Last month, Yeshiva Schools of Pittsburgh experienced a profound loss. Rabbi Yosef Itkin, a teacher and mentor in the Yeshiva for over 40 years, passed away. But Rabbi Itkin was more than simply a teacher and mentor at Yeshiva Schools, he was the living heart of the institution.
From the time he joined the Pittsburgh community at the Rebbe’s directive in 1981, Rabbi Itkin worked at Yeshiva Schools of Pittsburgh, ultimately teaching there for four decades. He taught Chassidic philosophy, Talmud, and halacha. But what’s more, he served as a spiritual guide for the students.
There was not a single child who went through the school whose soul wasn’t enlivened by his positivity and warmth. He exuded a joy of life and Judaism that lifted up all those with whom he came in contact. Since his passing, countless stories have been pouring in from grateful students, as well as his colleagues, all filled with gratitude for his friendship and love.
Rabbi Itkin epitomized Chassidishe ahava; he understood we are all truly one unified soul. For him, the mikvah was an essential part of his routine, helping him prepare for a day of davening, learning, and good deeds. Establishing a mikvah in his memory for the students of Yeshiva Schools Mesivta is a tribute to the depth and breadth of his life’s work and the legions of lives he uplifted. In addition, in the deepest way, it touches on the essence of his legacy: a simple purity of spirit that drove all his actions.
Ari Rosenblum, an alum of Yeshiva, shared, “On my birthday Rabbi Itkin relayed a personal experience he had with the Rebbe on his birthday. He relayed that the Rebbe encouraged him to recite Shnayim Mikreh weekly on Friday. That conversation inspired me to do so as well, and continues to inspire me to this very day, over a decade later.”
Rabbi Itkin’s entire life was dedicated to joyful positive thought and embracing the immediacy of action, and it is in this spirit that Yeshiva Schools is embarking on a lightning campaign to raise $250,000.00 toward building the mikvah by the advent of his Shloshim, which will be on January 16. The funds raised will go towards the construction and maintenance of the mikvah, ensuring that it becomes a place of solace and spiritual growth for generations of his beloved students to come.
Yeshiva invites you to be a part of this lightning initiative and contribute to the speedy creation of the Rabbi Itkin Memorial Mikvah. Your swift support can make a significant impact on the realization of this project. Specific donations will be named on a memorial plaque at the following levels of appreciation:
1. Acknowledgement- $1,800.00
2. Thankfulness- $3,600.00
3. Special Appreciation- $7,200.00
4. Heartfelt Gratitude- $9,000.00
5. Perpetual Tribute- $18,000.00
Of course all donations are welcome, and every dollar counts toward this tremendous mitzvah, which will not only go to honor the memory of Rabbi Itkin but also serve as a
lasting testament to shared values and tradition.
Donations can be made at https://www.yeshivaschools.com/mikvah/ or paid by check to Yeshiva Schools, 2100 Wightman St, Pittsburgh, PA 15217.
