By COLlive reporter
Rabbi Ben Zion Rivkin, the 41st in a continuous line of rabbis in the Rivkin family and son of one of America’s most celebrated rabbis, passed away.
He was 56, just a few days shy of his birthday on the 19th of Kislev.
His father was Rabbi Sholom Rivkin OBM, the last Chief Rabbi of St. Louis, Missouri, and the last chief rabbi of one of only a few cities in the United States. He was also the dayan of Beth Din of the Rabbinical Council of America.
Rabbi Sholom Rivkin and his wife Mrs. Paula Rivkin, a clinical psychologist, moved to St. Louis at the instruction of the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Schneersohn.
His grandfather was Rabbi Moshe Dovber Rivkin, Rosh Yeshiva of Mesivta Torah Vodaath in New York who was a student in the original Tomchei Tmimim Yeshiva in the Russian village of Lubavitch. He merited to serve the fifth Lubavitcher Rebbe, the Rebbe Rashab before his passing and later wrote the sefer “Ashkavta D’Rebbe.”
Rabbi Ben Zion Rivkin is survived by his son Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Rivkin of Israel and a grandchild. He is also survived by his sister Mrs. Yocheved (Jacqueline) Rivkin-Rubin of New York City.
The funeral service took place on Motzoei Shabbos at TICK – Tpheris Israel Chevra Kadisha Synagogue in Chesterfield. There will be a levaya at the El Al cargo section at the JFK Airport on Sunday, 7pm. The interment will take place in Israel.
The family will be sitting Shiva beginning Tuesday at Rechov Ramban 53 in Jerusalem.
Baruch dayan haemes.
He helped to stay frum. He had great influence me. He was man with heart of gold. I will miss him dearly.
I remember him fondly from his Yeshiva days
Shiva is being observed each day until 9:30
53 Ramba”n in the Rechavia Neighborhood of Jerusalem
Telephone 02-5671679
Times of prayer: Shachris 7:20 Mincha 2:45 Ma’ariv 6:45
I remember him from the years he was a member of Rav Aron Solovechiks ZL kolel in Chicago ‘. A big lamden and an aideler yungerman.
was a big lamdan when just a bachur in torah vodaath.
I have the fondest memory of this gentle Talmid Chochom.
my cousin and dear friend. we will miss you
Bracha, Yakov Moshe, Tova Pesia
The last issue of the Perspectives magazine featured an article of his father submitted by R’ Ben Zion a”h.
Yehi zichro boruch.
How can the family be reached?
The family will sit Shiva in Yerushalayim starting Tues.
Ramban 53
Levaya at JFK El Al cargo 7pm
Bde