By COLlive reporter
Dr. Yaacov Hanoka, a renowned specialist on solar energy who left his mark on many professors and students with lectures on Torah and science, has passed Iyar 4, 5771.
He was 75.
Hanoka had a PhD in solid state physics and has worked on solar cells for over 35 years. He was the founder and vice president of Evergreen Solar Inc., a publicly-held company which specializes in renewable energy.
Along with work in his company based in Marlborough, Massachusetts, not far from his home in Brookline, he held 56 patents in the field of photovoltaic modules and solar cells.
In 1962, as a physics student at Pennsylvania State University, Hanoka was drawn by a group of Lubavitch bochurim who visited his campus for Shabbos.
He was intrigued to learn more about Judaism and Chassidus and later received a yechidus (private audience) with the Rebbe which led to a special relationship, part of which the Rebbe guided him after he first left college and began studying in the Lubavitch Yeshiva.
He and his wife Bina, of blessed memory, had five children, three of whom serve as Shluchim of the Rebbe in the United States.
Active in programs for Jewish college students, Dr. Hanoka wrote and lectured extensively on the relationship between science and the Torah.
Hanoka was a featured speaker in Chabad Houses about about the Jewish perspective on creationism and evolution with lectures entitled “Is there a monkey in your family tree? Creation vs. Evolution.”
He is survived by his wife Mrs. Rita Herman-Hanoka, and children Shliach Chaim Hanoka – Pasadena, CA; Gitty Bronstein – Brooklyn, NY; Rabbi Yitzchok Hanoka – Brooklyn, NY; Shlucha Miriam Friedman – Birmingham, AL; and Shlucha Chani Pinson – Pasadena, CA.
The Levaya will take place iyh tomorrow, Monday, leaving Shomrei Hadas at 10:00 am and passing 770 at 10:45 am.
The family will be sitting shiva at the Hanoka residence at 511 Crown st.
Shacharis will be at 7:30am and 8:15am,
Mincha at 7:45pm
Maariv at 8:50pm.
The family can be contacted at hanokafamily@gmail.com
Baruch dayan haemes.
he was also a magician and one the best grandfathers ever
BDE
I was a very close friend and colleague of Yaacov in the solar field for nearly 4 decades. He will be greatly missed.
Boruch Dayan Ho’Emes.
we truly do miss you we all love you bourch dayen emes
friends with the family. so sad
He was an inspiring colleague at Mobil Solar for 16 years.
you forgot wich university he was at. he was at penn state now there is shluchim there my father told me alot of times about the 1st shabbaton in penn state.
Boruch dayan hoemes!
I remember him when I was a Shliach in Boston and he was a great supporter of Shluchim, a big Machnis Oiruch, and a devoted Chosid of the Rebbe. Wishing Chaim, Yitzchok and the rest of the family Hamokoim yenachaim eschem betoich shaar aveilei tzioin viyrushalayim and that we should be zoiche to Tchiyas hamaisim taykuf umiyad mamosh!
I loved R’ Yaakov very much.
Over the past quite a few years, no one has represented the Rebbe’s views of Torah and Science more cogently, fearlessly, eloquently and competently than Reb Yaakov alav ha’shalom.
I will miss him greatly.
He was a GREAT man!!!!!! He was a great father, teacher, and scientist. He will be forever be in the hearts of all the people that knew him. May Mashiach come RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!
http://www.chabad.org/therebbe/livingtorah/player_cdo/aid/675639/jewish/Returning-to-Torah.htm
i met him once and he is a very special person him and his wife were very caring and giving for the hour that i knew him he has left an impression…
so sad he was really special moshiach should come right now
This is sooo sad ! 🙁
He will be truly missed!!!
a special, special, special man.
Mrs. Chanie Pinson from Pasadena is my mother.
Gevald, Ovad Chosid min ho’oretz! Oy!
Very special individual; did tons for the Rebbe. Can you post the video of his “my encounter” that appeared on living
BS:D
You left out that he headed the yearly pegisha. The Rebbe would call him over and give him l’chaim at the Shabboos frangrengin each year He was also a magician. A very nice man.May the family be comforted