Nachman Sudak
Rabbi Nachman Sudak (18th of Shevat 5696 - 17th of Sivan 5774, 1936-2014) served as the Rebbe's head shliach and director of Lubavitch House and chairman of Chabad institutions in Britain.
Life History[edit | edit source]
Born on 18th of Shevat 5696 in Kiev to his father R' Pinchas Sudak and his mother Mrs. Chaya Basya.
He studied in Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim in Samarkand, Tashkent, Pocking, Tel Aviv and Lod. In 5715 he went to study at the Central Tomchei Tmimim - 770 until Elul 5719.
After becoming engaged to his wife Fradel, daughter of the chassid Rabbi Bentzion Shemtov, he entered yechidus with the Rebbe and requested that the wedding be in New York so that the Rebbe could be mesader kiddushin. The Rebbe responded that the custom of the world is to make the wedding in the place where the kallah's parents live, and that he should make the wedding in England. Before traveling to England for his wedding, he entered yechidus again and asked the Rebbe if he would merit the Rebbe's participation spiritually, if not physically. The Rebbe answered him: "Participation physically!"
Shlichus in London[edit | edit source]
Rabbi Sudak arrived on shlichus in England in 5720 and in those days in London there was a small Chabad community with several important chassidim and he was the first shliach and part of his work was expanding activities through Lubavitch House London.
In 5768 he was chosen by the Jewish newspaper "Jewish Telegraph" as the second most influential Jew in England, after Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks.
Rabbi Sudak received from Queen Elizabeth of England a special honor, recognition for his work as the Rebbe's shliach.
Over the years he was among those who merited to visit the Rebbe's private home, and he had important conversations with Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka.
Final Years[edit | edit source]
On 22nd of Menachem Av 5767 he stumbled in Lubavitch House in London, and as a result of the fall suffered from health issues.
In the 'Jubilee Year' of his going out on shlichus, 5770, the number of shluchim passed ninety and at the Kinus Hashluchim in England the jubilee of the arrival of the first shliach Rabbi Nachman Sudak was celebrated.
During the International Kinus Hashluchim 5774 he suffered a heart condition and was hospitalized in serious condition. At the end of Adar Sheini he was released with his health condition stable.
He passed away on 17th of Sivan 5774 at age 78.
His Family[edit | edit source]
- His son Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Sudak - Edgware, England
- His son Rabbi Kasriel Sudak - previously member of Kollel Chabad administration and from Anash in Crown Heights
- His son Rabbi Menachem Mendel Sudak - London, England
- His son Rabbi Sholom DovBer Sudak - from the Rebbe's shluchim in London, England
- His son Rabbi Shneur Zalman Sudak - the Rebbe's shliach in Edgware, England
- His son Rabbi Bentzion Sudak - from the Rebbe's shluchim in London, England
- His daughter Mrs. Basya, married to Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Raskin - Mara D'asra of the Chabad community in London, England
- His daughter Mrs. Esther Golda, married to Rabbi Tzvi Hirsh Kesselman - the Rebbe's shliach in Southgate, England
- His daughter Mrs. Chana, married to Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Alperowitz - the Rebbe's shliach in Bournemouth, England