Rabbi Refoel Wilschansky: Difference between revisions

Born to Reb Betzalel Wilschansky on 23 Cheshvan 1924. In his youth, his father was persecuted by the Communists and they wandered from place to place. Studied in Tomchei Tmimim yeshivas in Kursk, Voronezh and Berditchev. In winter 1938, while studying in Berditchev, he was arrested with other yeshiva students and imprisoned in government institutions for several months.

At winter's end, he escaped from the institution. He studied in Kutaisi, Georgia, where he was close to the Rosh Yeshiva Reb Shmuel Notik, learning nigleh and chassidus from him in classes and privately, even sharing a room with him for a period. After World War II, he traveled to Samarkand and was among Reb Nissan Nemenov's students.

In 1946, he traveled to Lvov and was active in the famous "escape", together with his brother Chaim Ber. He also escaped, and after a brief stay in Pocking continued to Paris. There he planned to study in Tomchei Tmimim Brunoy, but the Frierdiker Rebbe appointed him secretary of the refugee aid and settlement office, which became the European Lubavitch Office, under Reb Binyamin Gorodetzky. In this role, he managed Chabad institutions in France and North Africa for many years.

In 1972, he moved to New York and served as mashpia in Crown Heights, working on developing and expanding the neighborhood and was among the founders of "Vaad L'maan Kvod HaRabbonim". Simultaneously, following the Rebbe's instruction, he continued serving as secretary of the 'Office' and was involved in its activities until his last day.

Even after 3 Tammuz 1994, he continued vigorously publicizing the Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach's message of geula, and participated in a Moshiach reception at Lincoln Center.