By COLlive reporter
Baruch Thaler, a longtime Crown Heights resident, passed away on Thursday, 6 Cheshvan, 5785.
He was 56 and passed away after suffering from a terrible illness.
Baruch grew up in Crown Heights, and was known as a scholar who remembered the sichos of the Rebbe word for word, even in later years.
A gentle soul and a brilliant mind, Boruch was raised and lived a life imbued with the Rebbe’s teachings, the history of Chasidism, its tales, and customs.
As a bochur, while traveling back from summer camp in 1988, he and friend Rabbi Yossi Hodakov added the words ‘kesiva vachasima tova’ to the now-famous niggun, which was sung often in the Rebbe’s presence, and is sung often today.
After Gimmel Tammuz, he wrote a Pan Kloli to the Rebbe, which was signed by the bochurim of 770.
He interacted with many academics, authors, musicians, and influencers across the Jewish spectrum, sharing the wisdom of Chassidus and its heritage.
He was a dear friend to many, whom he inspired and uplifted with his warmth and knowledge of Torah, especially Chassidus and the Rebbe’s Torah. He had a remarkable gift of Negina, and often sang heartfelt Chasidic melodies.
In recent years, he visited Crown Heights and the Rebbe’s Ohel, where he Farbrenged and shared many memories of the Rebbe and his time in 770.
He is survived by his parents R’ Tzvi and Rachel Blima Thaler, and siblings Leah Caroline, New Haven, CT, Devorie Chaddad, Crown Heights, Dov Ber Thaler, Sunrise, FL, Chaya Nejar, Baltimore, MD, and Shani Bennish, Crown Heights.
The levaya will take place tomorrow, Friday, 9:30 am at 770.
Shiva will be at 1398 Union St
9:30 am Shacharis
10:00-2:00 visiting hours
2:00 Mincha
12:30-2:30 visiting hours for R’ Tzvi Thaler to accommodate his special care needs
5:45 Maariv (including Motzei Shabbos)
6:00-9:30 visiting hours
Baruch Dayan Ha’emes.
If you have memories of Baruch to share please send to
memoriesofbaruch@gmail.com
בד”ה! 🙁
Baruch was a giant amongst us and will be missed incredibly. Hard to digest this news.
I was in Yeshiva with him in Kingsley Way in 1986/7 in London England, what a memory he had, it was not just memory, it was depth he used to say things verbatim.
May he be a Maliz Yosher
ישיבת קיץ אהלי תורה תשמ״?
Fleischmans NY
אוי ברוך!!
A genuine kind hearted yid, with a warm Chasidshe heart.
Tzadik
So saddened. Boruch was a warm friend, an intellectual with wide ranging interests. A sharp mind, a critical–but not cynical–thinker, Baruch’s abiding love for the Rebbe and his mastery of chassidus accompanied him along his life journey. He will be missed by his circle of friends who took pleasure in his company.
A special sweet and holy soul.
B’de
Baruch, you have helped so many,
Baruch you brought joy to those who needed the chizuk.
We know you went up there to lead the singing when moshiach will come with the bais hamikdosh
Takef miyad
B.K.
Reb Boruch was a one of a kind soul. He had a twinkle in his eye when he smiled at you. Goodbye oh kind soul. You are missed.
So sad, what a loss. BDE. Moshiach now so we will see you soon!
I cried listening to him singing in this video. What a holy neshama.
Look at how intently the rebbe looked at him in the pictures!
My wife Zisel Leah and I knew Baruch as our eldest nephew and the son of Zisel Leah’s brother Tzvi and sister-in-law Rachel. What an amazing and unique man he was, a kind soul, an intellectual, an accomplished author, a teacher, a leader of young Jewish men trying to find their way, and even a creative who studied film as a graduate student at Columbia U. There will never be another Baruch. He is irreplaceable. Yosef Younger
Who loved learning Chasidus
Chaval al deavdin velo mishtakchin….
BDE
I never met him but this made me cry. Such a special person. Are there more videos of him singing niggunim. So sorry for the loss to the family.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSPKgUP5UiIp3w-N3DYhhITWuSYmQUx4k&si=wTu5mllIVCe73Z7X
Very sad to hear of this tragic news. I was friends with Baruch for about 40 yrs. BDE
Just after Gimmel Tammuz while we were studying in Morristown, Baruch rolled up and Farbrengen with us one night, Yossi Jacobson was a Boucher spending time in Morristown as well, 2 great minds Farbrengeing all night, the amount of DACH flowing from Baruch that night was remarkable, Baruch was one of the few who could sit with with any Mashpia and hold his own and perhaps more 🙂 , BDE
Bd”E. Baruch expieranced the pre and post Gimmel Tammuz period. He was close to Reb Yoel. He should be example for those that struggle that one comes back to their source, Rebbe, 770, Crown Heights, chasidim and Chasidus. May his memory be a blessing, amen
I will miss him
B”de
Years ago, he would pop into the yeshiva gedola in Miami late at night to look up sifrei chassidus (before they were easily available online).
friend!
Hersh C.
Oholei Torah Brooklyn Avenue.
So sorry to see this. BD’E. He was true to rebbe. Chassidus and our way of life.
So sorry.
We mourn a great loss. Hamakon Yinachem Eschem.
Please bring Moshiach now!
רצוננו לראות את מלכינו
Bde. A Tzadik. He will be profoundly missed. He brought such much joy and meaning to others
Someone who truly loved Chassidus and brought many people closer to Chassidus and taught with his heart and could never stop learning and teaching. Beloved by many in different communities and always remembered his connections to the past more than almost anyone.
איך נפלו גיבורים
Baruch had such a presence and influence in many peoples lives. I only got to know him the past couple of years. He went out of his way to be there for others. He had such a precious neshama. May Hashem send comfort to his family and all Klal yisroel! – Yankee teitelbaum
About 25 years ago Boruch showed up in the east village at a shul where I was rabbi at the time he brought Charlie Roth ah and some interesting
Characters to the feast of moshiach after not seeing him for several years it was inspiring how close to his roots he was with the nigunim and pressing Charlie for memories of the early 40s
A mentor, a freind, like family, a holy soul and we were lucky to have him for all these years.
He tried to fight and sad that it took him over 😢
So sad
What a gentle soul
Gentle and gracious very sorry to read this news
BDE, So sorry to lose such a sweet, deep, warm soul, may his spirit be with us forever…