Michael Lipsker

Rabbi Michael Lipsker (also known as R' Michael, 1907 – 5 Iyar 1985) was a shliach sent to Morocco on the mission of the Frierdiker Rebbe but was actually sent by the Rebbe. He was appointed as shliach to Morocco on 20 Shvat 1950 and served as the spiritual guide for thousands of Jews in Meknes in particular and Morocco in general. In his later years, he served as the kitchen manager at the Central Tomchei Temimim Yeshiva at 770.

Menahel and Mashgiach in Tomchei Temimim[edit | edit source]

Born in Poltava in 1907 to his father Rabbi Chaim Tzvi Lipsker (Poltava) and his mother Mrs. Bas Sheva. He studied in Tomchei Temimim yeshivas in Kremenchug where he learned from Rabbi Yechezkel Himmelstein, in Tomchei Temimim in Ostashkov where he heard Gemara shiurim from Rabbi Avraham Eliyahu Plotkin, and in Tomchei Temimim in Nevel where he received from Rabbi Yehuda Eber. While still a bochur, he served as manager and mashgiach in the Tomchei Temimim branches of Polotsk and Kiev and also raised donations for Tomchei Temimim yeshivas.

Mesiras Nefesh During the Leningrad Siege[edit | edit source]

He married his wife Teibel, daughter of the chossid Rabbi Eliyahu Par. During the difficult times in Russia, he was one of the prominent figures among Anash in Leningrad who worked for the community, and among his other activities during the siege of Leningrad - together with his brother-in-law Rabbi Baruch Shifrin, he brought thousands to proper Jewish burial.

During the siege of Leningrad in World War II, residents died in the streets in masses, and there was no one to bury them. It is estimated that no less than a million Leningrad residents perished from hunger during the siege, including many from Anash families in the city. Many Jews brought their deceased relatives uncoordinatedly to the courtyard of the Great Synagogue, from where they were taken for Jewish burial. The ones who stepped forward to bring them to Jewish burial were the two brothers-in-law Rabbi Michael Lipsker and Rabbi Baruch Shifrin, who decided that despite the contagious diseases that were raging and the danger of infection from the deceased, they would ensure that the many thousands would receive proper Jewish burial.

They made sure to collect the bodies to the Great Synagogue, and on Fridays they would rent a large truck, which they would fill with seventy to eighty bodies R"L, and transfer them to the cemetery for burial, where they would dig a huge pit that quickly became another mass grave R"L.

One of the few who merited individual burial in those days was Rabbi Yehoshua Nimotin, one of the important Chabad rabbonim of that time. He and his wife died of starvation at the end of Shvat 1942. R' Baruch Shifrin, R' Michael Lipsker and Rabbi Zalman Shimon Dvorkin made sure to bury them side by side in an individual grave, but during the war the markers for the grave location were lost, and today the location of their burial is unknown.

During the war, he fled to Georgia, where he served as mashpia and mashgiach in Tomchei Temimim Yeshiva Kutaisi.

In 1946, he fled Russia under a fake Polish identity as part of an organized escape plan of thousands of chassidim called Yetzias Russia 1946. After wandering through camps, he settled in Paris, where he merited to be near the Rebbe when he came to escort his mother Rebbetzin Chana Schneerson on her way to New York.

Shlichus in Meknes[edit | edit source]

In a letter dated 20 Shevat 5710 (1950), ten days after the passing of the Frierdiker Rebbe on 10 Shevat, the Rebbe wrote to Rav Lipsker that before his passing, the Frierdiker Rebbe had discussed with him the need to strengthen Yiddishkeit and Jewish education in Morocco, and requested to send Rav Lipsker there. Rav Lipsker received the letter at the end of Shevat, and although surprised by the instruction to travel to a completely foreign country, he agreed. After informing the Rebbe of his acceptance, the Rebbe maintained correspondence with him regarding preparations for the journey.

Rav Lipsker arrived in Meknes, Morocco in Iyar 5710 (1950) and began establishing a yeshiva. Over the years, he developed a magnificent empire of institutions alongside extensive activities. In the institutions that Rav Lipsker developed and managed according to the Rebbe's instructions, many students learned Torah while getting a taste of Chassidus. Additionally, Rav Lipsker developed extensive activities in various educational frameworks.

The Rebbe sent him many letters and telegrams containing general and specific instructions concerning him, the city's rabbonim, institution directors, students, and community members.

He established the yeshiva with the assistance of Rav Raphael Baruch Toledano, where local bochurim studied diligently in nigleh and Chabad Chassidus, participated in farbrengens, and even took part in hafatzas hamaayanos activities. The menahel and rosh yeshiva was Rav Michael Lipsker. The yeshiva's success led to rapid growth in the number of talmidim, until the first building became too small to accommodate the large number of students. However, the shluchim's budget was not large enough to purchase additional buildings. Therefore, Rav Lipsker rented a very large building that had served as a grain storage facility, and within a short time ensured its adaptation for the yeshiva's needs, including flooring, windows, and much other work. Afterward, the talmidim moved into the building which contained classrooms, a shul, and dormitory rooms. Only the younger yeshiva classes remained in the old building. Additionally, a mikvah was built in the new building for the yeshiva students to enable them to toivel in optimal conditions. The new and magnificent yeshiva building served as a center for yeshiva studies and also as a center for all Chabad celebrations and gatherings in Meknes. Matzos for Pesach were baked in this building for Meknes Jews, and it also hosted the weddings of Rav Lipsker's son and daughter.

Institutions Established by Rav Michael Lipsker in Meknes[edit | edit source]

Yeshivas Ohalei Yosef Yitzchok
Beis Rivkah from elementary through seminary
Sofrus school where tefillin and mezuzos were produced and written
Tiferes Bochurim

Rav Michael Lipsker operated in Meknes from 5710 (1950) until 5729 (1969) and achieved great success in bringing Jews closer to Torah observance and Chassidic ways, influencing dozens to become enthusiastic Chabad chassidim.

After returning to live in Crown Heights, despite his role over the years, he desired to earn his livelihood through his own work and worked for his parnassa as kitchen manager in the central Tomchei Tmimim Yeshiva at 770.

He passed away at age 78 on 5 Iyar 5745 (1985) and was buried in the Montefiore Cemetery in Queens, near the Ohel of the Frierdiker Rebbe. His position in the yeshiva kitchen was filled by R' Yosef Yitzchok Wilmovsky.

Friendship with the Rabbis of Meknes[edit | edit source]

Rav Lipskar established a special connection with the rabbis and leaders of Meknes's Jewish community and the surrounding areas, including the aforementioned Rav Toledano.

The friendly relationship was expressed through full cooperation during the establishment of the institutions, and throughout the years in working towards developing Chabad institutions and activities in all areas in Meknes and its surroundings.

Rav Lipskar worked throughout the years to connect the rabbis and leaders of Meknes and the region to the Rebbe.

Family[edit | edit source]

His son-in-law, Rav Azriel Chaikin, shliach and Rosh Yeshiva of Chabad in Agadir, former Chief Rabbi of Ukraine.
His brother-in-law, Rav Baruch Shifrin.
His brother, Rav Yaakov Lipskar.
His brother, Rav Aryeh Zev Lipskar.
His brother, Rav Eliyahu Akiva Lipskar.