R’ Chaim Mayer Minkowitz, 90 OBM

By COLlive reporter

R’ Chaim Mayer Minkowitz, a Lubavitcher chossid and a long-time active member of the Chabad Lubavitch community in Montreal, Canada, passed away on 2 Adar, 5777.

He was 90.

He was born to Chana and the chossid R’ Yitzchok Yaakov Minkowitz, also identified as Itcheke Leima’s and grew up in the iconic Chassidic village of Nevel in Russia, where he met and learned from its treasure of chassidim.

He was the youngest brother to Hertzel Minkowitz, Yisroel Minkowitz and Malke Levitin, all of whom later moved to New York. He was predeceased by his two sisters during the second world war.

As a young boy, he survived the war with fellow Jews in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. He eventually went on to learn in Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim Lubavitch in the French village of Brunoy, under the Mashpia Reb Nissan Nemenov.

In Paris, he was ordained as a shochet and worked for a short period in Ireland. Upon his return to France, he went into business with R’ Shloime Shimanovitz to own the largest kosher chicken processing outlet at the time.

It wasn’t long before the suggestion that Minkowitz marry Shimanovitz’s daughter Faigle was raised. The two indeed got married and were able to immigrate to Montreal, which had a new, yet vibrant Chabad community in 1951.

The 9 Shluchim sent by the Frierdiker Rebbe built the Chabad community and its flagship institution – Rabbinical College of Canada, known simply as “The Yeshiva.”

Minkowitz played an active role in helping it grow over the years, serving as a gabbai of its main shul alongside the Shluchim who served in key roles such as the Rov Rabbi Yitzchok Hendel, the director Rabbi Leib Kramer, gabbai Rabbi Moshe Eliyahu Gerlitzky and others.

R’ Chaim Mayer was most known for his heartfelt davening, serving as an outstanding Baal Tefillah for close to 60 years. He instituted the seder nigunnim at ‘Shalosh Seudos’ on Shabbos day and inspired many with his chassidishe farbrengens and nigunnim.

In 1952, when Mrs. Minkowitz was pregnant with their third child, she was having complications with the labor and birth that lasted for 4 days (!). They finally called 770 late one night to ask for a blessing, and to their utter surprise it was the Rebbe who had answered the phone. He gave them an interesting directive and a beautiful blessing. The baby was born shortly afterwards.

He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Mrs. Faygel Minkowitz, their children R’ Refoel Minkowitz – Teaneck, NJ;R’ Yitzchok Minkowitz – Milan, Italy; R’ Aaron Minkowitz – Miami Beach, FL; Mrs. Chana Diament – Montreal, Canada; R’ Yosef Minkowitz – Toronto, Canada; grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

The aron will pass by the Lubavitch Yeshiva in Montreal on Tuesday 6:30pm.

The levaya will take place Wednesday, passing by 770 Eastern Parkway at 12 pm on the way to its final resting place at Har Hazeisim in Yerusholayim (Section 4, Division 5).

Baruch Dayan Haemes.

VIDEO: Reb Chaim Meir Minkowitz recalls some surprising business advice he and his wife received from the Rebbe, and how it helped spell their success (1958).