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.
