Yehuda Kalman Marlow: Difference between revisions

Rabbi Yehuda Kalman Marlow (10 Adar I 5692 - 20 Sivan 5760) was the rabbi of the [[Crown Heights]] neighborhood in Brooklyn, and one of the prominent leaders who believed in the [[The Rebbe|Rebbe]] as Melech HaMoshiach even after 3 Tammuz 5754. He was called by the Rebbe "Knight of Knights."

The Rabbi's last public appearance was at the Jubilee conference organized by the World Chabad Center for Greeting Moshiach on the eve of 10 Shevat 5760. He spoke about the importance of pure faith in small children: "Unfortunately, today's children have never seen the Rebbe, and despite everything, they grow up as true mekusharim (connected ones) and believe with complete faith. Fine, we - we saw the Rebbe. But from where do they have these powers? It must be that these are very high souls, with most elevated powers. Otherwise, there is no explanation."

His strong faith in the Rebbe as King Moshiach was also expressed during his illness when doctors ordered him to be confined to his bed. On the first Shabbat after his surgery, while he was in the hospital, ten students from the Central Tomchei Tmimim Yeshiva at 770 came to pray Kabbalat Shabbat with the Rabbi in a minyan. Before they began praying, family members asked them to hurry the prayer somewhat, due to the Rabbi's condition. When they reached the end of "Lecha Dodi," the Rabbi signaled with his hand for them to do a 'Yechi' dance. When he noticed their hesitation, he rose from his chair and began dancing himself and singing 'Yechi Adoneinu.' The dancing continued for ten minutes, after which he returned to his bed completely exhausted. The effort was so great that after the prayer, the Rabbi was unable to make Kiddush and had to rest for two full hours. After he woke up, he told his family that this was a special prayer, and afterward made Kiddush.

It should be noted that Rabbi Marlow was among the Chabad rabbis who issued a Torah ruling that it is forbidden to write titles implying the opposite of life about the Rebbe.

== His Passing ==

After Tishrei 5760, the Rabbi felt strange fatigue. Initially, he thought it was accumulated tiredness, but after several weeks he realized it was something much more serious. He went for medical tests, where it was discovered that he had a cancerous tumor spreading near his brain. A surgery date was immediately set to remove the tumor.

The surgery was scheduled for 7 Kislev. The night before surgery, the Rabbi was hospitalized for medical monitoring. He used that night to study the Turei Zahav on the laws of Chanukah in depth. He was so immersed in his studies that he didn't even notice his son-in-law Rabbi Schechter entering and leaving the room every half hour.

After the first surgery, when he returned to the hospital, he wrote a letter to the Rebbe and inserted it into the Igrot Kodesh. In his letter, the Rabbi asked for a blessing that he would not become a burden on his family members during his illness.

Indeed, his condition began to stabilize. Two months later, the illness attacked him again, this time much more severely, and he became bedridden. His last public appearance was on the eve of 10 Shevat 5760 (at an event celebrating fifty years of the Rebbe's leadership at 'Ohalei Torah' hall, where he gave an especially long speech of about forty-five minutes). After 10 Shevat, he could no longer leave his home, and the Temimim (yeshiva students) would organize minyanim in his house. From then on, the Rabbi's condition did not improve, and for eight months he suffered prolonged afflictions. The name 'Chaim' was added to his name.

# Yehuda Kalman Evening Yeshiva - Each year, children from educational institutions in Crown Heights participate in evening yeshiva programs throughout the year, receiving holy books and book purchase vouchers for religious bookstores.

# Tiferet Yehuda Kalman - For the first yahrzeit of Rabbi Marlow (20 Sivan 5761), a "Memorial Book - Tiferet Yehuda Kalman" was published in his honor and memory. It included teachings from our Rebbes, first Chassidim, scholarly discussions from rabbis worldwide, and a brief history of the Beis Din and Rabbi Marlow's life. For the second yahrzeit (20 Sivan 5762), a second volume was published.

# Torah Scroll - Writing of a Torah scroll in memory of Rabbi Marlow.