By COLlive reporter
Rabbi Faivish Vogel, one of the founding Shluchim who built a Chabad empire in England and Executive Director of Lubavitch in the UK, passed away on Sunday, 9 Cheshvan, 5785.
He was 88.
Rabbi Faivish Vogel was born in Iyar 1936, and he studied in Manchester yeshivah, where he was introduced to Lubavitch.
Later, he attended Gateshead yeshivah, where the Rebbe instructed him to study Chassidus with Rabbi Berel Levin, who then lived in Sunderland, near Gateshead.
In 1958 he received his parents’ permission to travel to learn in 770, where he became one of the top students. He married Dusya Charitonov in 1960, with the Rebbe officiating. When R’ Faivish asked the Rebbe to be Mesader Kedushin, the Rebbe agreed, “on condition that you go on Shlichus.”
Rabbi Vogel was appointed as the Executive Director of Lubavitch UK, and was one of the founding shluchim and executives, together with Rabbi Nachman Sudak, the Rebbe’s head shliach to the UK, and Rabbi AD Sufrin, the head of education. Together they constructed the empire of Lubavitch in England.
Rabbi Vogel, together with Rabbi Shmuel Lew, brought the former Chief Rabbi of the UK, Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, close to the Rebbe and Chabad.
Known for his keen and sharp mind, and for a great smile and sense of humor, Rabbi Vogel impacted numerous people over the years, with his deep focus and warm embraces.
Rabbi Vogel received personal guidance and direction from the Rebbe everywhere he went, and was one of the most instrumental figures in returning the stolen books from the Rebbe’s library.
He is survived by his wife Dobrusha (Dusya), and their children: Rabbi Hirshy Vogel, London; Rabbi Mendy Vogel, London; Rabbi Yosef Vogel, Montebello, NY; Yanky Vogel, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Mrs. Chana’le Prus, London; Mrs. Sorah’le Bukiet, Lexington, Massachusetts; Mrs. Hindy Drizin, Woodcliff Lake, NJ; Mrs. Beila Dubrawski, Dallas, Texas; Mrs. Rivka Goldschmidt, Dallas, Texas; Mrs. Chaya Rosenberg, Crown Heights, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, many of whom serve as Shluchim around the world.
He was predeceased by his sister Mrs. Toiba Gittel Olsberg, and brothers R’ Yechiel, R’ Nosson, R’ Avrohom and R’ Eliyohu.
Baruch Dayan Ha’emes – R’ Shraga Faivish ben R’ Yaakov Koppel Vogel obm
BDE. Rabbi Vogel was a real giant of a man and an exemplary shliach, he surely left an everlasting mark on this world.
Dusya & Vogel Mishpocha.
I am so very sorry to hear of your loss.
Wishing, you all, many happy and healthy long years.
Such a great loss 💔
Sending Mrs Vogel and their children wishes of comfort and Arichas Yomim.
May you all have peace and personal comfort in the coming days and have special memories to hold in your heart thereafter.
המקום ינחם אתכם בתוך שאר אבלי ציון וירושלים.
May we only know and share in Simchas.
A dedicated Shliach and a wonderful person. The world has lost someone great.
המקום ינחם אתכם בתוך שאר אבלי ציון וירושלים.
Very sad to hear BDE. Always had a smile and a extraordinary orater,Always a pleasure to see him wether in England or USA.a great
Loss for Chabad.
A giant of a man, a gentle giant with oratory skills that are unmatched. Mrs Vogel and the whole family, our collective hearts ache with you and let’s see the geula already so that we can be finally and forever reunited.
He was the pillar of the family, was there for all of us. The Rebbe said to Rabbi Chodokov a”h about him, Faivish hot a gleicher kop (Faivish has a level head). The Rebbe entrusted him with many delicate missions.
In Rabbi Vogel’s Kfar Chabad interview he said that the during the seforim case the Rebbe told Rabbi Avrohom Shemtov to consult with with him: פרעג ביי פייויש׳ן, ער האט א גלייכע קאפּ
Sending love to the Goldschmidts
💔💔💔💔
I had the Zechus to be a young impressionable girl spending time with Uncle Faivish and his Baal HaBatim who stayed with my parents when they would come to the Rebbe. The were all of the caliber of person that the Rebbe would spend hours with them in Yechidus. As young as I was, maybe 6 – 9 years old, my time w them shaped my love for and hiskashrus to the Rebbe and my love for my Uncle who brought them to our home. BD”H, Dusinke, Baila, Sarah’le, Chana’le, Hirshy, Yaisef, Rivka, Hindy, Mendy, Chayala, and Yanky. המקום ינחם… Read more »
Was a pillar of my childhood. An icon of Lubavitch house.
He once gave me £20 towards a school trip so I could make it on.
He was deeply respected by everyone.
💔💔💔💔
Rabbi Vogel a”h was (with R’Shmuel Lew ad120 in good health) one of the pioneering Chabadnikim in the 1960’s and 1970’s who left an indelible, inspirational impression on an entire generation of British students. Their achievement, in the still-Victorian wasteland of Anglo-Jewry, was superhuman. Yehi zichro baruch.
Yes a giant of a man. Greater than most of us will ever know. Left behind a stunning chabad dynasty and legacy
Yes truly a giant, greater than most of us will ever realize. Left behind a STUNNING chabad dynasty and legacy.
May The Eibershter comfort you . Truly a figure in my life, a neighbour, father of friends and I would get a ride to Beis Lubavitch to hear the hook ups of the Rebbe’s farbrenguens in the middle of the night! I will share an anecdote Rabbi Vogel told me a few yrs ago how he started learning chasidus wiith my father ah, in our home in Sunderland. He asked The Rebbe who he could learn with. The Rebbe answered him , there is a fine young man who goes to Gateshead every tuesday for shchite, his name is Berl… Read more »
As a boy growing up in London Rabbi Vogel epitomized a shliach and a chassid. יהי זכרו ברוך
Growing up in Stamford Hill i can say that Rabbi Vogel of blessed memory was well respected by all.
He had a aidelkeit to him that shone.
His command of the english language was something to behold.
His talks and sermons were a delight to listen to.
A brilliant mind, a humble decicated chosid. And looking at his amazing children, a wonderful parent.
– a stamford hill boy from the 70s and 80s
Thank you for putting in words many things many of us feel..and owe to Rabbi Vogel
In relation to “study Chassidus with Rabbi Berel Levin, who then lived in Sunderland, near Gateshead” mentioned in the article, and in relation to the unparalleled achievements of Rabbi Vogel, and in relation to Rabbi Vogel’s מקבלים： In a letter to Reb Berel Levin dated Tammuz 22, 5716, the Rebbe wrote: “נהניתי ממ”ש אודות הרחבת חוג מושפעיו…ובפרט שצעירים בכלל ואברכי ישיבה בפרט – הנה סו”ס נעשים למשפיע בחוג פחות או יותר גדול, וכל השפעה שגורמים בהם נכפלת כ”פ ככה לאחר זמן בהמקבלים שלהם”. This roughly translates: “I had pleasure from what you wrote about the widening of the circle of your… Read more »
BDE
So sad to hear of the loss to the Vogel family, adas Chasidim and klal yisroel.
Reb Faivish was indeed the pioneering force and encouragement in us setting up of the Lubavitch Office in Scotland 55 years ago.
Over the past two and half years we re connected in a regular basis and each time it was a pleasure to hear his words of advice and encouragement. A sad loss to so many of us.
Chaim and Sora Jacobs, Lubavitch of Scotland in Scotland
With all his heart a CHOSSID then a CHOSSID now and a CHOSSID FOREVER.
We have lost the EPITOME of what התקשרות מיט אן אמת means 💔
Moshiach NOW.
Besides being the great Shluchim that you are, wonderful and warm human beings as well.
You also had amazing Hachnosas Orchim of which I have experienced first hand as a student in Europe in the late ‘70’s. It has left an indelible impression upon me.
Thank You for your outstanding patience with me Rabbi Faivish. You took the time to explain things as only you knew how to. I am forever grateful for my experience at your home.
May Hashem comfort the entire Family.
המקום ינחם אתכם מתוך שאר אבלי ציון וירושלים
Please provide email address for Nichum Aveilim to the family.
Thanks
Please provide Nichum Aveilim email address to the family.
Thank you