Yaakov Baruch Karasik
Rabbi Yaakov Baruch Karasik (5644-5645? - 5681) was a mashgiach overseeing the study of nigleh at the Tomchei Tmimim Yeshiva in the town of Shchedrin, and later at Tomchei Tmimim Lubavitch.
BiographyEdit
Born in the town of Lapitz, to his father Rabbi Mordechai Shmuel Karasik and his mother Chaya Sarah. On his father's side, he was descended from the Chassid Binyamin Kletzker and on his mother's side from the Gaon of Vilna.
In his youth, he was accepted to the Tomchei Tmimim Lubavitch Yeshiva, but they sent him, along with his other young peers, to Tomchei Tmimim Zembin where he studied under the supervision of Rabbi Shmuel Gronem Asterman, to whom he became very attached, considering him as his father.
In the yeshiva, he excelled in the study of nigleh, and also in the service of the heart (prayer). He would frequently fast and was careful not to draw attention to this.
At the beginning of the year 5671, he was appointed as mashgiach overseeing the study of nigleh at the Tomchei Tmimim Lubavitch Yeshiva. He remained in this position throughout the yeshiva's time in Lubavitch, and when the yeshiva moved to Kremenchug in the year 5678, he moved there as well.
His grandson, Rabbi Yaakov Baruch Gansburg, related about his grandfather that he would sprinkle a lot of salt on the few foods that he ate, so that he would not taste any pleasure in them.
Until his last day, he served as mashgiach in the Tomchei Tmimim Kremenchug Yeshiva.
He passed away in Kremenchug in the year 5681, at the age of thirty-six, from typhus.
It is traditionally told among Chassidim that with the passing of Rebbe Rashab, he took along with him a 'minyan' (quorum of ten) of select Chassidim who passed away within the year following his death, and Rabbi Yaakov Baruch was among those ten remarkable Chassidim who passed away prematurely within that year.
FamilyEdit
- His wife, Mrs. Yocheved Miriam Karasik - passed away on 19th Tammuz 5721.
- His brother, Rabbi Chaim Eliezer Karasik - rabbi of the Chabad community in Tel Aviv, and chairman of Agudas Chassidei Chabad in the Holy Land
- His brother, Rabbi Menachem (Nache) Karasik - the last rabbi of Shchedrin
- His brother, Rabbi Yehuda Leib Karasik - mashpia of Chabad communities in Moscow and Nevel
- His daughter, Batsheva Tzeitka, wife of Rabbi Shneur Zalman Ganaburg
- His daughter, Mrs. Machla Lis - passed away on 19th Iyar 5755
- His grandson, Rabbi Sholom Ber Gansburg, personal assistant to the Rebbe
- His granddaughter Chaya Sarah, wife of Rabbi Shlomo Zarchi - mashpia
Further ReadingEdit
- Eved Avraham Anochi
- Yosef Ashkenazi, Otzar HaChassidim - The personalities and Chassidic teachings of Chabad mashpias in the Soviet Union and Poland, published by Chazak, 5775
External LinksEdit
An written acount about him withing records of the Tmimim, by his brother Rabbi Eliezer Karasik, published in the Chabad Bulletin, seventh issue, p. 25