Rabbi Akiva Greenberg of Crown Heights passed away on Shabbos at the age of 79.
Rabbi Greenberg was a beloved teacher and camp director in many cities in the U.S. for many years.
From the very beginning of the Baal Teshuvah movement until his last days, Rabbi Greenberg inspired hundreds to find their place through Torah and mitzvos.
He merited personal attention from the Rebbe and other Gedolei Yisrael of the previous generation.
He is survived by ten children and over a hundred grandchildren and great-grandchildren, many of whom are involved in the Rebbe’s shlichus all over the world.
Rabbi Greenberg is survived by his children – Mrs. Shifra Goldstein – Spain, Mrs. Chaya Yakobovitch – Tzfas, Israel, Mrs. Malka Touger – Jerusalem, Israel, Mrs. Tema Shapiro – Israel, Pinchos Greenberg – Crown Heights, R’ Avrohom Leib Greenberg – Cleveland, Ohio, Mrs. Tzippora Vogel – Crown Heights, R’ Yisroel Greenberg – Crown Heights, Mrs. Miriam Kalmanson – France and Mendy Greenberg – New Haven, CT.
The Levaya will take place Sunday, passing by 770 at 3:30 pm on the way to Israel for burial.
Nichum aveilim or to share memories or stories: akivagreenberglegacy@gmail.com
Baruch Dayan Haemes.
What is the Hebrew date for Rabbi akivas yahrtzeit and what are his mother and father’s named please send to markr@bhphoto.com
Now I know where Rabbi Yisroel Greenberg gets his ” chush”
In niggunim,conducting farbrengens and reaching out to talmidim…etc.. Keep up the gevaldike work in taharas hakodesh.Yasher koach and may Hashem bentch you and your family with kol tuv.
Thanks to number56 for posting
I just listened to the niggun pilpul.ive never heard anything like this before.it was so geshmak to hear and entertaining to watch. It takes real tallent and patience to sing this way and to be able to teach it to a crowd unfamiliar with niggunim in the first place. Wow!!!!! He was very musical
i saw him there, i realized there was somthing special about him, i didnt realize until i saw all these comments
Here are some Inspirational videos of Rabbi Greenberg:
http://www.torahcafe.com/scholar.php?id=0000000122
Rabbi Greenberg was the best teacher ever !
He taught even while he was fighting Cancer. Rabbi greenberg was a man with life even while he was sick. I always felt bad that he would teach while standing, I thought it would be easier for him to sit, but Rabbi Greenberg didn’t look for easy way outs.
Does anyone know when the levaya will be in Israel? Is the famly sitting shiva in Israel? Please post if you know
You couldn’t help but like the man. He was bless with a charm that he used for bringing people back to yiddishkeit. To many of of he was our Rabbi.
Bruce Golden.
Rabbi A. Greenberg was mikarev me in 1979. I have a beautiful Lubavitch family because of him. My children referred to Rabbi Greenberg as their zaida. Zaida will sorely be missed.
a very kind professor
I was at the Ascent Center in Tzfas right before the Gulf War and was one of the only tourists in Israel at that time… or so it seemed. The Ascent Center had a deal… if you took classes, the cost of the room would be cheaper (or not at all). I skipped downstairs the next morning all ready for the shiur and there was only one person sitting there… Rabbi Greenberg. I was so embarrassed. I said to him, “I feel terrible that you have to give this whole shiur just to me.” He replied, “No, I’m specifically giving… Read more »
Thank you, Rabbi Greenberg, for introducing my husband to Lubavitch some fifty years ago. You changed the course of our lives…and will be sorely missed by all who knew you.
I knew Rabbi Greenberg since 1976, learned many yrs,, broken hearts
Many years ago, I was in a prison in Buffalo. Rabbi A. Greenberg came to visit me. Ten minutes later Rabbi H. Greenberg of Buffalo came to visit me. I cannot describe the special feeling I had. G-d had sent me two Rabbi Greenbergs as a sign that He was with me. This was the turning point in my life.
rabbi Akiva Greenberg was an example of
מצא חן בעיני אלוקים ואדם
Was composed by Rabbi Yosef Silverman of Toronto.
I remember rabbi Akiva from the ivy Legue program under Rabbi Hecht. He made everyone of us feel that we are precious in hashems eyes. He told us how much Hashem loves us. he was a Baal Shem Tov yid.
Rabbi Akiva left behind over 100 offspring, and thousands of spiritual children, as well. He was the only real “Zeidy” that I ever knew, and I know of hundreds whom he touched during his years in Safed, Modeiim and Netivot loved him dearly; were Loved By him, and had their lives enriched and Souls Revived by this Dear, sweet man. Grandchild, you should know; he brought an old niggun from a village destroyed by the Nazis, back to the little shtiepl that they had left behind in Safed in the middle 1800’s. With that seed replanted into the newly re-established… Read more »
Thank you so much for sharing memories, please continue to do so!
Always made me feel like the most precious Jew alive. Always had inspiring stories and deep, helpful insight. Truly an inspiring and caring person. The world is a lesser place without him.
BD”H
Hamakom yanachem eschem
I remember his wonderful voice and song motzi Shabbos in the Catskills ivy league Torah study program.
Akiva was a pillar of strength. He brought lost people back to yiddishkeit. He was my connection to Hashem. Please bring moshiach!
He was a varemeh yid. Every person was tayer in his eyes. He made hundreds of Balei Teshuva. Frankel Shul will miss him. Is there an email address for nichum aveilim?
He was a true Rabbi Akiva. There are not many people that are so gifted with chinuch. We need more Akiva Greenbergs in crown heights. Please Akiva daven for Klal Yisroel
Hamokom Yenachem Eschem.. Your father was a special man, and the apple does not fall far from the tree.
i coulent stop crying
Entertained Great Melovoh Malkahs at our home historic stories and songs with kids from Toronto .
What a giant , solid Emesdike kiruv, bringing life into lost teen age boys . great entertainer , great mechanech , great leader
we need moshiach now
A great man baruch dayan emes
What a huge loss! BD”H. I was so fortunate to have been his Talmid in Toronto when he first started out in Chinuch in Eitz Chaim and continued in Gan Yisroel, and on. It was an unbelievable experience for all of us. He had a huge, everlasting influence till this day, beloved by everyone he touched. He can count among his Peiros major Gaonim, Talmidei Chachomim through Hamon Am and every shade in between. The common denominator: R’ Akiva planted the seeds for each of us to become better Jews! So many stayed close or in touch with him over… Read more »
they will be sitting shiva starting tonight until erev shabbos at 1650 President Street #3I
thanx for your comments, we miss him to
One very special family.he did a marvelous job!!!!
May they continue his great work of Kirov
Please post where they will be sitting
This comment is for the public. I will make my private condolences later. Akiva and Hadassah Greenberg were my first teachers and inspirations. They were selfless and pure conduits to my entry into Chabad and many subsequent years of spiritual growth and fulfillment. Akiva was a Calliope of nigunim and inspiring stories, but more than that he represented sensitivity and intellectual honesty coupled with the most divine chassidishe focus. My children called him “zeidy”. I call him the best of the best!….Frumma
Boruch Dayan Ha’emet.
The children and grandchildren are an example of what a great man he was.
He was one unique and talented man. May he be a guteh better
He was a great man,for two years I used to drive him home or organize his trip home from school and he was always adamant to not be crippled by his frailty or age
Boruch Dayan Ha’emet.
My heart goes out to you, Dini. I recall watching you Skype with your grandfather.
i’m counting on people to remember him to the point that they are doing things he would want us to do, and then we will have not only nechama, but his ways in this world.
As a grandchild i can confirm that he did compose that song with some other councilors.. He was a head councilor in camp at the time.
Such a special neshoma.mamish a tzaddik.look how he lived those niggunim and used them to bring people closer to Hashem and he did succeed.can we see more abt. Him posted on col?
May Hashem comfort the family.mthis is not only a loss to them, this is a loss to the thousands of us that he has mekareved. Where is the family sitting shiva?
A truly great man!! A man of simcha, he visited me in jail, when I messed up. I am forum because of him.
Rabbi Greenberg was a true inspiration! The yachas pnimi that he developed with his Talmidim was amazing! May Hashem comfort his family. Venizkeh LeVehokitzu verannu shochnei ofor!
Truly a great man, and an even greater loss!
Was he the composer of the famous camp song “I’m big Gedayla Goomber…”?!
Can someone very this?
Thank you.
The world will so greatly miss him. He was a friend to all and brought so many, many people to the warmth of Torah & mitzvot. We must say “Baruch Dayan Emet” and sigh “Ad Mattai” in one breath…
He also inspired many through teaching niggunim….
He was truly loved by his talmiddim
ברוך דיין אמת !!!!! משיח עכשיוווווווווווווווווווווווווווווווו
נאו נאו נאו !!!!! א.כ.י.ר
יקיצו וירננו כל שוכני עפר !!!!! והוא בתוכם
BD”H….will never forget those mystical and musical Shabbosim with R. Akiva and Hadassah A”H.
So sorry to hear this news! BDE and may you only gave simchas from now on!Your father was such a special person .
Your niece in Sydney
Malka, I’m sorry to hear about your loss.
Chana
I did not know Rabbi Greenberg, but I know his amazing children. Rabbi Yisroel Greenberg is the most unbelievable rebbe in Ohr Menachem, may Hashem Comfort you at this difficult time
A father of your Talmid.
rabbi Greenberg made me a Baal Teshuva. He was such a talented man, and so warm. Rabbi greenberg may your memory be for a blessing.
Zev F.
Rabbi GReenberg would always stop me and ask how I was doing, he was a great man. President will not be the same.
Akiva was a holy man. Always ful of simcha! Your singing was the best. May you sing and daven to Hashem to bring Moshiach.
He was the best teacher in Touro college! He will be missed!
Boruch Dayan Ha’emes