Zaidy's Shloshim - Complete Audio Collection Available

You can now listen to all the speeches presented at the Shloshim gathering for Zaidy Popack a"h which took place earlier this month on Zayin Tammuz - June 27 2012 in Crown Heights Brooklyn.

Click here or above picture for the audio files

A new window will display the complete collection of audio files, download the desired track/s. For assistance with this process email popackfamily@gmail.com

Program Recap

1.  M.C. - Rabbi Hirshel Piekarsky
2.  Tehillim - Yaakov & Mushka Feldman
3.  Siyum Mishnayos - Rabbi Dovid Feldman
4.  Memories - Uncle Yitzchok
5.  Rabbi Yisroel Meir Popack
6.  Address by Yosef Yitzchok Popack
7.  Rabbi Yitzchok Raskin
8.  Rabbi Moshe Gourarie
9.  Rabbi Ephraim Piekarsky
10.  Reb Chish Weinstein

Zaidy Tells a Joke

A Joke told by Zaidy Popack

So Reb Yankel is a guest at the rich man's house and enjoys the meal extensively. After the meal, they served tea, the host graciously asked Reb Yankel if he would like some sugar. Reb Yankel stuck his hand into his breast pocket and brought out a small packet, "Excuse me" Rab Yankel said, "I have a custom that when it comes to drinking tea with my host I use my own sugar". The host was somewhat surprised, but took it in good measure. When they finished drinking the tea, Reb Yankel turned to the host and asked. Would you mind if  I take some sugar for my packet, so next time when i am in someone else's house i will be able to have my own sugar".

Submit your memory, story or joke! Email popackfamily@gmail.com

A Vermont Yankee in the Rebbe's Court

R’ Shmuel Isaac Popack a”h passed away at the age of 93.
He grew up in Barre, Vermont and had yechidus with the Rebbe Rayatz.
The Rebbe Rayatz invited him to join his new yeshiva, Tomchei T’mimim.
After the passing of the Rebbe Rayatz, he became mekushar to the Rebbe
and generously supported Chabad mosdos in and out of Crown Heights.

Chassidim, Jews and even non-Jews (l’havdil) visited the Popack home on President Street during the week of Shiva for R’ Shmuel Isaac Popack a”h, who passed away Motzaei Shabbos Parshas BaMidbar, Erev Shavuos at the age of 93.

R’ Shmuel Isaac is survived by his wife Miriam and his sons: R’ Yisroel Meir, shliach in Denver; R’ Yosef Yitzchok (Yossi) of the Five Towns, and his daughters: Chana Piekarski of Crown Heights; Toby Hendel of Migdal HaEmek; Chaya Rivka Feldman of Crown Heights; and Zeesy Raskin, shlucha in Vermont. He is also survived by his brothers: R’ Sholom Ber Popack of Crown Heights and R’ Yitzchak Popack of Queens.

A GALUS WITHIN A GALUS

R’ Shmuel Isaac was born in 5679/1919 in Barre, Vermont. His father, R’ Avrohom, had learned for five years in Yeshivas Tomchei T’mimim in Lubavitch, and although they lived far from a center of Judaism, he was able to instill in his children an authentic Chassidic education.

When in Lubavitch, his father had studied sh’chita and after he married he raised money for Yeshivas Tomchei T’mimim – Lubavitch. Life in Russia was very hard and in 5674, he left Russia for Eretz Yisroel via Turkey. To earn a living he worked as a shochet on the ship that sailed the Haifa-Alexandria line. It was difficult work, for he had to spend most of his time on board ship, and after a year of this, he decided to immigrate to Alexandria, Egypt. Fourteen months later, he moved on to the United States where his uncle, Mr. Wolfson lived.

When Mr. Wolfson heard that his nephew was a shochet, he arranged a job for him in a slaughterhouse. However, on the very first day, R’ Avrohom had to leave. One of the many chickens that he shechted was treif and when the boss saw the chicken cast off to the side, he angrily asked why it was discarded. When R’ Avrohom said the chicken was treif, the boss said he was fired. His comment was, “The previous shochet worked here for four years and never discarded a single chicken!”

Having no choice, he went looking for work on the Lower East Side of Manhattan where thousands of Jewish immigrants lived. Hashgacha pratis led him to meet a knowledgeable Jew who, when he heard that R’ Avrohom was a shochet, told him that the Jewish community in Barre, Vermont needed a shochet. After contacting the leaders of the k’hilla, he traveled to Barre, a place far from any vibrant Jewish center. He lived there for 26 years which he described as a galus within a galus.

Life wasn’t a bed of roses in Barre either. When a chicken was treif they did not fire him, but they did not want to pay him for treif chickens. He fought the community on this issue, because he felt such an arrangement would create a bias on his part when he would have to decide whether a chicken was kosher or treif, and this might lead him to err r”l. The matter was brought before Rabbi Slaving, rav in Burlington, who paskened in his favor.

The Jewish community in Barre was tiny and didn’t even have a minyan in the early years. In order to educate his children, he would gather his four sons who were under bar mitzva age, along with his three daughters, and he would daven like a chazan and they davened with him. In his free time, he would tell his children Midrashim and maamarei Chazal as well as stories of tzaddikim. As a Lubavitcher Chassid, he did not concern himself only with his family but also taught the other children in the community.

THE FIRST YECHIDUS

In Elul 5689/1929, R’ Shmuel Isaac had yechidus with the Rebbe Rayatz. This was when the Rebbe was visiting the United States and his father, R’ Avrohom went to New York with his sons, Shmuel Isaac and Aharon. They had yechidus before Rosh Hashanah, in the course of which the Rebbe said to the young boys: Remember that you are Chassidim from Russia, from Bobroisk (R’ Avrohom came from Bobroisk and in Lubavitch he was nicknamed Avrohom Bobroisker). You are mine!

After the yechidus, R’ Avrohom sat down with the other Chassidim who had gathered to be with the Rebbe and cried bitterly about being so far from his fellow Chassidim. He yearned for the old days and taught the Chassidim a niggun that he heard from the mashpia, R’ Shilem Kuratin. Then he reminisced about the yeshiva in Lubavitch.

R’ Avrohom kept in close touch with his fellow T’mimim in the United States and they helped him find suitable yeshivos for his sons. When R’ Shmuel Isaac was close to bar mitzva age, his father sent him to New York where he stayed with his father’s friend Bentzion Sokolik, who had also learned in Lubavitch.

Being far from home was difficult for him and a year later, he returned home. Then he went to learn in a Jewish school in Boston and there too, he was in touch with his father’s friends, fellow T’mimim in Lubavitch. He learned Gemara with Rav Zaitchik who had previously taught in the yeshiva in Lubavitch. On Shabbos he would learn Tanya with R’ Yehuda Leib Horowitz.

His father wanted to send him to Yeshiva Torah Vodaas in Brooklyn, but it was only in the summer of 1936 that he was able to arrange to send R’ Shmuel Isaac and Aharon to yeshiva. He sent a letter to his friend, R’ Yisroel Jacobson in which he wrote, “My sons, Shmuel Isaac and Aharon, traveled to yeshiva on Monday and I told them that every Motzaei Shabbos they should go to you [for him to teach them Chassidus and the darkei ha’chassidus] since learning without yiras Shamayim is nothing. Try and make Chassidim out of them!”

At the end of 5699, he was registered to learn in Yeshivas Tiferes Yerushalayim (MTJ) under the leadership of the gaon, Rabbi Moshe Feinstein z”l. He learned there for half a year until the Rebbe Rayatz arrived in New York and opened his own yeshiva.

THE SECOND YECHIDUS

When the Rebbe Rayatz descended the gangplank on 9 Adar 5700/1940, R’ Shmuel Isaac and his father were there to welcome him. The Rebbe went from there to the Greystone hotel where he lived for a period of time. It was in this hotel that R’ Shmuel Isaac and his father had their second yechidus with the Rebbe. R’ Shmuel Isaac later recounted what took place in that yechidus:

“Two things happened in this yechidus. First, the Rebbe invited me to join his yeshiva. I was the tenth or eleventh bachur in the first group of bachurim with which Tomchei T’mimim in America was started. The Rebbe held out his hand and I, against the rules, extended my hand, something which only non-Chassidim did. My father, who knew that it was the practice among Chassidim not to shake the Rebbe’s hand, immediately reacted by saying: I want my children to remain Chassidim.

“Second, my father said to the Rebbe that he was in galus in Vermont for 26 years already and he wanted to move to New York to be close to the Rebbe. The Rebbe told him: You cannot leave a city without a shomer Shabbos. My father was the only shomer Shabbos Jew in the area. It took my father an entire year to ensure that his student would be shomer Shabbos and only then did the Rebbe allow him to move to Crown Heights.”

SHLICHUS TO FARMS

Upon his arrival, the Rebbe Rayatz immediately announced that America is no different and he founded yeshivos and day schools. Under the auspices of Machne Israel he established a special department for Jewish farmers, which supplied them with their religious needs, books etc. and even helped arrange chinuch for their children that met their special needs.

After the Popack family moved to Crown Heights, the Rebbe asked R’ Avrohom to be his peripatetic shliach to farmers. At the beginning of the week he would make the rounds of farms in nearby cities. He put t’fillin on with the farmers, put up mezuzos, and spread Judaism and Chassidus to the best of his ability.

R’ Avrohom would go home for weekends and every Friday afternoon he had yechidus with the Rebbe who wanted a full report of his week’s activities. The Rebbe so cherished his weekly meetings with R’ Avrohom that he once said to his secretary, R’ Eliyahu Simpson, that these meetings were the moments from which he had the most nachas the entire week.

Later on, R’ Avrohom got a position as a maggid shiur in Yeshivas Tomchei T’mimim and was also appointed as the second gabbai along with his good friend, R’ Yochanan Gordon a”h. He lived in Crown Heights for the rest of his life until his passing on 19 Iyar 1971, surrounded by his descendants, all of them Chassidim and yerei Shamayim.

MILITARY DRAFT

In 5702, the Rebbe called for R’ Shmuel Isaac, who was learning in Tomchei T’mimim, and asked him whether he would agree to fulfill his request. Of course, R’ Shmuel Isaac immediately answered in the affirmative. Then the Rebbe asked him to manage the building of 770 which entailed collecting the rent from the tenants – Rashag who lived on the third floor, R’ Moshe Leib Rodstein who paid for the secretariat, and the Rebbe MH”M who paid the expenses of Merkos L’Inyanei Chinuch. With the money that he received, he had to pay the building’s expenses such as the gas and electric bills. The Rebbe told him he was “drafting” him for a year.

R’ Shmuel Isaac threw himself into his new job and after calculating the income versus the many expenses, he saw that they were operating at a deficit every month and that this would grow with time. He went to the Rebbe Rayatz and told him there wasn’t enough money for the building’s needs. The Rebbe told him, “In that case, raise the rent by 10%; my rent too.”

After a brief period, R’ Shmuel Isaac understood why the Rebbe had used the term “drafted.” This is what happened:

For many years, American yeshiva students received a deferment from the draft, but during World War II the law was changed and draft notices were also sent to yeshiva students. Under pressure from the Orthodox Jewish leadership, who were afraid that yeshivos would be closed down, the government capitulated and said that only a certain quota of students would be drafted from every yeshiva.

The ten students of Yeshivas Tomchei T’mimim received draft notices, including R’ Shmuel Isaac. They submitted their names to the Rebbe in order to receive his bracha that they be exempted from serving.

The night before they had to present themselves at the draft office, the ten talmidim sat down to learn in the zal. In the morning, after davening Shacharis, they went to the draft office in Manhattan. When they left 770, they noticed the Rebbe Rayatz standing near the window which was above the entrance to 770, and whispering a t’filla.

When the bachurim arrived at the draft office, they noticed that one of the clerks was Jewish (a former talmid of Yeshivas R’ Yitzchok Elchanan). They went in to see this clerk, one after the other, and were given their exemptions. To some extent, this was expected since they looked unusual – young boys with beards who dressed oddly. Their appearance broadcast that there was something the matter with them.

The Rebbe remained standing there to say T’hillim and even when he was asked by his household to come and eat breakfast, he continued to recite T’hillim. The Rebbe asked to be informed what happened with the bachurim. Every bachur who received an exemption hurried to call 770 so the Rebbe would be told.

The last one on line was R’ Shmuel Isaac. It was lunchtime and the Jewish clerk left the office to eat lunch. R’ Shmuel Isaac, who did not have a beard yet and looked relatively “normal,” knew that if he fell into the hands of a gentile, he did not have a chance at an exemption. He quaked in fear.

In front of him on line stood a burly gentile who seemed to want to be drafted. He looked happy to enter the examination room. The examination usually took a few minutes, but this time it was longer. It turned out that the examiner was from the same town as he and the two of them got into a long conversation about their childhood experiences.

Three quarters of an hour went by and in the meantime, the Jewish clerk returned. When he saw R’ Shmuel Isaac standing there, he turned to the gentile clerk and said, “You have no idea what a terrific lunch I just ate. If you want something really delicious, go to the restaurant right now.”

He told him the name of the restaurant and gave him the address and said, “There is only one person left on line. I’ll take care of him and you go and eat lunch.”

The gentile clerk was happy to oblige. He quickly finished filling out the forms for the young gentile and left the office. R’ Shmuel Isaac went over to the Jewish clerk and within two minutes he was outside with his permanent exemption. He quickly called 770 to announce that he had also been exempted and the Rebbe was informed of the good news. Only then, did the Rebbe stop saying T’hillim and return to his room.

When R’ Shmuel Isaac returned to 770, his friends told him excitedly that the Rebbe had remained at the window saying T’hillim another 45 minutes just for him, and every ten minutes he sent someone to check whether Shmuel Isaac already received his exemption.

R’ Shmuel Isaac was very moved and then he recalled the expression the Rebbe had used a few months earlier, “I am drafting you.” Now he understood that the Rebbe had preceded the “blow with the cure,” and by enlisting his aid had exempted him from the military.

QUICK BIRTH

R’ Shmuel Isaac married Miriam Altein, the sister of Mordechai Altein, on Sunday, 7 Shevat 5705. After the wedding he worked for Yeshivas Tomchei T’mimim and was a mekurav of Beis Rebbi. He participated several times in the Yom Tov meals with the Rebbe Rayatz.

On 9 Sivan 5710, his wife went into labor and he went with her to the hospital. He passed by 770 and went to the Rebbe’s room. The Rebbe had still not accepted the Chabad leadership after the passing of his father-in-law. R’ Shmuel Isaac told the Rebbe that with previous births, he had received the bracha of the Rebbe Rayatz and now he wanted his bracha. The Rebbe blessed him and he continued to the hospital.

Some time later, he told the Rebbe with a smile that when he received a bracha from the Rebbe Rayatz, his wife had given birth within twenty minutes; after the Rebbe’s bracha, it was five hours before his wife gave birth. The Rebbe looked serious and did not react. The next time his wife went into labor, the birth was so quick that they barely made it to the hospital.

HE RAISED HIS HAND AND BECAME WEALTHY

At the Purim farbrengen 5715/1955, the Rebbe spoke about the test of poverty versus the test of wealth and said it was preferable to be wealthy and to have to withstand that test. The Rebbe then said that in America everything is put up for a vote, and therefore, those who were willing to accept great wealth from Hashem and did not care that they would have to work hard to fight the Yetzer Hara , should raise their right hand with a whole heart.

When the Rebbe saw that only a few people were taking him seriously (not regarding it as Purim humor) and raised their hands, he said with obvious disappointment, “And then they come and complain about how come such-and-such isn’t just so, but then when there is an auspicious moment, they behave with Chassidic foolishness.

The story goes that R’ Shmuel Isaac was one of the few who raised their hand and his mazal began to shine. As the years went on, he became one of the wealthiest people in Chabad.

GIVE THE REBBE ALL THE MONEY IN THE WALLET

On 24 Teves 5723, 150 years since the passing of the Alter Rebbe, the Rebbe farbrenged three times in a row, in the course of which he said tz’daka should be given in multiples of 150. At a sudden farbrengen on Motzaei Shabbos, the Rebbe spoke about the special quality of tz’daka, when you take everything in your pocket and give it away.

The Rebbe said this was the practice of the Baal Shem Tov who did not want money to remain in his home overnight. At the end of the sicha, the Rebbe told everyone present to empty their pockets and give the money to tz’daka. The Rebbe recounted that at Chassidic farbrengens in days past, when they would demand that the participants donate to a certain cause, they would use the Russian gentile derogatory expression, “Zhid, davoi grushi” (Jew, bring the money).

R’ Shmuel Isaac was not present at this farbrengen but the next morning, he met R’ Meir Plotkin who told him what the Rebbe said the night before. R’ Shmuel Isaac did not think twice. He went to the secretariat, took out his wallet with all the cash and asked the secretaries to give the Rebbe all the money he had on him.

THE REBBE’S THOUGHT AFFECTED HIM

In the 50’s, R’ Shmuel Isaac started a rent-a-car company. He supplied the Rebbe with a car for his trips to the Ohel. At a farbrengen on Motzaei Yud Shevat 5724, the Rebbe told his driver, R’ Krinsky, to say l’chaim and to sing “Ach Lei’Lokim Domi Nafshi,” and then he said, “In addition to the previous person, who drives to the tziyun (lit. marker, i.e. gravesite) and from the tziyun of the baal hilula (the Rebbe Rayatz), in order to drive you need a wagon and a chariot, and for this there is someone who provides the wagons and chariots. As such, he too should say l’chaim and be a ‘singer’ and sing the previous song.”

The Rebbe said he should say l’chaim in abundance, saying that this affected parnasa, and then he said, “For others, even my words, and even several times, is not effective; as for him (R’ Shmuel Isaac), thought alone was effective, although he probably did not know that I was thinking about him.

The Rebbe added, “I am referring to growing a beard” (for it was at this time that R’ Shmuel Isaac began growing a beard).

SET TIMES FOR LEARNING TORAH

R’ Shmuel Isaac lived in Crown Heights from the day he married until his final day. In addition to his busy real estate business, he had set times to learn Torah. He would start his day early in the morning by learning with R’ Shneur Zalman Gurary in the shul on Lefferts. Only after three hours of learning and davening did he go off to work. Later in the day, he learned with his son-in-law, R’ Efraim Piekarski.

R’ Shmuel Isaac was mekushar to the Rebbe and supported Chabad mosdos in and out of Crown Heights. For many years, he paid the heating costs of Yeshivas Oholei Torah, and he donated an apartment building to serve as a dormitory for the yeshiva. He donated large sums of money to the Chabad yeshiva in Migdal HaEmek and when they wanted to inscribe his name on the building, he refused and asked that his donations be kept anonymous.

Many Lubavitchers who wanted to buy a home in Crown Heights received monetary aid from him as well as advice on how to deal with the banks. There were quite a few Lubavitchers who, when they went into business, were told by the Rebbe to consult with R’ Shmuel Isaac and he gave of his wise advice and was happy to do so.

R’ Shmuel Isaac’s joie de vivre was legendary. When he was asked how he was, he always answered, “Good, better than yesterday.” His eternal optimism did not leave him even when he was sick. And although he suffered greatly at the end of his life, he did not complain about his terrible pain and said he accepted it all with love.

Before he died, he spoke to his family with astonishing calmness about the fact that he was soon going to be leaving this world and moving on to Olam Haba where he would connect with the light of Hashem. In the final moments of his life he said to his family, “You should know that all the honor and money that a person receives in this world do not remain with him. The most important thing is your bond with G-d and that is what you must invest in.”

His funeral took place on Tuesday, Isru Chag Shavuos and passed by 770.

Published by beis moshiach magazine

A Brief Biography

Published in Times Argus on June 20, 2012

BARRE - Rabbi Shmuel Isaac Popack was born in Barre in 1919.

He left this world on the Sabbath evening of May 25 in New York City.

His father served the Jewish community of Barre for 26 years, as the "shochet," the one who takes chickens and cows and prepares them according to Jewish dietary laws so they will be kosher.

His mother had a store in Barre selling various goods. They later moved to Crown Heights in Brooklyn to be close to the Lubavitch community and the rebbe.

Rabbi Popack's daughter is the rebbetzin of Burlington, and his grandson is the new rabbi of Brattleboro. His granddaughter with her husband runs the Chabad at UVM student activities for Jewish students. Rabbi Popack never forgot his Vermont roots and continued to inspire and support the Jewish community all over Vermont.

He was often in Burlington for a holiday or at his bungalow colony in the Catskills. He would tell stories of his early days in central Vermont: running after the kosher bread truck and pulling out loaves of bread as it drove (only once in a while) through Barre, staying at the Pavilion in Montpelier (it was a hotel back then) as the Barre and Montpelier Jewish communities would switch from year to year where high holiday services would be held. He would come down the stairs and wash up in a large trough - there were no sinks in the rooms back then.

Going to Hebrew school in Montpelier at the synagogue (same location as now) and being afraid of the rabbi there.

Rabbi Popack grew up in Barre and became a rabbi himself. He leaves his rebbetzin and many children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren in Vermont, New York, Quebec, Israel and all over the world to carry on his good work.

Loss of a Real Mentch

By: Herschel Prengler 

Burlington, VT

When I met Shmuel at his granddaughters wedding (Chani) in Burlington Vermont, his character, of love, genuineness, totally unpretentious tolerant nature was immediately apparent. These qualities were confirmed on subsequent meetings, at two more weddings of his Raskin grandaughters. 

He had the humility to approach me first and introduce himself in a totally modest manner, which was very refreshing, and comforting. As i am writing this I am having difficulty seeing cause my eyes are watering. Not sure if more needs to be said about our relationship. We were inseparable at two or three subsequent Pesachs at the Raskins in Burlington. He introduced me to a woman by handing me her card at his 90th birthday Party in Toms River, NJ hoping to make a shiduch for me. I spent a few nights in his house on president street following the party. Unfortunately it was our last time to be together. 

The mold he came from was of another generation, which I am totally familiar with as I am Yiddish from Poland. Molds like that are rare now and may never be found again. I pray that they may be reconstituted, Like praying for Moshiach. Knowing him has been a light which will never be diminished in my life.

The Perspective Of An Employee

A letter sent by Chana Schoenberg of Israel, addressed to Chana Piekarski

I spoke with my husband re your request about memories of your dear father R' Shmuel Isaac Popack a"h. My husband related that when he was first married, kind of "green" and didn't know what was flying, he needed to get some work as learning full time was not an option for him. He had very little job training and very few skills that would command a decent salary. He had searched a number of options all of which fell through.  Finally it was only upon meeting with your father that he got a position as an administrative assistant in his office for about a year. You father saw potential and was willing to hire him in spite of his lack of experience and "know how". He gave him a chance to work hard and earn an honorable parnassa suitably sufficient for those first couple of years of marriage. My husband remembers Rabbi Popack a'h treating him with respect and was genuinely concerned with his well being. When our family grew, my husband needed to concentrate on getting a career. It was with the Rebbe's brocha that he began his pursuits in computer programming which B"H has been fruitful and practical over the course of our marriage, which IY"H will be 37 years next week! May we hear good news.

Chana Schoenberg 

Israel

An Open & Friendly Home

By: Dovid and Esther Rena Grossman

Chicago, Illinois

As a baal teshuva from California, coming to Crown Heights was a shock in many ways. Not only because of the crowds and hustle and bustle of the Big Apple but also going from a few shluchim to a whole neighborhood of Chassidim. Overwhelm is an understatement. It was December and I had come to join college students from across the country for a weekend with Chabad. Friday night, after the meal, everyone was invited to hear a guest speaker at the Popack residents on President Street.

We gathered in the living/dining room with additional chairs gathered around in an informal but elegant setting. Refreshments accompanied the speaker and we had a very educational and entertaining evening together. I volunteered to stay afterwards to assist in the clean up.  Our hosts, Shmuel Isaac and Miriam Popack were so warm and friendly that I felt immediately at home. Before I left, I was invited to come for a Shabbos meal whenever I was in Crown Heights.

After the Pagisha, I went to Tiferes Bachurim in Morristown to continue my learning.  We came to Crown Heights often and I became a regular guest Friday nights. It was there that I met Rabbi Ephraim & Chana Piekarski and now I had two host families for every visit. And through the teaming mass of personalities in 770, I always knew where to get a smile and a joke.  I just had to come say "gut Shabbos" to Shmuel Isaac and I would have a friend to visit with.

As I often repeat, "no one cares how  much you know, until they know how much you care".  As I reflect back on how easy it could be to get lost in the crowds, I appreciate the personal touch and chesed of individuals like Shmuel Isaac who make life's journey special. He will be sorely missed.

Kindergarten Dedicated in Memory of Reb Shmuel Isaac

The newly built Oholei Torah Kindergarten Campus will be dedicated in memory of R' Shmuel Isaac Halevi Popack obm by his son Yossi Popack and his wife Batsheva.

Rabbi Joseph Rosenfeld, Executive Director of Oholei Torah, announced today that Yossi and Batsheva Popack will be dedicating the newly built kindergarten campus in memory of their beloved father, Reb Shmuel Isaac ben Avrohom Popack OBM.

The New York property owner has been a staunch supporter and a dear friend of Oholei Torah for many years, as well as being a close friend and one who deeply respects Rabbi Rosenfeld.

After touring the newly built campus, as a prelude to the Open House this past Sunday, Yossi Popack felt this would be a most appropriate building to dedicate in his father's memory.

Reb Shmuel Isaac represented a unique style of a chossid. Born into an illustrious family of Chassidim, Reb Shmuel Isaac had that "old time" chassidic approach, even though he was American born and understood the American ways, both in his business and in the American culture, he still stayed a loyal, true chossid with a special "chassidishe ta'am".

When Yossi Popack heard of the history of this building, he realized that his father's life priorities reflected the building's history.

The building was preserved by the famed chossid, and co-founder of Oholei Torah, Reb Michoel Teitelbaum a"h, and the building was kept open as part of the Jewish community despite all odds and demographic changes. Today the kindergarten is a brand new, up to date, modern facility, and raises true Chassidim, imbuing the young with a proper chassidishe chinuch.

Reb Shmuel Isaac, one of the first American born chassidim of the Rebbe, personified a deep level of hiskashrus and a true Yiras Shomayim. Reb Shmuel Isaac was involved with chinuch in the time of the Frierdiker Rebbe. Reb Shmuel Isaac's father Reb Avrohom, and grandfather were Chassidim of the Chabad Rebbeim as well.

When Reb Avrohom was a tomim in Lubavitch, his mashpia was Reb Michoel Der Alter, namesake for Reb Michoel Teitelbaum.

Reb Shmuel Isaac was a longtime friend of Reb Michoel, and always participated in the annual dinners and events. Reb Shmuel Isaac's grandchildren and great grandchildren were and are today talmidim of Oholei Torah, and many serving as Shluchim around the world.

The connection between Reb Shmuel Isaac and the history of Reb Michoel's shul, surely will be a source of great merit for Reb Shmuel Isaac, and together with that a source of comfort to his wife, Mrs. Miriam Popack and the entire Popack family.

This dedication is close to the heart of Yossi Popack, being that his father recently passed away, and such a prominent and meaningful mossad will now carry his name.

Rabbi Nosson Blumes, Director of Development said, "This dedication will also serve as a constant reminder to the young talmidim, and all those who pass through these doors of the mitzvah of Kibbud Av - of respecting one's parents."

To view pictures of the newly renovated kindergarten click here. 

To view pictures of a visit paid by Yossi Popack click here.

"Out of the Box - In a Box"

A letter sent during the Shiva by Rabbi Mendel and Raizy Rubin of Albany, New York. Addressed to Chana and Ephraim Piekarski - their aunt and uncle. 

Dear Chana and Ephraim Piekarski and family,

As it must be a busy time of Shiva at the Popack residence, with k"ah so many family members etc, we thought we'd write down a few memories of your father/Zeide, from a non-family member, who knew him casually. Actually, casual is a great way to remember him, for he wasn't one to stand on ceremony or formality, and was quite informal, friendly, almost jovial. He was a practical, down-to-earth person, but with a twinkle in his eye, full of wit, ever ready to hear or tell a joke.

I have a specific memory of the Friday afternoons that I stayed by you for Shabbos, when uncle Ephraim would come for his Friday afternoon visits to Bubbe Piekarksi, and then I would come along for the ride, and he would stop by the Popack's. Although I was no relative, they were friendly and warm, he knew who I was - usually called me "Piekarski" when he saw me on the street (a lot of people in Crown Heights did that).

We also remember him from our first married summer, when we came up for Shabbosim to Kol-Tuv bungalow colony.

When I spoke to SB Hendel, he said he was 93. Truth is that I probably haven't seen Reb Shmuel Isaac in a couple of years, but my memories of him was always with a snowy white beard, but youthful, energetic, funny. He didn't seem to be an old man.

I also remember one joke he told me - and there's a sculpture downtown Albany with a similar message that makes me think of it every time. He said that he overheard two schnorers talking in 770. One said, "When I win the lottery, I will build a synagogue 10x the size of this, and I will be the ONLY one allowed to collect there!" It's a great message about people who think outside the box - but in the box. The sculpture is disagonally across the State Museum, at the Empire State Plaza. It's two large metal squares. One sticks out, juts out of the other, but it is also a box!

We wish you all: HaMakom Yenachem Eschem b'soch Sha'ar Aveili Tziyon vYerushlayim. May he be a guteh better, for all his family, Ka'H, and certainly everyone has warm memories of him.

Mendel, Raizy and Family

Albany, New York

The sculpture at the Empire State Plaza

An Einekel's Perspective

By: Mendy Piekarski
A few things I heard from Avremi Popack, who lived in Bubby and Zaidy’s house for 12 years.
Zaidy was motivated by his love for his family and his love of teaching other people.
Zaidy loved the family very much. If Bubby and Zaidy ever disagreed, Zaidy would ultimately always give in to Bubby.
Zaidy would listen to Bubby talk about her (social work) patients every night. At times it would be over an hour a night, but Zaidy listened patiently every time. 
Zaidy was highly disciplined: he never indulged, and had a great work ethic. 
Zaidy was able to connect with everyone - from the greatest chassidim to his tenants.
All sorts of people came to Zaidy for advice, and he had an answer, with a story and joke, for them all. He always just knew what to do for every problem.
On one hand, business was an integral part of Zaidy’s life, at the same time, he was a true chassid. For Avremi, too, a small boy from Denver, he made sure to provide him the full extent of chassidish cultural activities.
Zaidy had a way of always getting things done, no matter how impossible it seemed.
Avremi was once hurt on a (non-Jewish) holiday weekend and was brought to Kings County hospital. When Zaidy found out, he came to the hospital, removed Avremi, brought him to (the much better) ear and eye institute (in Manhattan), and found the one surgeon in the otherwise empty hospital to care for Avremi.

First to be Named After Reb Shmuel Isaac

Mazal Tov! Today was the bris of 

Shmuel Isaac Halevi Segal

Son of Rabbi Shlomo & Chani Segal (nee Hendel) of Charkov, Ukraine

May they be zoiche to raise him to Torah, to Chupah and to Ma'asim tovim

May we all only have simchas, with happy hearts

To send a Mazal Tov wish to the parents Shlomo & Chani Segal email: segal170@gmail.com

Drafted in the Army - Zaidy's Miracle

By: Rabbi Shmuel Isaac Popack

Originally Published by N'Shei Chabad Newsletter - February 2005

It happened in the early 1940's, during World War II. The United States was at war in Europe. In those days there was a military draft, and young men approaching the age of 18 had to present themselves to serve in the US army. There were exceptions, such as for those who had medical issues and handicaps making them unfit to serve, as well as deferments for those civilians who served the nation in other indispensable ways. One such deferment was for clergymen and rabbinical seminary students, including Yeshiva students, who were needed to serve the present and future civilian population of the United States as spiritual leaders.

In Williamsburg, where the bulk of the frum community lived, there was hardly a boy that wasn't draft deferred. The draft board discovered that the illustrious Hecht family had five boys in Yeshiva and that they were all draft deferred. The authorities pounced on Lubavitch, insisting that they should send at least one Hecht boy to the army. Shlomo Zalman Hecht (later to be a great Rabbi in Chicago and an inimitable orator), the oldest Hecht, was the one they wanted. They demanded that he be inducted into the army, Of course he fought it and the case went to court. The case lasted over a year, at which time the court concluded that he did have to serve in the army. He was sent to the army's induction center where he was examined and found to be infit for the army due to physical reasons.

Now the local draft board was extremely upset. They had spent thusands of dollars for lawyers and spent more than a year in vain it turned out, so they now decided to make some major changes. All the boys who had been issued a 4D (seminarian) "deferred" classification, were now all reclassified to 1A, "eligible to be drafted." Before appealing or even discussing the reclassification, one would first have to appear for an examination. Only if you were found to be fit did you then have the right to discuss if being placed in 1A was correct or whether you could revert to the 4D classification. After the government had spent over $200,000 to fight the case against Shlomo Zalman Hecht, they realized that it was not practical to fight or even discuss a case if they didn't even know whether the draftee could later be induced. They therefore issued a decree that all boys must appear for examination, and only if they were found fit, could they appeal the case. 

Of course the Rebbe (the Frierdiker Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok, נ"ע) was against this. His bochurim were not to be drafted. We understood that we were already inducted in the army, Hashem's army. Our mission -to learn Torah and to educate and inspire others to be committed to Torah- was as important as the war effort in Europe. In a sense it was even more important. The war dealt with the enemies of peace by vanquishing them (but at the great cost of the chaos and destruction which is part of war); Torah, on the other hand, instills peace from On High, without having to resort to war at all. And besides, the U.S. law recognized the vital role of the clergy, which is why the law granted them deferment. What the local draft board was doing was not in accord with the intent of the law.

Lo and behold the day came when five of us bochurim learning in 770 received draft notices. We were ordered to appear the following Wednesday at 9:00 A.M. at the armory at 47th St. and Lexington Ave., where we were to be examined for induction.

Understandably, the bochurim in yeshiva that were slated for induction didn't go home that Tuesday night. We sat around all night; some of us learned, some of us just talked. As the night became morning, we decided to take a walk in Prospect Park. (The streets were much safer in those days.) As we walked, one fellow offered, "I know the solution to the problem; it is in cigars, and I have a box of cigars. Somebody told me that if you smoke a cigar your blood pressure goes up. Let's all smoke cigars and we'll fail the exam!" (We did it... it didn't help; actually it only helped those who had low blood pressure to raise it to normal.) With sunrise, we headed to 770 to daven b'hashkomoh. We davened with a minyan, then went downstairs (where there used to be a bar which had been converted into a kitchen) and we had breakfast. It was a little after 8:00 A.M. that we all marched out of 770 through the center door and into the subway.

Unbeknownst to us, the Rebbe had sat down by the bay window of his room on the second floor, situated above the main entry door of 770, and had watched us going out to the train. He started to say Tehillim.

We arrived at the armory to be examined. We all passed our physical exams. But after our physical exams we had to go for psychological evaluations. There were two examiners in charge, one from the Navy, an Admiral and a non-Jew, and the other a Colonel in the U.S. Army, a Jewish man who had previously studied at Yeshiva Yitzchak Elchonon (now YU). Each of us was called up by the Jewish examiner, who, recognizing who we were, indicated on each of our records that we were not psychologically fit to serve in the united States Army. By this time it was already close to noon.

From there we were all brought into a large room where two lines of people waited. One line was designated for those who were accepted into the army and the other one was for the rejects. Of course, we all stood in the line for the rejects, ready to be processed out. While we waited there, the doors opened and a lot of high brass from the various military services walked in to review the prospective candidates for the armed services. They observed the five of us and asked "What's with these guys on the second line?" They were told that it was for the rejects. Looking us over they said, "There's one there that looks normal!" - And that person was me (because, unlike the others I did not have a beard yet). The commander conducting the tour said, "Well, it indicates here that he should be exempt but if you have any doubts he can be sent back for re-examination." And that is exactly what they did!

As the other bochurim were processed out, each of them took out a nickel, quickly went to a public phone and called 770 to notify the Rebbe that they were free. They also notified the Rebbe that I was still in limbo. (I guess they must have had an extra nickel of their own for the phone call because the government only gave us 10 cents, 5 cents for the ride to the New York Armory and 5 cents for the ride back.)

Unfortunately for me, when I went back for the re-exam, the Jewish fellow, the colonel, had gone out to lunch. The Admiral stood in his place now, and there was one candidate waiting before me. That interview took place behind a partitioned cubicle and it was impossible not to overhear their conversation. As the Admiral interviewed the young man, I heard him say that he was from the same city that the Admiral came from, some 20 years before. They started to talk about their little city in Iowa, who the teachers in the local high school were, who is still there and who is not there and about the other residents in town. They carried on the conversation for almost half an hour. When they finished, he said to his candidate, "I'll do you a favor and recommend you for any part of the service you prefer. You're perfectly qualified for the Army, Navy, Marines or Air Force; take your choice." Happily, the fellow made some choice and went off to the final induction center. Sitting there for a half hour in an unheated armory without my friends and listening to Life in Iowa had exhausted me, but he was calling my name, so I stood up and went in. 

Just then the door opened and the Colonel returned from his lunch break. His face as he entered was normal, but as soon as he saw me and realized what had happened, it turned red with fury. He asked the Admiral angrily, "They sent him back after I indicated that he wasn't fit? Are they questioning my authority?" He was so insulted and enraged that he took charge of the situation by telling the Admiral, "I'll take care of this one. I had a wonderful lunch at the new eatery around the corner. Now you go ahead and have lunch."

"But I only have this one more candidate; it's okay, I'll finish up," the Admiral protested.

"No, don't worry, I'll take care of him," the Jewish Colonel insisted.

So the Admiral went out for lunch and I was back with the Jewish fellow. He asked me what Gemora I was learning and a few other such things, indicating that he was very knowledgeable. Then he wrote down on my card: "This candidate is absolutely unfit psychologically." When I went to the final induction section I got back on the reject line and they immediately discharged me. I then made my own phone call to 770, more than a half hour after the other boys had called.

I knew of nothing, except that I had notified the Rebbe that I too, was excused. It took another 40 minutes until I arrived at 770 to find out the rest of the story. When I opened the door the entire class stood up and greeted me at the dooor. At my surprised look, they said, "Don't you know what happened?" (How could I have known what was going on here in Brooklyn, while I was at the armory in Manhattan?)

They quickly filled me in: "Rebbetzin Chana Gourary [the Rebbe's daughter who attended to the Rebbe's health] came down several times and asked, "What's the situation with the boys? Did they call yet? The Rebbe wants to know."

It seems that when we had left that morning at 8:00 A.M. the Rebbe had watched us from the window as we entered the subway, and then had opened up a Tehillim and started to daven for us. He refused to stop. He refused to eat anything, which was detrimental to thwe Rebbe's frail health, until heheard that the last boy was free. "And the last boy was you!" they exclaimed.

Can you imagine, 12:00 noon came, and all the boys were free. The Rebbe surely prevailed. For me, unbearded as yet, hence the one who "looked normal," the Rebbe sat and said Tehillim for another half hour, so I too would be freed.

We saw many miracles at that time. One of them in particular: Rabbi Berel Levy a"h, who later was to establish the O.K. laboratories (the respected Kosher Hashgocha organization), went through the induction process a few weeks before us. In those days we wore Tzitzis with a slit in the front. Just in case it wasn't the correct shiur when the slit was opened, we sewed a button on top and we then buttoned it closed. Berel was very frum, and when he was examined he refused to remove his Tzitzis. When they took the x-ray, the button appeared as a lesion on the lungs, which they diagnosed as tuberculosis. He was granted a medical deferment. 

This is a drop in the bucket of all the nissim that we saw at that time.

Edited by Chana T. Piekarsky, NY. daughter. transcribed from the tape by Chanie Raskin, VT. granddaughter. Special thanks to Rabbi Gershon Schusterman. CA. who heard this story directly from Rabbi Shmuel Isaac Popack many years ago.

Cover Article by Kfar Chabad Magazine

To view and print the complete 8 page cover article by Kfar Chabad Magazine click here.

Memories: Crown Heights & Deerfield Beach

By: Rabbi Yisroel Edelman

Deerfield Beach, FL

To the esteemed Popack family שיחיו

I would like to express my condolences upon the loss of your husband, father and brother Reb Shmuel Isaac Halevi Popackע''ה . I had the pleasure and honor of knowing Reb Shmuel Isaac from my earliest childhood. My parentsשי'  are close friends and would frequently visit the Popacks on our trips to NY. My father would always say that when he came to Lubavitch in 1941 “Shmuel Isacc ran Lubavitch!” If anyone needed anything, help or assistance in any area b’gashmius ub'ruchnius, he was the one who got it done.

There are many memories which stand out in my mind which I would like to share. As a child going to NY, to the Rebbe, to 770 was an incredible experience but there were other incidents that made the trip even more memorable. One of them was the festivities in the packed (1/2) Sukka on the back porch on Crown Street where the food and drink was plentiful and Reb Shmuel Isaac was never at a loss for words! You felt the Yom Tov spirit expanding the walls of the Sukka!

The Popacks were visitors in our home as well. One summer they came to visit in our summer cottage on a lake in East Otis MA for a Shabbos. On Sunday the neighbors were water skiing on the lake and Reb Shmuel Isaac wanted to try skiing as well. Of course he did. I can see the indelible picture engraved in my mind of the boat surging forward in the water and Shmuel Isaac with Herculean efforts standing up… momentarily, and then flopping down into the lake, but he had a blast, as did we all! (If only we had a camera...).

Over the years Reb Shmuel Isaac would ask me about my pursuits and in the last two winters he and his wife יבלח''ט joined our community in Deerfield Beach FL. He would sit next to me at the Daf Yomi every day and constantly demonstrated his ever sharp mind and wit. Through his generous efforts Cholov Yisroel has become a staple at the Daf as well. He would regale me with stories of his personal interactions with the Rebbe throughout the years. There was a fire in his eyes and passion in his heart when he would relive those precious moments in a way that only a true Chosid is capable of. His ever present wit and charm left his mark on this community. We shall all miss him.

May you all continue in his ways ofצדקה וחסד  and merit to see the גאולה בקרוב ממש.

A Collection of Jokes & Quotes by Zaidy

By Rabbi Ephraim Piekarski

1. So Yankel is walking in the rain carrying a folded umbrella, and Berel stops him and says; "Yankel why don't you open your umbrella, it is raining?"

Yankel responds: "It is full of holes."
Berel asks incredulously, "So why are you carrying it?!"
Yankel replies sincerely: "I did not think it was going to rain!" (laugh)

2. There are two מאמרי חז"ל that seem to contradict each other. We say that אין אדם מת וחצי תאוותו בידו meaning that a person when he passes away does not even have half of what he desires. On the other hand there is a רז"ל that מי שיש לו מנה רוצה מאתיים; one who has a hundred wants (only) two hundred; indicating that he has חצי תאוותו (he has the one hundred and only wants an additional hundred).
Zaidy resolved this contradiction. The meaning of מי שיש לו מנה רוצה מאתיים does not mean he merely wants another hundred but rather he wants an additional two hundred (for a total of three hundred), therefore he does not own חצי תאוותו.

3. We find another contradiction in human nature. When one is young , he expends all his energy on making money regardless of the adverse effects on his health; indicating that wealth is more important than health. When one is older he confiscates all his money to protect and improve his health; indicating that health is more important than wealth. Now which way is it?!
Zaidy to the rescue! It all depends where the money is. If the money is in someone else's pocket then you sacrifice all you health to retrieve the money and place it in your pocket, when the money is in your pocket then it loses its importance and you squander it on your health.

4. There is an ancient debate as to what makes the tea sweet, is it the sugar or the mixing with the spoon. We know it will not become sweet by merely adding sugar without mixing, and it will not become sweet by mixing alone without adding sugar. This debate raged for many centuries until wise men decided that it is the mixing that makes it sweet; the only reason we add sugar is to know when to stop mixing (when the sugar dissolves).
This resolution held until Zaidy came along and disproved it, arguing that if it is the mixing that sweetens the tea and the sugar tells us when to stop mixing, why do we not add salt to the tea and mix till it dissolves. The debate still rages on!

5. The professer of public speaking was reviewing a speech prepared by one of his students to be delivered at an occasion. the professor was making notes in the margin to teach his student how to properly deliver the speech. This is what he wrote: 'lower your voice', "pause for effect", turn to the sides", etc. etc. At one paragraph he commented; "argument weak, yell like hell!"

"Quotable Quotes of Zaidy"

Quote "Shoemaker stick to your last" (a last is a tool used by shoemakers).

Quote "אויב דו האבסט ניט וואס דו ליבסט, ליב וואס דו האבסט". If you do not have what you love, love what you have!

Quote "No", is the beginning of negotiations and ultimately a good deal'.

Quote (later years): I am semi-retired; I work only twelve hours a day!

Remembering My Uncle Shmuel Isaac

By: Oritte and Ephraim Rudski
Montreal, Canada

I have so many memories of my dear uncle that I don't know where to start, so I will begin with one of my last conversations with him last winter in Florida. It was erev Shabbos and Yossi and his son were coming for Shabbos. I asked my uncle who cooked for them and he proudly replied "We did. Me and your tante Miriam.  She put in the ingredients and I added the water."  What a sense of humor!

When I was in Florida, Ephraim and I went with them and my father to visit Tante Diana. Her daughter, Barbara was there and asked uncle Shmuel Issac to tell us about his memories of his parents. He told all about how his parents met and married and eventually came to America.

My earliest memories of my uncle go back to when I was a little girl and we came to them for the Pesach seder. Uncle Shmuel Issac ate so much maror that he nearly jumped to the sky.

I remember my uncle telling me how he remembered when all of Lubavitch could fit in his living room. "And that was my old living room, on Crown street. Before we had the big house."  He was very proud of how our community had grown!

May we soon be united with our loved ones with the coming of Moshiach.

My last encounters with Zaidy

By: Yaakov Feldman

Crown Heights

My wife and I had the privilege this past winter to visit Zaidy and Bubby in their apartment in Boca Raton, FL. I must say I’m glad we did because that was the last chance I had to spend quality time with Zaidy.

I remember when we first visited them in their apartment on Friday morning to wish them a good Shabbos. Zaidy, noticing we had come by car decided to utilize the opportunity and asked if we can go and buy batteries for a non-working radio they had. I said “sure”. My wife stayed with Bubby and off I went with Zaidy on one of our last outings together.

Little did I know that I was going to spend the next hour running all of Zaidy’s errands. We went from the cleaners to the pharmacy making all the necessary pickups. I enjoyed every minute of that trip! It reminded me of the good old days when Zaidy would pick me up on Fridays (then he was the driver), and drive up Kingston Ave. I would pick up the Shabbos orders while he waited in the car. I have a very fond memory of Zaidy calling from the driver’s seat, “Remember, tell them you’re picking up “Popack’s order” and go straight to the front of the line!”

The following Monday, when we were going to go to a nice restaurant, Zaidy insisted we go to Jon’s (the local pizza shop), once again having something else in mind. When we finished lunch, we found ourselves in the grocery next door for the weekly shopping spree. Zaidy taught me to never wait a minute and get as much done while you can.

I was privileged to have been the last grandchild whose wedding Zaidy attended. He walked around me at the Chuppah, posed for pictures with me, and best of all, we danced together at my wedding.

I was lucky to have had the honor of visiting Zaidy the Wednesday before he passed away. I was so sad to see him in that situation; very different from the Zaidy I knew, always full of life and excitement. I sat there saying a silent prayer that he recover and be able to come back home. Zaidy we miss you!

My last picture with Zaidy (Feb. 13 2012)