R’ Chaim Aaron Kuperman, 85, obm

By COLlive reporter

Rabbi Chaim Aaron Kuperman, who took an active role in the religious, educational and communal life in Brooklyn’s Crown Heights neighborhood, passed away on Friday, 20 Tammuz 5774.

He was 85.

Born in 5689 (1929) in Seattle, Washington, he came to New York at the age of 14 and enrolled as one of the early students of the new Lubavitcher Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim in Brooklyn.

His classmates in Yeshiva, founded upon the Frierdiker Rebbe‘s miraculous arrival in the United States in 1940, were brothers Rabbi Zelig Sharfstein and R’ Mottel Sharfstein, R’ Mendel Bartfield OBM and R’ Shimshon Stock OBM.

At the age of 18, Chaim Aaron’s father passed away. With his mother living across the country, the Rebbe (known then as the Ramash) took personal interest in his well-being and studies.

He filled administrative work at the offices of Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch at the request of the Rebbe who at the time directed the central educational arm of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement.

When a new edition of the Siddur Tehillat Hashem was being printed, the Rebbe asked Kuperman if he would agree to be photographed with Tefillin to show how they should be worn. “You will be famous,” Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Schneerson joked, before the Rebbe and him traveled to a studio.

Chaim Aaron Kuperman got married on Kislev 5712 to Malka Sarah Muskal. He merited that the Rebbe was personally involved in finding him a shidduch, even instructing his secretary, Rabbi Mordechai Aizik Hodakov, to make inquiry calls.

At the instruction of the Frierdiker Rebbe, Rabbi Kuperman learned to become a shochet and bodek to provide kosher poultry and meat to Jewish consumers.

His long teaching career began at the Yeshiva Achei Tmimim Of Springfield, Massachusetts, and continued over the years at the Lubavitcher Yeshiva in the Bronx, in Crown Heights and Boro Park.

Rabbi Kuperman worked for many years at the Crown Heights Jewish Community Council (CHJCC) and was a member of the local governmental body Brooklyn Community Board 9, helping the development of the neighborhood and assisting residents.

He also volunteered his time as a Gabbai of Beis Medrash Eliyahu Nachum – Lefferts Shul and was a member of the Chevra Kadisha of Crown Heights.

For over 50 years, he was part of a regular Monday evening shiur in rotating homes in Crown Heights. “Accepted and applauded,” the Rebbe responded to a report that was given to him in 5740 about the shiur’s 25th anniversary.

He is survived by his wife Mrs. Malka Sarah Kuperman, their children R’ Avrohom Leib Kuperman – Crown Heights; R’ Noteh Feivel Kuperman – Crown Heights; Mrs. Hinda Baila Raices – Crown Heights; Mrs. Devorah Leah Blau – Crown Heights; grandchildren and great grandchildren.

The levaya will take place on Sunday, leaving from Shomrei Hadas Chaples in Boro Park at 10:00am and passing by 770 Eastern Parkway at 10:45am.

The family will be sitting shiva at 591 Lefferts Ave (between Kingston & Albany).

Shachris first minyan at 7:30, second minyan at 8:30 am
Mincha 7:30 & 7:45 pm
Maariv Bizmana

Baruch dayan haemes.