Yitzchak HaKohen Hendel

Rabbi Yitzchak HaKohen Hendel was a student of Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim in Poland, Av Beis Din of Montreal, Rabbi of the Chabad community in Montreal, and among the founders and heads of Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim Montreal. He was appointed by the Rebbe on Shemini Atzeres 5731 (1970) as the "Baal Habayis" over Canada.

Life History

Rabbi Hendel was born on 8 Kislev 5677 in Chelm, Poland, to his father Reb Yisroel Yosef, from a family traced back to Eli HaKohen.

In his youth, he studied at Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim Warsaw and Tomchei Tmimim Otwock.

While in yeshiva, he was one of the chozrim (those who would review) of the Frierdiker Rebbe. Once, the Rebbe quoted a possuk differently than how it appears in Tanach, and Reb Chatche Feigin told him to repeat it as written in Tanach. During the review, the Rebbe corrected him three times (he had repeated it again according to Reb Chatche's instruction), then Chatche asked why, since this is how it's written? The Rebbe responded: "But this is the Rav's language."

He also received permission to daven with "avodah" (lengthy meditation), and would pray daily until 2 PM. Even when he worked in the yeshiva, he would pray at length on Shabbos.

In 5699 (1939) when Reb Shneur Zalman Gourary got engaged, the Frierdiker Rebbe called him and instructed him to take his place as a maggid shiur in the mechina in Warsaw. He cried all night about leaving Tomchei Tmimim.

When World War II broke out, he fled - following the Frierdiker Rebbe's instructions - together with dozens of Tmimim students to Vilna and from there to Shanghai. The Frierdiker Rebbe made great efforts to save them. Rabbi Hendel was among the students who traveled in 5702 (1942) from Shanghai to Montreal, and under the Frierdiker Rebbe's direction established Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim Montreal, where Rabbi Hendel was among its heads.

In Montreal, he married his wife Mrs. Sheina Chava, daughter of Reb Eliyahu HaKohen Fried.

After a few years, the Frierdiker Rebbe appointed Rabbi Hendel as rabbi of the Chabad community in Montreal. He served in this position for over sixty years. Additionally, he served as chairman of Agudas Chassidei Chabad of Canada, and in Sukkos 5731 (1970) when the Rebbe established the Chassidic UN, he received the title of Baal Habayis over Canada.

After the Frierdiker Rebbe's passing, Rabbi Hendel led a delegation of chassidim from Montreal who urged the Rebbe to accept the leadership.

In his later years when the Rebbe announced the message of Geulah, Rabbi Hendel was among the leading supporters in spreading the message of Geulah and the identity of the redeemer. After 3 Tammuz 5754 (1994), Rabbi Hendel was among the leading Chabad rabbis who encouraged thousands of Anash and Tmimim in strengthening their faith and spreading the message of Geulah.

He passed away in Montreal on 12 Adar 5767 (2007).

Family

Sons:

• Rabbi Yisroel Yosef Hendel, member of the Chabad Rabbinical Court and Rabbi of the Chabad community in Migdal HaEmek.
• Rabbi Shneur Zalman Eliyahu Hendel, CEO of Or Menachem Institutions in Tzfat.

Sons-in-law:

• Rabbi Avraham Levitansky, shliach in Santa Monica.
• Rabbi Nosson Gurary - married to Mrs. Tzvia Miriam - passed away 13 Iyar 5766 (2006) - shliach in 'Central New York' and 'Buffalo', currently - Monsey.
• Rabbi Chaim Shlomo Cohen - Hebrew Speakers Center, Montreal.
• Rabbi Meir Plotkin, Montreal.
• Rabbi Tzemach Yosef Yitzchak Wolinsky, Montreal.
• Rabbi Chaim Berkowitz, Montreal.