By COLlive reporter
Rabbi Yehuda Tzvi Fogelman, who has been the longest serving Chabad Shliach to date and was a spiritual leader to many in Central Massachusetts, passed away on Sunday, 1 Tammuz 5773.
He was 91.
The Polish-born Lubavitcher chossid has been living on Shlichus since 1942 when he was sent by the Frierdiker Rebbe to found the Yeshiva Achei Tmimim Academy in Worcester.
The pre-K through Grade 8 school has provided a quality and authentic Jewish education to thousands of children over the years and has been a central communal institution in the area.
As one of the first three students to learn in Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim Lubavitch in the United States, his activities were imbued by the teachings of chassidus and halacha and the Rebbe’s mission to reach out to every Jew with love and care.
Under his leadership, Chabad has expended beyond Worcester with 6 additional Shluchim running Chabad centers in Westborough, Framingham, Natick, Milford, Sudberry and Wellesley.
He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Rochelle Fogelman and their children Mrs. Bassie Levin – Worcester, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Fogelman – Worcester, Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Fogelman – Natik, MA, R’ Shmuel Binyomin (Mushi) Fogelman – Los Angeles, CA, Mrs. Sheva Liberow – Worcester, R’ Mordechai (Mutty) Fogelman – Crown Heights; grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Their eldest son R’ Chaim Yosef Fogelman of New York passed away 12 years ago.
The levaya will be held Monday, leaving from Shomrei Hadas at 11:00 am and passing by 770 at 11:45 am.
Shiva will take place at 24 Creswell Rd., Worcester, Mass. 01602
Email for nichum aveilim: fogelman01602@gmail.com
Baruch dayan haemes.
I was a student in the early seventies and had my Bar Mitzvah at the Yeshiva. I aquired a true love of yiddishkite from Rabbi Fogelman as I attended his dailt shiurim. I have been crying for most of the day when I found out about his passing. This world will sorely miss him . I will always feel that he is a part of my life.
Baruch Dayan Emes.
Baruch Dayan Emet.
המקום ינחם אתכם בתוך שאר אבלי ציון וירושלים
Thank you, Rabbi Fogelman, for being a leader and shaliach that best embodies the Rebbe’s demands of his Chassidim. Be a Meilitz Yosher on our behalf.
79
Baruch Dayan Haemes
המקום ינחם אתכם בתוך שאר אבלי ציון וירושלים
Nachman& Chavie Bronstein Monsey, New York
May Hashem comfort the entire family!
– Miryam Koch & Family
he personally taught me the alef beis one on one when i was nine years old. such an ahavas yisrael. i will never forget his warmth
So sad to hear, but the world is a better place for his having lived among us. I remember Rabbi Fogelman leading Birkat Hachama when I was a college student in Worcester in the 1980s. He was always warm and inviting to Jewish kids who found themselves away from home and in need of an infusion of yiddishkeit for Shabbat, the Holidays, or any other time.
המקום ינחם אתכם בתוך שאר אבלי ציון וירושלים
There was no other person who dedicated themselves to a cause with such truth, in such a genuine manner than Har av Yehudah Tzvi Fogelman. His ways constantly rub off on all of us as we have journeyed through Hawolum Hazeh to complete the mission to keep it steady so we can attain the true goal. As with all great Nawshim & AhNawshim today we remember “CHAYAY” “THE LIFE” of the great Rabbi who provided us with the true life! May his Neshamah ascrnd to the highest point of “Gan Eden”
A life well led. May his memory be a blessing.
The Farber family
BS”D
May we learn to share in such a way to Honor those who passed the torch so we could help the Light of Hashem burn brighter 🙂
Baruch Dayan Ha’Emes
https://www.facebook.com/groups/246225755404592/
הרב הצדיק רב פעלים אוהב ישראל ומקרבן לתורה כדרך אדמ׳ורי חב׳ד הקדוש יהודה צבי בן משה יעקב נשמתו עדן. היתה לי הזכות להיות במחיצתו ולשרת את הרב לתקופה ואני מעיד מיד ראשונה שאהבת ישראל של הרב ללא גבול ביחד עם שמחת חיים שנותנת הרגשה נפלאה קירבה אלפי יהודים לתורה ומצוות וללא יוצא מן הכלל כולם הושפעו מהיחס הלבבי והמסור שאותו הקרין הרב בכלל לבבו וללא דופי. תורת החסידות עם פשטות מושכת הרב פוגלמן זצ״ל חימם המון לבבות יהודים והשפיע על המוני משפחות יהודים לדורי דורות. אדם משיכמו ומעלה נערץ על כל תומכיו מיום הגעתו לווסטר כשהעיר עדיין הייתה בפריחה משגשגת… Read more »
B”H
We are very saddened. Rabbi Fogelman was so dedicated to the community and to each individual, and worked tirelessly to that end. May he have lichtige Gan Eden. The greatest tribute we can give to him is by following in the path of Torah and mitzvos, thereby hastening the arrival of Moshiach, when we will all be reunited with our dear departed loved ones.
A great man KIND CARING ALWAYS THE REBBES SHLIACH ALWAYSINSPIRATIONAL ALWAYS HELPING ME AND EVERYONE HE MET TO BE A BETTER JEW. MAY HASHEM SENDMOSHIACH NOW
Rabbi Fogelman was the EPITOME of a shliach. He created the worcter community we all LOVE and will forever no matter were we go there is always a soecial bond for our most amazing hometown.
HaRav Fogelman was a source of pure burning spiritual light to me and my family. Your light will never leave us.
The Udermans
Rabbi Fogelman, a great and caring individual. Always on top of everything. He led a an amazing life, filled with Torah and Mitzvos. He was a real example of what a true jew is and we can learn a lot by emulating such a great man. He cared for his family and any other person that he came in contact with. When you needed him, he was there for you. He would listen with his heart and soul. On Shabbos , I can still see him now standing up there and giving his speech on the parsha. Helping families that… Read more »
Yes he did study in Torah Vodaas in his earlier years
BDE
He had an effect on myself with Chassidishkeit and in his Zchus even Yidden down under continue to be effected…
Baruch Dayan Ha’Emes
the zubers
BH
So many Yidden and Chassidim were created in Worcester. Yidden with untouchable sincerity and warmth. Rabbi Fogelman built us and holds us up today. So much love to Rabbi Fogelman and his family
I have extremely fond memories working under Rabbi Fogelman as a bochur, he was an emesdike yid, a real chossid and a great inspiration.
I wish the Fogelman, Levin and Liberow families much comfort and may he be a gutte bette for klal yisroel.
May Rov Fogelman have a alyiah in gan eden, and may his neshama be the last one to depart of this physical world, and may we see him very soon, should it be speedily in our days
(also he was one of the original shluchim from the previous rebbe , along with my Rov, Rov Dovid Edelman, they both seen the rebbe when he first came to this country, truly tzaddikim of our generation )
Both, my Father and my Mother learned in Worcester, and they both were accepted with paying only a few dollars for tuition. Rabbi Fogelman NEVER denied Jew his or her right for a jewish education because they couldn’t pay. Which is something that today’s jewish schools can learn from him.
I only know Rabbi Fogelman the same as most people. I am pained by his passing. May the Aibishter comfort you (family, friends and community) among the mourners of Tzion and Yerushalayim. VeHachai Yitain El Libo, there is so much to learn even just from the way he was!!!
Rabbi Fogelman is my inspiration. No matter how controversial the topic to others, he was unfazed, he emphasized and did the Rebbe’s hafotza through writing articles, making speeches, and turning over the world in the realm of action. Well said, 26-true shliach. He used his sharp, witty humor and bundles of kindness to change the world for the better. I will miss him.
baruch dyen haemes. rabbi fogelman u will surely be missed
May we all learn from him to live and grasp every moment to the fullest and reach our highest potential and bring Moshiach Now!
Dedicated. Inspirational. Passionate. Indefatigable. Powerful. Knowledgeable. Dynamic. Insightful. Articulate. Sharp. Compassionate. Resourceful. Unshakeable. A Chosid. A man without peer in this generation. What a privilege to have known him. May the family be comforted and cherish the memories of this great man.
cant believe this horrible news.
a true shliach. a true mench. a true role model. a true man with mesiras nefesh. i dont think ive ever met a grater man than rabbi fogelman.
such terrible news. my condolences go out to everybody in worcester.
IM SO SORRY TO HEAR THIS TERRIBLE NEWS. when i got the call, all i could do is think of the fogelman family and everybody who lives in worcester. i know what youre going through. all we can do now is just daven and pray for moshiach
i dont know how ill be able to go back to worcester and not see my rabbi. rabbi fogelman you were our rabbi. you touched all of our lives, teaching us lessons upon lessons that we will treasure for life.
RABBI FOGELMAN YOU WERE A TRUE SHLIACH. i remember coming into the yeshiva every day and seeing you there with a smile on your face. im picturing it right now. sitting here with tears in my eyes
THANK YOU TO RABBI FOGELMAN FOR GIVING ME THE BEST CHILDHOOD A PERSON COULD ASK FOR. BC OF YOU I AM WHO I AM TODAY. THANK YOU FOR BEING THE BEST RABBI! you will definitely be missed 🙁
such sad news.
worcester wont be the same without you
thank you for making my days in worcester so memorable and enjoyable
I DONT KNOW WHO I WOULD BE IF IT WERENT FOR RABBI AND REBETZIN FOGELMAN. bc of them they opened up a wonderful, loving, and amazing community uniting people from all over.
Pretty sure he studied in Torah vodass before going to TT, is that right? Can anyone confirm that?
ive been crying all day
baruch dyen haemes
writing this with tears in my eyes
B”H Dear Friends, It is with great sadness that I inform you of the passing of my father, Rabbi Hershel Fogelman of Worcester Mass. Emissary of the Previous Rebbe and the Rebbe, the longest serving Chabad Shliach in the world, founder of the Yeshiva Academy in Worcester, and spiritual leader of many in Central Massachusetts. He is survived by his wife, my mother, Mrs. Rochele Fogelman, and their children, Mrs. Bassie Levin, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Fogelman, Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Fogelman, Shmuel Binyomin (Mushi) Fogelman, Mrs. Sheva Liberow, and Rabbi Mordechai (Mutty) Fogelman, and their families including grandchildren and great grandchildren.… Read more »
A TRUE SHLIACH!!
my heart goes out to everybody in worcester. i know how hard this must be for yall
rabbi fogelman will really be missed
SUCH HORRIBLE AND SAD NEWS.
The hundreds of thousands of people privileged to know “The Rabbi” personally can vouch he was the kindest man I have ever known. He never turned away a child from a Jewish education regardless if we could pay or not. He had his instructions from the Freideker Rebbe the value of a Jewish education on a child, and staunchly stood up for what was right for 70 years
RABBI FOGELMAN. A DEVOTED, DEDICATED, LOVING RABBI. WERE ARE ALL GOING TO MISS YOU IN WORCESTER
such a wonderful man.
my heart and soul goes out to the fogelman family and worcester community
i remember hearing the rabbis speeches in shull on shabbos and yomim tovim. every speech touched me. i dont know what well do without him
baruch dyen haemes, i am so sorry for the fogelman family. rabbi fogelman was a great man, he’ll truly be missed
Rabbi Fogelman was a true Shliach. i remember in high school always going to the main building for lunch, and him greeting us there. he always had a smile on his face, and always asked how you were doing, and meaning it too.
no words can explain how great of a man rabbi fogelman was. he influenced thousands and thousands of people.
cant believe rabbi fogelman passed away. he was the man of worcester. what are we going to do now?
Rabbi Fogelman might had 40 grandchildren, but he really had thousands. Every student who passed through the Yeshiva doors for the past 70 years felt like his child, because he gave the love, attention and care to each one. Worcester is famed over the globe, because of him. What a giant loss.
I did not know Rabbi Hershel, but there can be no question his legacy is in high repute in the characters of his sons.
Rabbi Fogelman was a legendary figure, true Shali’ach, phenomenal speaker, great leader and very well liked. He will be sorely missed by the Lubavitch community at large. BKR, Brooklyn, N,Y
Rabbi Fogelman was a man who never took “no” for an answer in his shlichus. He pushed forward with a Lchatchila Ariber attitude and did the impossible. He was in a position of great honor, yet was always a warm, kind sincere Jew who cared for everyone he met. BDE, this is a great loss to the world down here, and a gain in the world above.
Baruch dayan ha’emes. He was m’karev me, in the 70s. I was a student at Clark University. He was m’karev many Jewish students at local colleges. Thank you, R’ Fogelman. I went on to Yeshiva Ohr Somayach. May G-d comfort the family among the mourners of Zion and Yerushalayim.
A true Shleach. He would remind all that a shliach has the strength of the Mishalaiach. May the wonderful family be comforted.
mayer.s
The Fogelmans also had a girls Bais Chana High School from 1977- on ward !!! IT was a high school that flourished and was a home away from home for hundreds of girls !!! It started with it all began one day a shliach to become from Malka Taugers song and today they have hundreds of girls who are shluchim around the world today !!!! Some of the girls have started schools of there own and have made the Rebbe and Rabbi and Mrs Fogelman lots and lots of nachas !!!We all have such special memories in Worcester and we… Read more »
We feel so privileged to have attended Bais Chana Worcester. To hear from a shliach who heard it from the Frideker Rebbe himself was so special! We treasure our years in Bais Chana Worcester and will miss the Rabbi! BDE
BH There is only one Rabbi Fogelman in our generation. He set the Gold Standard for Chabad and Chabad rabbis all over the world. There are many good, wonderful, and inspiring rsbbis in the world, but there was only one Rabbi Fogelman. He and Rebbetzin Fogelman mecareved me, and my three children, who attended Rabbi Fogelman’s Yeshiva, identify strongly as Jews because of his loving guidance. He made the Jews in Worcester Jewish by the long arm of his outreach. His work and example of lovingkindness inspires me to this day. May the Fogelman Family be comforted with all the… Read more »
B”H We are so saddened at the news of Rabbi Fogelman’s passing! It’s hard to believe…The Rabbi’s kindness and ahavas yisroel could not be measured. It was his love for the community and for each and every Jew that walked into the Yeshiva which he and Mrs. Fogelman established, that imbued the community with a sense of family, compassion and connection. His shlichus in Worcester created connections for Yidden from all over the world. You can’t go somewhere, play Jewish geography, and not come up with a link to Worcester, the Yeshiva and the Fogelman family! Our hearts are heavy… Read more »
What a special man. He will surely be missed. Condolences to the family, especially to Shmuel (Mushy).
attended Worcester yeshiva 1963-70
Condolensces to Fogelman family
ברוך דיין אמת
His legacy will be remembered by the thousands of students and community members that passed through Worcester throughout the years. May the family be comforted.
Our family was very saddened by the news. It is hard to believe. Words cannot describe how terrible we feel and how much the Rabbi meant to our family. We hope that the family can find comfort among the mourners of Israel and that they do not know of any more sorrow. May Moshiach come very soon so that we can be with him again soon. The Helmus Family
His legacy will be remembered by the thousands of students and community members that passed through Worcester throughout the years. May the family be comforted.
My deepest sympathy to all of Rabbi Hershel Folgelman’s loved ones, especially his dear family, as well as those who were touched by his special soul and spirit, particularly all the fortunate children who were blessed by the Rabbi’s love and care. All of you are in my thoughts and prayers. I pray that the labor of love for the benefit of precious souls be forever carried on in all the locations in the Worcester, MA area, as well as expanded to many other locations. May this dear servant of Ado… live on in spirit as the work he began… Read more »
BDE :”((((
Long life to the family.
Luv from an old friend from Mass
A true leader, the life and inspiration for Worcester and the Lubavitch community. He will be greatly missed!!!!!!!!!!
צדיק יסוד עולם. איש חסד ורב פעולות
Bde. Such a wonderful and inspirational mam. He will surely be missed
Boruch Dayan Hoemes…
We lost a very special rabbi! May Moshiach come soon!
mayer.s
So sad, at least he lived a life full and rich and accomplished
So sorry to hear
Baruch dayan Haemes.
Dovid Brownstein
He was such a nice man!!!!! He will surely be missed!!!
Our neighbor, our Rabbi, our boss. KINDEST MAN I have ever met in my life! Tears from Worcester.