Yehuda Shmotkin

Rabbi Yehuda Smotkin was a Chabad chossid who lived in Tel Aviv. He was involved in the book trade and served as the Frierdiker Rebbe's representative for all matters concerning the Lubavitch library in Eretz Yisroel.

Life History

Born in Warsaw, Poland to Rabbi Shneur Zalman Smotkin, who was a wealthy book merchant and managed the Warsaw branch of Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim.

In his youth, he made aliyah to Eretz Yisroel in 1920 with his grandfather Rabbi DovBer Moshe Smotkin. He studied at Yeshivas Toras Emes in Yerushalayim. Afterwards, he began working in orchards near Tel Aviv for parnossa, staying with his uncle R' Yosef Smotkin who lived in Tel Aviv. Every night after returning from work, he would quickly go to sleep, wake up at 2 AM, and sit in the Nachalas Binyamin shul learning Chassidus until davening time, after which he would go to work.

In letters from Rebbetzin Shterna Sarah Schneerson, mother of the Frierdiker Rebbe, she would write to R' Yehuda referring to him as "my relative" (apparently through his mother, Mrs. Leah Reizel, who was a granddaughter of R' Shlomo Chaim Perlov of Koidanov, whose family had marriage connections with Beis HaRav).

Book Merchant

After his marriage to Feigel, daughter of Rabbi Moshe Aryeh Leib Kapilevitch, he lived briefly in Petach Tikva and began taking interest in the book trade which he inherited from his father. During this time, he developed a close connection with the chossid R' Avraham Pariz, who would transfer funds to him through which he would purchase ancient seforim and rare Jewish books, and would send them to the Frierdiker Rebbe's library.

The Frierdiker Rebbe greatly appreciated his efforts in acquiring and sending the seforim, and thanked him through lengthy, content-rich thank you letters. The letters addressed to him later became foundational in Chassidic guidance, and some were even quoted by the Rebbe in his sefer HaYom Yom. For example, the saying that appears on 21 Shevat "It is the duty of Chassidic women and girls to stand in the front line of every enterprise strengthening religion and Yiddishkeit in general" is a sentence from the Frierdiker Rebbe's letter addressed to him, in which the Rebbe strengthens him regarding the union of Chassidic daughters in Eretz Yisroel in general and in his city of Petach Tikva in particular, to read the holy sichos and Chassidic stories.

During his time in Petach Tikva, the Frierdiker Rebbe instructed him to be a member of the city's Chevra Kadisha but not to take part in actual burials.

Tel Aviv Period

In 1937, he moved to Tel Aviv and opened a store on Allenby Street, later moving to live near it on the same street. In response to his notification to the Frierdiker Rebbe about opening the store, the Frierdiker Rebbe sent him a blessing letter thanking him again for his care in sending books and pamphlets to the Lubavitch library, and blessed him with abundant parnossa.

Following the Frierdiker Rebbe's request in 1948 that Kehot Publication Society consider republishing the Sdei Chemed series, the publishing house representatives approached him on behalf of the Rebbe as the inheritor of publishing rights from his father who had purchased them outright. Once permission was granted, Kehot began working on editing the series, and upon completion, Rabbi Smotkin received the Rebbe's thanks for his agreement and was given distribution rights in Eretz Yisroel, receiving a complete set from Kehot.

In 1952, he was among those involved in transferring the body of the Rebbe's brother, Rabbi Yisroel Aryeh Leib Schneerson, from Liverpool, England to the Jewish cemetery in Tzfas. After completing the project, the Rebbe thanked him for his part and asked to know the amount he spent on the matter to reimburse him for his trouble.

In the following years, the Rebbe encouraged him to expand and develop his business in the book trade, writing to him: "It is surprising that you are not expanding the business according to experts' instructions."

Alongside his business dealings, he was heavily involved in spreading the wellsprings of Chassidus throughout the land, and the Chabad newsletter contains many reports of his travels to various settlements and visits to yeshivos throughout the country, where he farbrenged and brought Chassidic ideas to the broader public.

He passed away on 14 Shevat 5742 (1982).

Family

• His son, Rabbi Moshe Aryeh Leib Yerachmiel Shemtov - passed away on 23 Teves 1968.
• His son, Rabbi Yisroel Shemtov, the Rebbe's shliach in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States, and director of Chabad institutions there.
• His daughter Mrs. Leah Reizel, wife of R' Reuven Helman - Kfar Chabad - passed away on 30 Adar I 2019.
• His daughter Mrs. Rivka, wife of Rabbi Elazar Lipsh, Kfar Chabad.
• His daughter Mrs. Henia, wife of Rabbi Yitzchak Meir Erentroy - passed away on 28 Kislev 1970.
• His grandson Rabbi Elkana Shemtov, director of JEM.
• His granddaughter Henia Federman, shlucha. Passed away by drowning.
• His great-grandson R' Meir Yitzchak Tamari HY"D, resident of Hermesh, killed in a terror attack on 10 Sivan 2023.