Rabbi Mordechai Dovid Altein

Born on 5 Tammuz 5679 (1919) in the United States to R' Tzvi Hirsh and Chana Altein, who were from a Galician chassidic family. He studied at Torah Vodaas Yeshiva and became close to Chabad chassidus at Achei Tmimim Yeshiva through Rabbi Israel Jacobson (who later became his father-in-law). He subsequently traveled with a group of bochurim to the yeshiva in Otwock. When the war broke out, the bochurim returned to the United States under the instruction of the Frierdiker Rebbe.

In 5703 (1943), he entered into shidduchim, and at the tenaim celebration held on Motzei Shabbos, 18 Elul in the shul in East New York, the Rebbe and Rebbetzin participated. During the celebration, the Rebbe took a taxi home to bring the nusach of tenaim that the Tzemach Tzedek had written in his own handwriting.

In 5704 (1944), he married his wife Rachel Dvasha, daughter of Rabbi Israel Jacobson.

After his wedding, he managed yeshivas in New Haven and Pittsburgh as a shliach of the Frierdiker Rebbe. Later, he was sent by the Frierdiker Rebbe to the Bronx, where he managed a yeshiva and school and served as a community rav for many years.

He merited to bring many Yidden closer through his activities as director of the Chabad House in the Bronx.

The Frierdiker Rebbe writes about him in a letter: "A precious, internal, and naturally serious spirit, with abundant blessing. He is among my chosen beloved ones whom I love with special love, one portion above others of his age, for their dedication to their assigned work with true mesirus nefesh."

After his father-in-law Rabbi Jacobson's passing in 5735 (1975), he merited to bring the Rebbe an esrog from Calabria each year for the distribution of Daled Minim, and in most years, one of these esrogim was the one used by the Rebbe.

In 5756 (1996), he moved to Eretz Yisroel and lived in Beitar Illit and Kfar Chabad. After several years, he returned to the United States and settled in Crown Heights, where he lived until his passing.

He passed away at age 100 on Sunday, 3 Kislev 5780 (2019) as the elder of Chabad chassidim.

Family

• His brother, Rabbi Israel Meir Altein - Among the shluchim of the Frierdiker Rebbe and the Rebbe, mashpia of the Chabad community in Pittsburgh and the local Tomchei Tmimim Yeshiva
• His son-in-law, Rabbi Yitzchak Meir Gurary - Mashpia at Tomchei Tmimim Montreal
• His son, Rabbi Avraham Altein - The Rebbe's shliach in Winnipeg and head shliach to Manitoba, Canada, and member of the Chassidus Mevueres on Tanya editorial board
• His son, Rabbi Yaakov Yehuda Leib Altein - Author of the Chassidus Mevueres series and member of Vaad L'Hafatzas Sichos
• His son-in-law, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Pinson - The Rebbe's shliach in Nice, France
• His son-in-law, Rabbi Yosef Akiva Cohen - Rosh Yeshiva of Lubavitch Manchester
• His son, Hatomim Yosef Yitzchak Altein - Suffered from muscular dystrophy in his childhood, loved learning Torah - passed away 23 Nissan 5760 (2000)
• His son-in-law, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Zalmanoff - Tzfat

Further Reading

• Avraham Reinitz, "Zchus Rishonim", Beis Moshiach weekly, Issue 1191 page 21 onwards (5780/2019)

External Links

• Letters received from our Rebbeim between 5697-5721 (1937-1961) - Teshura from his grandson's wedding, Teves 5767 (2007)
• Avraham Reinitz, "Zchus Rishonim" Beis Moshiach Issue 1191 p. 20 onwards