By COLlive reporter
Rabbi Avrohom Yitzchok Garfinkel, known as an illuy in Torah learning and a beloved teacher in Lubavitch Yeshiva for many years, passed away on Friday, 25 Teves, 5772.
He was 90.
Rabbi Garfinkel, who learned in Otwock and later in Shanghai, was known as a great genius in Torah, and was a Chozer of the Frierdiker Rebbe’s Maamorim.
After arriving in America with the group of bochurim from Shanghai in 1946, he became the beloved melamed of over a thousand students, during the fifty years he was teaching in Tomchei Tmimim (United Lubavitch Yeshiva) on Bedford And Dean, Ocean Parkway, and Chovevei Torah.
“The name Rabbi Garfinkel brings a smile to all who knew him, especially to those Talmidim who were fortunate enough to learn in his class,” one of his former students told COLlive. “Many Talmidim still have his famous stencils on the Gemarah they learned with him in 10th grade.”
Rabbi Garfinkel was a good friend and Chavrusa of Rabbi Mordechai Meir Bryski obm, who passed away last week. Rabbi Bryski visited him a mere few weeks ago, and the two reminisced about their years of friendship from their days in Otwock and Shanghai, and as teachers together in Lubavitch Yeshiva.
Rabbi Garfinkel is survived by his wife, son and two daughters.
The Levaya will take place tomorrow evening – Motzei Shabbos, leaving Shomrei Hadas at 8:00 pm and passing by 770 at 9:15 pm. Burial will be in Israel.
Baruch Dayan Haemes
You were a perfect teacher, roll model & menthch! You were cool, calm & collecive! You taught with such love. You were a scholar, but related to us on our level. We made you crazy, yet you had such patients. If you saw we had enough of learning, you told us a joke. You were so quiet, yet your impact was so great! You were the real mccoi, a true Tomim! Humble, wih so much to offer! May we merit to have teachers for our children & grandchildren like you.
monday untill wednsday in nof ayalon, hayahalom 9, reiss family.
thursday till the end- in yerushalaim, ramot 02, derech ha-horesh 38/3, diament
Rabbi Garfinkel was a constant member of the minyan at the Hebrew Assisted Living Center in Far Rockway where he lived with his wife for years. My mother lived across the hall from him and I spent a lot of time visiting her so I got see the Rabbi and the Rebbetzin often. He was an important minyan member and always made an effort to attend, even when he was not fully healthy, especially when he was needed to get ten men. He was almost always with the Shabbos group for the third meal on Saturday, when not with his… Read more »
he was a great rebbe one of the best I ever had. We will miss you Rabbi Garfinkel
anyone know where the family is sitting shiva?
A mechanech needs a tzugang to the to the talmidim and then be a talmid chochom. Rabbi Garfinkel excelled at both. I had the distinct honor and pleasure of being a talmid of his for one year in the late 60’s and his love, care and respect for his talmidim remains with me to this day. Tehay Zichro Boruch.
The Rebbe send my father to test the boys in the yeshiva for many years. My father had a saying “Ich gain nish faheren de bacharim Ich gaiy faheren de Rebbes”-I don’t go to test the students I go to test the Rebbies. When I was in Rabbi Garfinkels class and my father came home after testing all the classes my father commented “I see you have a great Rebbe this year” Though it is about 50 years since I had him as my Rebbe I still remember every word he taught. Rabbi Garfinkel had a saying “I am not… Read more »
i fondly remmember learning mesechas shabbos and enjoyed his stories of the bochurim during the war.
i learned how to lain megila from him, and in his zechus has read it for many years .
he was one of the best , caring and loved teachers
as his talmidim will sure;y remmember
“bachurim higiah hazman”
yehai zicro boruch
His full name is Avraham Yitzchak ben Alter Ben Tzion
I am one of his grandchildren in Eretz Yisrael. Can someone please let some of his former Talmidim in Eretz Yisrael know?
The Levaya here will be at Har Menuchot in Yerushalayim around 6:00 pm (or so), this Sunday. His flight # is 008, El-Al.
To #4
Avrohom Yitzchok
i rember him from East Flatbush- he was the bal korah in the shul!!!!!!!
anyone know his full name?
He was my Melamed and i still remember him and his special way. He had a heart of gold and really cared for the talmidim!
May his Neshama have an Aliya and be Meilitz Yosher for all his talmidim and all of Klal Yisroel!
a real aideler talmid chacham
May he be a Maylitz Yosher for all of his Talmidim and family. He was a brilliant man. The finest of people. We ask Mechilah for not visiting with him more often.
Lubavitch Yeshiva of Ocean Parkway.