Shalom Dov Ber Shanowitz
Rabbi Shalom Dov Ber Shanowitz (Shanowitch) (Kislev 1927 - 4 Kislev 2021) was one of the elder Chassidim in Crown Heights, a chazan in 770, shochet, mohel, and a maggid shiur at Yeshivas Chovevei Torah.
Life History edit
Born in Kislev 1927 to his father, the Chossid Reb Chaim Yitzchak ben Reb Yehuda, and his mother Mrs. Hinda Gitel Chaya in Odessa. His father, Reb Chaim Yitzchak, came from the town of Podobranka near Homel, Russia. Through his acquaintance with Chabad Chassidim, he merited to learn in the underground Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim in Kremenchug with the renowned Chossid Reb Mendel Futerfas and other Chassidim. After Reb Chaim married, he was sent by the Frierdiker Rebbe in 1923 to Odessa to strengthen the Chassidic community there. Regarding Reb Chaim's work, the Frierdiker Rebbe remarked, "My general in Odessa." Reb Chaim Yitzchak maintained contact with the Frierdiker Rebbe despite the danger involved.
On 24 Kislev 1932, Erev Chanukah, when he was five years old, his mother passed away suddenly. His father remarried and raised him and his brother Azriel with great dedication. His father, Reb Chaim Yitzchak, would teach them Gemara during weekdays and Chassidus on Shabbos, as per the Frierdiker Rebbe's instructions. Since Odessa was located on the Black Sea coast, it became a transit station for those who managed to get permission to leave from behind the Iron Curtain, and therefore his family often hosted Jews passing through Odessa.
As he grew older, his father refused to send him to the government school, where they taught heresy and were forced to desecrate Shabbos, and kept him and his brother at home.
His father Reb Chaim Yitzchak was forced to send his children to Georgia. Later, Reb Shmuel Notik arrived and settled in Kutaisi and was appointed as Rosh Yeshiva of Chabad there.
In Kutaisi, he met Reb Moshe Lamberger, a Polish Chossid, who helped him and his brother later on, and cared for them like his own sons after their family perished in the Holocaust. In 1945, he was sent to continue his studies at the underground yeshiva in Samarkand. After the war, he and his brother seized the opportunity and joined the known exodus from Russia, escaping to Paris. In the early years, he learned from the renowned mashpia Reb Shlomo Chaim Keselman, but after he moved to Eretz HaKodesh, he became one of the primary students of Reb Nissan Nemenov. Following the Frierdiker Rebbe's directive to engage in shechita, he went to learn shechita. Like other students in Brunoy, he traveled to the United States to meet with the Frierdiker Rebbe. On 2 Nissan, he became engaged to Mrs. Sarah Esther, daughter of Rabbi Mordechai and Mrs. Bluma Lokshin. After his wedding in Paris, he went to study milah. When his sons were born, he performed their bris himself. During that period, the Rebbe encouraged him to report in letters about his participation in farbrengens and his learning schedule.
When he wrote to the Rebbe about his idea to move to New York, the Rebbe initially rejected it. Later, the Rebbe agreed to his coming to New York, and when he entered for yechidus, the Rebbe recommended that he go into business. Despite his many business occupations and financial concerns, Rav Shanowitz engaged in Torah study. Following the Rebbe's blessing, Rav Shanowitz indeed achieved success in his business ventures.
He devoted himself to giving Gemara shiurim at the Ksav Sofer synagogue and at the Anash synagogue at 770 Montgomery. He was also a maggid shiur at Yeshivas Chovevei Torah for several years and would occasionally serve as chazan at the Rebbe's minyan in 770.
He established a fund to help shluchim.
After suffering a stroke, he passed away on Shabbos Kodesh, 4 Kislev 2021, at age 93.
Family edit
Brothers
- Azriel Chanowitz
Sons
- Rabbi Chaim Yitzchak, Los Angeles
- Rabbi Nachman, Crown Heights
- Rabbi Zalman, Crown Heights
- Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak, Montreal
Daughters
- Mrs. Hindy Kalmanson, New Haven
- Mrs. Rivka Pewzner, Paris, France
- Mrs. Rashi Itkin, Scranton
- Mrs. Chana Hertz, New York
- Mrs. Dini Gorman, Toronto
Further Reading edit
- Avraham Reinitz, A Life Journey of 94 Years, Beis Moshiach Weekly 1239 page 23