By COLlive reporter
Rabbi Reuven Marantz, a long-time resident of the central Israeli village of Kfar Chabad and a beloved teacher, passed away on 9 Tishrei, Erev Yom Kippur 5777.
He was 57.
Despite the late hour and pressures of the day, the entire Kfar Chabad community and many from nearby cities stopped turned out between the Erev Yom Tov Seudah and Mincha to pay their final respects to their friend, neighbor and teacher.
The funeral took place on Tuesday afternoon mere hours before the onset of the fast day and just days after doctors discovered a raging cancer in the body of this lively and kind chossid.
“Rabbi Reuven was one of the chassidishe teachers that instilled Chassidus, niggunim and a love for the Rebbe in his students,” one former student lamented.
Marantz would often be seen at Chabad events and simches playing on his saxophone and enlivening the evening. With dedication and patience, he taught local children to play and appreciate Lubavitch niggunim.
Just weeks before his sudden and tragic passing, he was working with singer Simche Friedman and musician Elor Velner on recording Niggun Teshuva, a melody composed by his father R’ Velvel Marantz OBM.
He is survived by his wife and 13 children (8 of whom are still single). Immediately after Yom Kippur, a group of his friends got together and launched a matching grants campaign to support the family.
“The tragedy is beyond comprehension and for the sake of the family’s privacy cannot be openly discussed,” said one of the committee members. “An entire family’s life was changed in a split second and we cannot just idly stand by.”
Collel Chabad, in partnership with 7 individuals, including his brother R’ Tzvi Marantz, Rami Meir, Eliezer Shneerson, Mendy Ashkenazi, Yossi Peles, Yaakov Kenig and Shlomo Chaim Weinfeld, will oversee the distribution of the funds.
All donations are being matched by the Vaad of Kfar Chabad, and attorney Mordechai Tzivin, so that every dollar you donate is doubled, but just for the next few hours. 100% of the donations will be used to maintain the family – now and in the future.
To support the family – click here
Here in Israel, there was a text going around with the donation request and telephone info of these friends to call and donate even BEFORE Yom Kippur. They wrote, we can’t bring the family back their father, but at least let them know they will be cared for.
I’m really sorry and shocked about this news. May you have only good news from now on.
Mendy.
Avremel from CH wants to let you know he is sad for you.
BDE
The little we know, the world cries for its loss.
May we share good news together. MOSHIACH NOW.
May Hashem console you and your family!!
Good Yom TOV!
with a special family.
So sad.
Such crushing news. Reuven was the sweetest guy. When I was living in Israel and would come to Kfar Chabad for Shabbos, he always was made a point to come over and speak with me (as a fellow Jew and fellow American). Always a smile on his face. May his family and the entire community be comforted. He will be truly missed….
The man was an angel.
Reb Reuven was a very special neshama. I was privileged to have spent my yeshiva years with him in Kfar Chabad. He was a Baal midos and Baal bitachon. It is a tremendous Mitzva to help out his family. May we merit the Geula Shlaima Now!
He used to come in to Yeshiva Ohr Tmimim and tell us the story of how when he was in 770 he got the Rebbe to use his Tehillim as was customary, bochurim would place their own Tehillim for the Rebbe to use after davening where the REbbe would say his and the Rebbetzns kapitel. He let all of us use the sefer to repeat the kapital the Rebbe said and we where all shaking using the sefer. Goodbye Mr Music
After you put in the amount in shekel the next tab asks if you want to donate in shekel or dollars and it will automatically convert it for you
For donation from USA use the link above when putting in the credit card in info it asks for ת.ז. which means identification number put the number 0 nine times. 000000000
I would like to donate from the US in us$
Please advise
Trying to donate in dollars but it is not working out, Can’t figure out the Ivrit
A true emesdike, chassidishe, unassming, warm, always with a sile, kind and patient. May Hashem comfort his Beutiful family with the coming of moshiach
How does one go about donating from USA.
its really painfull to watch whats going on my heart bleeds for these special souls
Our hearts pour out to the amazing marantz family…may Hashem see the pain of the family and the entire community and bring us Moshiach Now…”VeHakitzu VeRanenu Shockley Afar”