) where he studied in Yeshivas Toras Emes in Chevron and Yerusholayim and received smicha from the Tepniker Rov and dayanus from R. Pesach Tzvi Frank, the then Av Bais Din of Yerushalayim, as well as from R Moshe Lapidus & R Avrohom Kook. He was also the Rav in a Shul in the Shaarei Chesed section of Yerusholayim.

Continued in the Extended Article.

In 1930, when the Previous Rebbe visited the United States, Reb Dovid Shtackhamer came to the Rebbe for a Brocho. The Chossid Reb Zalman Havlin who lived in Israel and was visiting in the U.S. suggested a shidduch between Reb Avrohom to one of Reb Shtackhamer’s daughters. Reb Shtackhamer was a Chassidisher Yid from Hungary whose wife and 3 daughters were later the heads of the Ladies Auxiliary of Lubavitch in Newark NJ. In the following years, Reb Avrohom arranged the engagements of two sister-in-laws; Rebbetzin Mindel to her husband Horav Hachossid Reb Moshe Pinchos Katz, a member of the Lubavitch Yeshiva faculty and the gabai in the 770 shul; and Rebbetzin Gitel to Horav Hachossid Reb Mordechai Mentlik, the Rosh Yeshiva in Tomchei Tmimim 770.

The Frierdiker Rebbe was reportedly the shadchan, and handwrote the first line of the Tenaim.

Reb Avrohom was a shochet and first lived in the Bronx and then in Williamsburg. In Williamsburg, he met with a group of American Bochurim on Shabbos, chazering a Maamor and singing nigunim and eventually the bochurim were niskarev to Chabad.

Known to be a gaon in Nigleh and Chassidus, as a shochet under the supervision of Rabbi JB Soleveitchik, the two would occasionally converse in Torah. When Rabbi JB Soleveitchik’s mother was nifter, Reb Avrohom represented the Rebbe and brought a letter of consolation, personally handed to Rabbi JB.

Reb Avrohom also taught Chassidus in Williamsburg, and in fact gave a shiur Tanya in the old Satmar shtiebel with the encouragement of the Satmar Rebbe – Reb Yoel, with whom he had a close relationship and would discuss many topics in learning

In the late 1940’s, as well as the early years of the Rebbe’s Nesius, the Rebbe conducted Torah conversations with Reb Avrohom and respected his opinion. Some of those conversations were repeated during Sichos of hadronim on Mesechtos. In one of the Sichos, the Rebbe noted an opinion expressed by Reb Avrohom and on another occasion, as well, at the conclusion of the tractate Menochos, the Rebbe shared Reb Avrohom’s opinion, but said “Ich bin mit eich nit maskim, ober ich hob derech eretz far aiyer hasmodo” – I don’t agree with your explanation, however I respect your engrossed studiousness. On another occasion the Rebbe mentioned ‘Ich Zuch a Boki”, I seek an expert, and turned to Reb Avrohom

Reb Avrohom was also known to be an Oved, davening and meditating for a long period of time. The shochtim with whom he worked knew and respected the fact that Reb Avrohom needed more time to daven. He was also known to trade coffee & lunch breaks with other shochtim for extra time in the morning to daven. On Shabbos Reb Avrohom would daven for many hours.

During the davening in 770, he walked around to make sure that people were not speaking during davening. If he saw someone talking, with a smile and friendly manner he would remind the person not to speak. In addition, at the request of the Frierdiker Rebbe Reb Avrohom was the Baal Tefila in 770 every Yom Kippur for Mincha. In his later years, people asked the gabai Reb Yochanon Gordon, to appoint a younger and more eloquent baal tefilo, but he refused.

After an injury on the job, Reb Avrohom had to stop shechting and was appointed the first Rosh Kollel in the upstairs zal in 770. At the request of Reb Yochanon Gordon, he started the first chassidus shiur for women in Crown Heights.

On Rosh Chodesh Nissan 5727 (1967), as Reb Avrohom was preparing to daven in the 770 upstairs shul, with his usual avoda of hachonos hatfila, his folded talis over his shoulder, he felt ill and was niftar in front of the Aron kodesh . The Rebbe instructed all the Bochurim to attend his levaya.

Yehi Zichro Boruch!

We should speedily witness “The ones who dwell in the dust will awaken and rejoice” with Reb Avrohom amongst them.