Rabbi Yehoshua Heshel Tzeitlin
Rabbi Yehoshua Heshel Tzeitlin (24 Sivan 5682 - 11 Shevat 5748) was a Chabad mashpia in Montreal, Canada, who specialized in shechita for his livelihood and also served as a mohel.
Life History[edit | edit source]
Born on 24 Sivan 5682 to his father Rabbi Aharon Eliezer Tzeitlin in Homel, Russia.
He spent his childhood years together with his older brother Yehuda Leib - near his father while he served as a mashpia and shochet u'bodek in Homel, in the colonies of Kamina, Tarapitz, and Mozaysk. At the beginning of 5690, at age seven, he was sent to learn Torah far from his parents.
He spent his youth years in underground yeshivas, and in 5691 studied at Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim in Berditchev.
In 5706, he was saved and left together with other anash, his mother and brother to Pocking; on 10 Kislev 5707 he arrived in Poland.
Following the directive of the Frierdiker Rebbe, he went to Tomchei Tmimim Paris.
With the blessing of the Frierdiker Rebbe, he married his wife Rivka, daughter of Rabbi Yehoshua Zelig Ahronov, on 15 Shevat 5709.
In Montreal[edit | edit source]
In 5711, Reb Heshel arrived from Paris to settle in Montreal according to the Rebbe's instructions; the mekubal Rabbi Menachem Zev Greenglass together with the Tosher Rebbe helped him greatly to enter Canada and later obtain citizenship. During the first year, he and his wife stayed with Rabbi Greenglass.
For thirty-seven years, Reb Heshel influenced the growing Montreal community, established learning groups on every street called "block shiur", served as mashpia in the yeshiva, and held many farbrengens in his home.
Following the Rebbe's directive in 5737 to hold elections for mashpia, he was elected with the highest number of votes.
He served as a shochet and mohel for the community. Reb Heshel would wake up early and leave his home for shechita, making it difficult for him to daven with a minyan. Regarding this, he received instructions from the Rebbe in yechidus about davening: 1. Since you are accustomed to davening not with the minyan, you should be careful to answer Amen Yehei Shmei Rabba. 2. On Yom Tov, it is better to try to daven with the minyan. You can start before the minyan so you can continue with them; because chassidim say that Hallel should be said with a minyan. 3. Presumably before davening you learn a maamar or kuntres. [Because] with what can a Yid daven? 4. On a free day [=when free from work] it is certainly proper to spend more time davening. Therefore, Reb Heshel was very particular about davening with a minyan even with mesiras nefesh.
He passed away on 11 Shevat 5748 and is laid to rest in Montreal, Canada.
Family[edit | edit source]
- His brother, Rabbi Leibel Tzeitlin (Montreal), a Chabad businessman who was among the founders of Chabad institutions in Montreal
- His brother-in-law, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Ahronov of the elder anash in Toronto
- His son, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Tzeitlin - the Rebbe's shliach in Toronto
- His son, Rabbi Aharon Eliezer Tzeitlin, among the Rebbe's shluchim to Eretz HaKodesh, and shliach in Tzfat
- His daughter Mrs. Esther, wife of Rabbi Avraham Ben Shimon of the anash rabbanim in Montreal
- His daughter Mrs. Sterna Sarah, wife of Rabbi Shalom Ber Kalmanson, the Rebbe's shliach in Cincinnati, Ohio
- His daughter Mrs. Bracha, wife of Rabbi Eliezer Teitelbaum, z"l of Crown Heights
- His son-in-law, Rabbi Yitzchak Yarmush - melamed of tinokos shel beis rabban in Montreal
- His daughter Mrs. Devorah Leah, wife of Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Mishulovin - Los Angeles, California
External Links[edit | edit source]
Raphael Dinari, "A Man of Heartfelt Truth" Beis Moshiach Weekly Issue 866 page 50