Editing Zalman Shimon Dvorkin

Rabbi Zalman Shimon Dvorkin (1900 - 17th of Adar 1985) served as the Rabbi of Crown Heights and was a member of the Lubavitch Rabbinical Committee.

Rabbi Dvorkin was born in the town of Rogatchov in 1900 to his father Reb Yerucham and his mother Mrs. Rivka. In 1912, he was sent to study at Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim in Lubavitch, where he became one of the outstanding students. His teacher in Nigleh was Reb Shmuel Nisnevitch (Borisover) and in Chassidus was Reb Gronem Esterman. His peers included Rabbi Yehuda Haber, Rabbi Yisroel Leib Lipshitz, and Rabbi Avraham Eliyahu Axelrod.

== Years in Russia ==
After Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim left Lubavitch, he went to study in Kharkov together with a group of Tmimim. The studies took place in the women's section of the "Mtchenski Shul" synagogue and in the small synagogue on the first floor.

He later married Rebbetzin Tzvia, daughter of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Dobravsky. About a year after his wedding, Rav Zalman Shimon was appointed as Rabbi and Shochet in the town of Voronok in Ukraine. After several years, he relocated to the city of Stradov where he served as Rabbi and Moreh Hora'ah. He taught Torah publicly in classes with both scholars and simple people, both Nigleh and Chassidus, sometimes having to work underground.

== Escape from the Soviet Union ==
In 1937-38, during the waves of arrests of Rabbis, Chassidim and religious functionaries, the NKVD came to arrest him at his home, but he wasn't there and his wife escaped from the house to notify him. He immediately fled the city and moved to Leningrad.

During his time in Leningrad, he was among the leaders of Anash in the city and worked as a bookbinder for his livelihood. During the Holocaust, he ensured that many Jews, including Chassidim, received proper Jewish burial.

== Post-War Activities ==
After the war, he left the Soviet Union and arrived in Pocking, Germany, until Kislev 1948 when he reached Tomchei Tmimim in Brunoy, France, where he served as the head mashgiach for Nigleh studies.

Between 1948-1954, he traveled throughout Europe as a wandering shliach to spread Yiddishkeit. In Ireland, he served as the supervising Rabbi for the kosher slaughter that Anash established there according to the Rebbes' instructions.

== Later Years ==
In 1954, he moved to Pittsburgh and served as the Rabbi of Anash there. Around 1964, he was brought to serve as Rabbi of the large Chabad community in Crown Heights, and together with Reb Shmuel Levitan and Reb Eliyahu Simpson served as a posek in 770.

He was appointed as "Rosh Kollel" in the Kollel under the secretariat of the Rebbe.

His wife Rebbetzin Tzvia passed away on the night of Shabbos, 15th of Iyar 1976.

During his illness, he once spoke with the Rebbe, and the Rebbe told him to ask for whatever he wanted. Understanding this was an auspicious time, he asked for Moshiach's coming (rather than his own healing).

He passed away from his illness on Motzei Shabbos Parshas Ki Sisa, 17th of Adar 1985, near midnight after asking for a glass of water. The Rebbe participated in his funeral which took place the following day.

He did not leave any children.

After his passing, elections were held for the neighborhood rabbis. In these elections, the following distinguished rabbis were chosen to serve: Rabbi Yehuda Kalman Marlow, [[Avrohom Osdoba|Rabbi Avraham osdoba]], and Rabbi Avraham Yosef Heller.

== Further Reading ==

* Kovetz RAZA"SH - His history, halachic rulings, responses, notes and memorial articles. Edited by Rabbi Shalom DovBer Levin and his brother-in-law Rabbi Eliezer Lipa Dubrawski, Crown Heights, 1987.
* Yosef Ashkenazi, Otzar HaChassidim - The personalities and Chassidic teachings of Chabad Mashpi'im in New York, published by Chazak, 2013.
* Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Holtzman, Ki Karov, Issue No. 131: An overview of Rabbi Dvorkin.

== External Links ==

* Zichron RAZA"SH - A Teshurah collection including chronicles of his life, notes, stories and holy letters addressed to him. Wedding Teshurah from the Wolf families of Crown Heights and the Hecht families of Park Slope, 5 Tammuz 2010
* Dov Levanon, The Mara D'Asra of the Rebbe, Beis Moshiach Weekly -