We called him ‘Papa Bear.’
“Levi! Kum Da!”
Here I was walking down Kingston Avenue and the all familiar sound of Yossel Tevel, whom we so lovingly called Papa Bear, was calling to me in his deep powerful voice from his beaten up Dodge Caravan.
I ran over to the car, knowing that I would get a massive bear hug, plus a great gleich vertel as dessert.
He put his huge arms around me.
“Levi! How are you! Ich hub dir lib! Why have you stopped coming to the Crown Heights Chabad House? Zog Mir, Levi, do you want to come with me to Rikers Island? Oh, by the way, did you hear about the yokel…”
That was Yossel. Oy, Yossel you were one big guy full with incomparable love for your fellow Jew.
Someone said that your large size was because you had so much love inside of you. How true. How true.
Your house was a home for every person. When I would visit you I was guaranteed to find the most random group of people hanging around. And there you were, walking around giving out hugs by the millions and listening to the myriads of sob stories that were poured out by all those adopted cubs of yours.
Talking about the cubs. Oh, how much you love your cubs. And they loved you back. Such loyal and loving children you raised them to be. Oy, your levaya is about to pass by. I have to run. I know that they must be laughing up there from some joke you cracked. But I am crying.
I miss you Papa. See you soon.
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Funeral photos by CHPicturesblog.com
I became Baal Teshuva a few years ago, and through a friend was invited to the Tevel family for a shabbos meal. I was overwhelmed by the hospitality of the entire family, literally, their house was packed with guests, around 20 people. I remember having a short conversation with Rabbi Tevel, and could really feel what a nice caring person he was. The next day I went to 770 to daven, hours passed, and to every other person I was just a guy passing through. Rabbi Tevel came over to me and gave me a warm welcome, and invited me… Read more »
Very well said!
Boruch dayyan emes! Hamokom yenachem eschem bsoich shaar avle b’yerushalayim.
From a dear friend in London
Boruch dayyan emes! Hamokom yenachem eschem bsoich shaar avle b’yerushalayim. moshiach now!!!!!!
I’m crying at what a special man has just been taken from us!
When will all this pain and suffering go away?
Our thoughts are with this special family.
Yossi was a living example of ivdu es hashem besimcha
life may have been difficult but simcha was always poretx geder
At the levaya i kept thinking how the first thing he did in heaven was to get a minivan and start driving around screaming: “whats going on here???? wake up!!! they need moshiach badley down there”
Yossel, WOW what a giant.
Back in 1996 I had a personal medical emergency where I live in Boro Park. I became acquainted with Yossie some time before that. After one phone call he came rushing from C.H. at about midnight. He helped me when I was in dire need of that help and I will forever be indebted to his huge kind heart,
May this giant of a man be A Richtiger Beiter.
totally shocking, unbelievable, yosssssssssssel, ay ay ay,
BARUJ DAIAN HAEMET,
buenos aires ,ARGENTINA
i needed a job – he got me one. i needed cash – he loaned me some. i needed a hug – he gave me one. i needed a place to go and not feel judged – he gave me refuge. i needed someone to talk to – he honestly listened and allowed himself to feel my pain. i needed to cry – he joined me, i needed a laugh – he always had a joke. i needed encouragement – he made me feel better, somehow i knew it would work out. i needed Torah – his vort or story… Read more »
Yossi Tevel did more Chessed single handedly than 100,000 others do collectively, in a lifetime. The Yesomim are not only his 6 Children but the countless thousands whom he helped daily and whose life depended on him. Who will take care of all of these, literally thousands of Yesomim now? If we truly appreciate what Yossi Tevel did for the entire world and if we wish he continued his selfless Chessed, we all need to unite as an army of 100,000 at least, to be able to continue to do, what he had done, all alone, singlehandedly, daily, until now.… Read more »
How can you say or ask such a thing to HASHEM “VU IZ DEIN EMUNAH U’BITOCON” think about it
people if you can spear a few bucks to help out that family it would be much appreciated
TEVELFAMILY.COM
we miss you PAPA
Lets keep yossi”s flame burning. Lets do kiruv with one another and not the opposite. This is what the Rebbe worked for all his life. It would help If one only took a minute to think the consequences of their actions (will this be mekarev or merachaik people) with what they’re about to do.
when I was a bochur in Oholei Torah Yossel would make sure I came to his house to eat on Shabbos. When he saw me in the street I heard my name called from a block away to come for a bear hug…he was an amazing Chossind, Yossel we will miss you forever!
to the family; stay strong, I know you all well and you are awesome!
Oy!!
Yossi was my father’s cousin. Always the life of the party, and so much fun to be around! We will miss him! when I would see him, I’d automatically smile- was contageous. AD MOSAI!
R Yossi Tewel passed away on Rabbi Yisroel Abuchatzera’s (Baba Sali) Yahrtzeit
Rabbi Israel Abuchatzera (1890-1984), known as “Baba Sali,” was born in Tafillalt, Morocco to the llustrious Abuchatzera family. From a young age he was renowned as a sage, miracle maker and master kabbalist. In 1964 he moved to the Holy Land, eventually settling in the southern development town he made famous, Netivot. He passed away in 1984 on the 4th of Shevat. His graveside in Netivot has become a holy site visited by thousands annually.
http://www.chabad.org/calendar/view/day.htm
Boruch dayan h’emes
the children examplify Yossey A’H very much.
genug iz genug
So sad. So precious neshama. Why?
Make hachlatos in his sake. He deserves it.
We want Moshiach now.
just strolling along Kingston and being confronted by a tzedakah poor Israeli guy, who rushed me to grab whatever gelt I had in my pocket and to please give it to him…. My hands were full of groceries, sforim, cell phone etc… I was getting all flustered….. when out of the blue, Yossel interjected with a warm smile and said: “LOZ MIR HELFEN DEE’ER”…… by pulling out a 5 buck bill and handing it to the guy, and saying to me: “Zorg Nisht, Unundere Mool”…….. Like forget it, it’s on the house, next time. Unreal. I mean Unreal, like a… Read more »
Baruch Dayan Emes.
yes, and a resounding YES, we need to have achdus regardless of what side of the fence you’re on and all the rest of the bobemaises shtusim. But, the one to blame for that is the one above. what does he expect when he keeps us in this golus forever and keeps on hitting us with tragedies????
PLEASE HASHEM ENUF IS ENUF! I CAN’T GO TO ANY MORE LEVAYOS!!!!!!!
WE GET ALL THE BAD AND THE GOYIM GET THE GOOD?????
ad matsai amakom yenahem etehem betor char avelai tsion yerou chlaim rabbi delivre nous
NONONONONoooo
how could this happen there is so much going on in c h i think tere should be a police gard next to every jew
If you look carefully, you’ll see the neshamos of everybody he touched, helped, uplifted, inspired and caused to smile. They stretch to Brooklyn Ave and beyond. (Not even including the goyim he helped , like those who sang “We Want Mashiach Now” in exchange for a salami sandwhich in prison in upstate New York). In these neshamos and in your eyes I see thankfulness, and indebtedness and weary optimism that – in the spirit of what Yossi himself would say – “Man, we just got ourselves one helluva ambassador up there!” But down here? Down here we have to remember… Read more »
Kind, warm, compasionate, always ready to help ANYONE! His house always open for guests and C.H. teenagers. He was an Oyhaiv Chesed, Oyhaiv Yisroel, Roidef Sholom… and A real Chossid of the Rebbe! The community and many induviduals will miss him dearly!!! ZT”L.
he was such a special person andd will be sorely missed by all
we need moshiach now
may Hashem comfort this family
people who have personal stories/memories should write it out and give it to the family. The family might also want to leave binders filled with blank paper and pens attached to the binder so that people can write things down…some may write down what they can not put in words. People need to be gently reminded to write sometimes.
We did this by a shiva in our family…and the words, messages, and stories gave us lots of comfort and chizuk.
may Hashem comfort to you> Moshiach NOW!!
R’ Yossel was such a special person,
On a busy motzei shabbos, when i’m sure he had better things to do, he came out to make peace between two families,
as he sat there, his phone did not stop ringing, and him trying to answer and help the other person while helping another person already…
It was so different with him in the room, full of life, energy and happiness, he made the night so smooth and happy, when it would have been dull and somber otherwise.
It shows what kind of Neshama he had
he was married to shlomo zalman hechts daughter
he helped everybody
yehie zichro baruch he will be a gutter better
Every chosid including Me, should quit pretending he’s God’s gift to the World……. although we are all special as individuals, we got to let down our facades, quit hiding behind our BLACKBERRIES, making like we’re busy shluchim or something of that nature, and just POSHUT, I MEAN POSHUT!!! Greet every Jew, whatever the stature in the community, every simpleton with a warm NOD, JUST A SIMPLE NOD, doesn’t have to be in words, JUST A NOD Of the KOP……… cause Rabbi Tevel paved the way!@
borouh dayan oemes
we all know that yossel was man of chessed who cared about everyone and anyone….
Yesterday was his 55th birthday-he passed away mamish a few hours after his birthday was over.
He lived a FULL life- like a tzaddik.
If there is any person who will not stop banging on Hashems door till He answers and sends us the geulah-its yossel, we now have our best man on the inside!
May Hashem comfort his family as he comforted, helped and brought joy to so many Yidden. What an amazing person and a very BIG part of my childhood in many ways. I’m sure the One Above is enjoying his company immensly, but we down here will miss him dearly.
Mendel Markel
no words can describe this giant
Doesn’t everyone get the message. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH !! ITS time to set all differences aside and live in peace and haromony between each one of us, each friend, neighbor and shul. Doesn’t it realy matter whether your right or wrong. When we are united Hashem smiles at us wnen G-D forbid there is machlokes the opposite G-D forbid happens. Let’s once and for all unite and end all machlokes for the sake of each one of us, you, me and the person next to you . May Reb Yossel be a gutta Bettar for all of us , his… Read more »
So thats it? That is how it ended? Just like that?! YYOOSSEELLL! Bye Bye….!!!!
How come??!!
Hashem should help the special Tevel family and comfort them. Hashem ad masai???????
what a GREAT person he was.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1