Beloved Teacher to Be Remembered with Sefer Torah

by Rabbi Avrohom Brashevitzky

A good number of years ago (Tov = 17), a large and diverse group of people suffered a tragedy – the passing of my dear brother, Rabbi Sholom Brashevitzky, OBM. Family, childhood friends, classmates, Farbrengen buddies and above all his beloved students. All suffered a tremendous loss, each in their own way.

Everyone grieved differently – aching, suffering and trying to heal their respective wound. Many started wonderful projects in his memory; others chose to eternalize him in their own unique fashion and understanding.

Fast forward to now. This group boasts many Shluchim, Rabbis, teachers, business people and professionals. Again, a diverse group of Anash. What coalesces this wonderful group is their love and admiration for their – never to be forgotten – dear friend. After all these years I have a newfound appreciation for my beloved brother who is still remembered and beloved by all that knew him. I’m astounded at the warmest sentiments exhibited by the students he worked with. His love for them – and theirs for him – withstands the test of time; after so many years that have since past and not withstanding being married BH with children and going through the daily grind of life, yet you can feel them go back in time to their wonderful moments with him. There is a sense that they are reliving something which hasn’t faded with time, nor will it.

My brother Sholom Brashevitzky OBM was – and remains – a great soul who touched and inspired many. His last home was the Yeshiva Tze’irei Hashluchim in Tzfas where his official title was dorm counselor, but served as de-facto tutor and mentor to his beloved students. For many of them he was the impactive turning point of their life. Sholom left to do a Mitzvah, to make a Kiddush Hashem and tragically the vehicle he was in overturned and he was critically injured. After being on life support for several days his Neshomo returned to Hashem on the night of 10 Adar Beis.

Over the years his special home served as his family, as the Yeshiva lead by Rabbi Chaim Kaplan made sure to visit his Kever every single year to mark his Yartzeit – on behalf of his family and friends who couldn’t make it in person, he was honored and remembered by the students of his beloved Yeshivah. Without fail, Rabbi Kaplan and “family” (the students of the Yeshivah) were there for Sholom – leaving from his final home directly to his final resting place, year after year.

As next year will be his eighteenth Yahrtzeit, a group of his friends, students and family have banded together to eternalize his memory by writing a Sefer Torah. This Torah will be entrusted for use in the very Yeshivah from which he took his final journey. Many have already responded positively by making generous pledges to help make this possible. B’ezras Hashem all his friends and students will have the opportunity to join in on this wonderful tribute to their dear friend and mentor.

This Tuesday Gimmel Tamuz at 7:00pm all are invited to join his friends, students and family for a Farbrengen and Hascholas Ksivas Sefer Torah which will take place at The Nemes Hall 309 New York Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11213. More details will be available then as to sponsorship opportunities and dedications. The Torah will be written by a Chabad Sofer in The Alter Rebbe’s Ksav in the holy city of Tzfas – in close proximity to where Sholom is buried.

Donations for the Sefer Torah can be made via PayPal: sholomstorah@gmail.com or CashApp sholomstorah@gmail.com (all donations will be tea – deductible) or contact any member of the committee: Rabbis Yossie Rapaport, Menachem Bialo, Shmuel Brashevitzky, Levi Brashevitzky or Avrohom Brashevitzky. For more information email us at Sholomstorah@gmail.com.