104-Year-Old Man’s Final Mitzvah

By Phreddy Wischusen, Chabad.org

Jacob Chartoff was born and raised in Boston.

As a young man, he attended Harvard University enrolled in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, graduating with a degree in English literature. He chuckled when recalling that annual tuition back then was a whopping $500.

At 104, he had lots of stories to tell. And one of the people he told them to was Rabbi Levi Lezell, co-director of Chabad of the South Shore in Hingham, about a half-hour south of Boston.

“He was very jolly,” relates Lezell, “an indicator of how a person can reach such a distinguished age.”

Chartoff had a rich life—he was at the top of his class, he played the violin and worked as a political speechwriter—and while he celebrated Jewish holidays and learned Hebrew early on, as an adult he hadn’t been very connected to Judaism. Still, Lezell says, “he was obviously a very proud Jew.”

Like Chabad-Lubavitch rabbis everywhere, Lezell offered: Would his new friend care to wrap tefillin?

“He immediately agreed,” says the rabbi.

“He said: ‘Do whatever you’ve got to do.’ It was very heartwarming.”

After they said the Shema together, Lezell started singing “David Melech Yisrael.” Without missing a beat, Chartoff joined in.

As the rabbi prepared to leave, he says the 104-year-old became a little emotional, even though his spirits seemed to be visibly uplifted.

“It was as if I knew him for a lifetime,” says Lezell. “It was hard to leave.”

Jacob Chartoff – Yaakov ben Eliyahu passed away three days after his visit from the rabbi. May his memory be a blessing.

“Every positive action, no matter how seemingly small, has a lasting effect and eternal value,” Lezell says. “Such deeds bring much good to the world.”

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