BDE: R’ Benzion Eliezer Hackner, 81, OBM

With great sadness we report the passing of R’ Benzion Eliezer Hackner OBM from London ENgland. He passed away this morning, the 12th of Nissan, 5780, after a short illness.

He was 81 years old.

When WWII ended, he was from the first children to be enrolled by his parents R’ Shmaryohu O”H and Mrs. Leah O”H in the Yesodey Hatorah Talmud Torah while most others, were attending public school, and only went to Cheder for a couple of hours in the afternoon.

As a Bochur he was from the organizers of Camp Aguda and the midwinter Siyum Mishnayos of Pirchei.

In the early 1960’s he was heavily involved with the establishment and legalities of many of the projects of Lubavitch London at the time that they were building themselves up and knew who to call and how to negotiate the officials and how to get things resolved.

He was the Lubavitch representative to the Hisachdus Hachareidim of the Greater London Community, and was also a staunch pivotal member of the Lubavitch and general London community.

He spent many nights working the Shidur, the live hookup, for the Rebbe’s Sichos and Farbrengens in London, for the whole UK, Europe, Eretz Yisroel, South America and Australia, that enabled Chassidim and Shluchim to be connected and hear the Rebbe live.

He was also in charge of collecting Maamad from the Chassidim in London to be sent to the Rebbe, and was a long-standing Gabbay of the Lubavitch Stamford Hill Shul as well as Gabbay Tzedakah for many Organizations.

Since the Rebbe instituted the daily learning of Rambam, he has continuously given a daily shiur of the Rambam, as well as an Ein Yaakov shiur between Mincha and Maariv.

He was the administrator for the Chuppas that took place in the Lubavitch community of London as well as helped many people all over the world.

To sum it up, he was the heart of Beis Lubavitch in London.

These are amongst the many other community affairs that he was involved with, that most of us, don’t even know what they were.

He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Shoshana Hackner (London, England), his children; Moshe Hackner (Crown Heights), Rabbi Chaim Hackner (Boca Raton, Florida), Mrs. Miriam Edelman (Brunoy, France), Mrs. Soroh Eidelman (Manchester, England), and Mrs. Yocheved Zirkind (Weston, Florida), as well as many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He is also survived by his brother R’ Yonason Hackner (Crown Heights).

To send nichum aveilim or memories of him, please email nichumaveilimhackner@gmail.com.

Boruch Dayan Hoemes

2 Comments

  • HIRSCH & TZIVIA PEKKAR.[C.H ]

    B.H. Shoshana, and Hackner Families.
    Hirschel and myself Tzivia Pekkar, are so very sorry to hear of your loss, and at this time, we are wishing you, Gezunt and Langer Yuren, and many Simchas in your lives. A Kosher and Freilichen Pesach.

  • Reb bentzion

    He had no rabbonus but knew gittin and kiddushim for over 50 years in london and surrounding cities. Every kesubah was written clear and consistence with halacha! He woud ask different rabbonim for the spelling of the names and was buttol to the rov that would pasken. Nothing was below his dignity, he provided for his daughter whom was widowed for over 15 years. He gave tzadakah besasah to many different organizations. In the 60’s he was responsible with arranging yearly chartered flights to the rebbe, with all the logistics. His family should know what an asken he was and gave nachas ruach to the rebbe and london kehillah especially lubavitch,