Gershon Henoch Henich HaKohen Eichhorn
Rabbi Gershon Henoch Henich HaKohen Eichhorn (? - 27 Shevat 5717/1957) was one of the Chabad chassidim from the East Side of Manhattan. He was an energetic activist in 'Agudas HaTemimim', a member of the 'Executive Committee' of Agudas Chabad Chassidim in the United States. He served as a fundraising emissary (meshulach) for Yeshivas Tomchei Temimim in the United States.
Life History[edit | edit source]
He was born in Poland to his father R' Yaakov Yitzchak HaKohen, who was not counted among Chabad chassidim.
In his early youth, he studied in the yeshiva of the Gaon Rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik of Brisk. When R' Chaim saw R' Gershon, he approached him and suggested that he go study in Lubavitch, saying that it was his place. R' Gershon studied in Tomchei Temimim in Lubavitch until the outbreak of World War I in 5674/1914, when he returned to his homeland of Poland.
R' Gershon endured many hardships. Fearing conscription into the army, he hid from military authorities. R' Gershon wandered from place to place restlessly, and in 5681/1921 he arrived in the United States.
In the United States, upon his arrival, he worked in difficult and strenuous jobs, including in the famous sweatshops, and even engaged in difficult construction work. Rabbi Yisroel Jacobson, who arrived in the United States in 5686/1926, arranged respectable employment for him so he could make a living with peace of mind, and he began working as a shamash (caretaker) in one of the synagogues in Brooklyn.
R' Gershon lived in Manhattan (on the East Side). R' Gershon always tried to bring Jews closer to their Father in Heaven through observance of Torah and mitzvos and conducting themselves according to the Shulchan Aruch.
He maintained connections with Chabad chassidim, including Rabbi Yisroel Jacobson, R' Eliyahu Yachil Simpson, and others.
He was an energetic activist in 'Agudas HaTemimim', a member of the 'Executive Committee' of Agudas Chabad Chassidim in the United States. He served as a meshulach for Yeshivas Tomchei Temimim in the United States. He sent his son, R' Shalom Dovber, to study at Tomchei Temimim.
He passed away on 27 Shevat 5717/1957, and is buried in New York near the holy Ohel.
Family[edit | edit source]
- His son R' Shalom Ber Eichhorn - personal attendant to the Frierdiker Rebbe (Admor Rayatz).