By COLlive reporter
Children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, along with friends from across the Tri State area, recently gathered for a memorial of Rabbi Dovid Krasnjanski OBM.
Rabbi Krasnjanski was born on 16 Tishrei, 5695 in Kiev, Ukraine. He was a direct descendant of the Baal Shem Tov (ninth generation) from both his son Tzvi and his daughter Udel.
He learned in the underground Chabad Cheder in Samarkand, and continued his studies at the Yeshiva in Brunoy, France. He eventually came to America and married Ettel Charitonow, the granddaughter of R’ Aron Charitonow from Nikolayev.
After living in Crown Heights for many years, they were advised by the Rebbe to move to Philadelphia to continue his job as an engineer for the US Navy.
For forty years, he was a pillar of the Lubavitcher Center on Castor Avenue in northeast Philadelphia, led by Rabbi Avraham Shemtov. They then lived for a few years in San Diego and had a huge impact on the community.
Rabbi Krasnjanski was a tremendous Talmid Chacham and a dugma chaya for so many in his humble unassuming way. A model of a true Chassid who carried himself with real and deep humility. A dedicated husband, father and grandfather through and through.
Torah was his life, never seen without a sefer, giving shiurim everywhere he went. His “retirement” was becoming the Rosh Kolel of Tiferes Zekeinim Levi Yitzchak in Crown Heights.
He passed away on Shabbos, 8 Tishrei, 5784, just a week before his 89th birthday. He children and grandchildren are Shluchim of the Rebbe around the world and credit their constant inspiration to their parents for their love of Torah and Yiddishkeit.
