Ben Tzion Binyamin (Binke) Althaus
R' Ben Tzion Binyamin (Binke) Althaus was an educator at the Tomchei Tmimim Yeshiva branch in Bedford, New York, and a member of the Chabad community in Queens.
Life History
Born in 1934 to his father R' Pinchas Tudros Althaus, who was close to the Rebbeim's family and among the leading Chabad askanim in Eretz HaKodesh. He was named after his paternal grandfather - R' Binyamin Althaus from Nikolayev.
As a bochur, he was among the first to come learn in Chassidus Kodshenu after the histalkus of the Frierdiker Rebbe. In 1953, he married Mrs. Taima, daughter of Rabbi Binyamin Gorodetzky, and merited that the Rebbe served as mesader kiddushin and participated in their wedding.
After his marriage, he lived in Crown Heights and served for many years as an educator at the Tomchei Tmimim Yeshiva branch in Bedford, New York.
Until 1988, he had the zechus to hand the Sefer Torah to the Rebbe during the first and last hakafa on the night of Simchas Torah. On Simchas Torah 1988, some chassidim decided that he should not give the Rebbe the Sefer Torah, since he had befriended some from the opposing side in the seforim case. They physically prevented him from approaching the Rebbe's bima to hand the Rebbe the Sefer Torah. In his place, R' Chaim Sholom Ber Lipsker gave the Sefer Torah to the Rebbe. After Simchas Torah, he summoned Rabbi Lipsker to din Torah, and the din Torah was set for the auspicious day of Rosh Chodesh Kislev, where ultimately Rabbi Lipsker won the case.
After being distanced from Lubavitch, he moved to live in Queens, until his passing at age 85 on Friday, 10 Shevat 2018. His levaya took place that day, and he was buried on Erev Shabbos.
Family
- His daughter, Mrs. Shoshana Koren - Queens, New York
- His daughter, Mrs. Esther Reitman - Melbourne, Australia
- His daughter, Mrs. Rivka Sanders - New York