Sholom Ber Keselman
Born on Erev Lag B'Omer 1927 in Polotsk, Belarus, together with his twin Reb Zev Keselman, to his father Reb Shlomo Chaim Keselman and his mother Mrs. Bluma. At their birth, they experienced health issues, and the Frierdiker Rebbe showed interest and concern for them. Even when the Frierdiker Rebbe was released from prison on 3 Tammuz 1927 before his exile to Kostrama, he asked three questions, one of which was: "How are Shlomo Chaim's children (who were born on Erev Lag B'Omer)?"
In his youth, he studied in Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim in Australia, Samarkand, France, and Tel Aviv. He served as a teacher in the Chabad Cheder in Lod, knew Tanya by heart and would review it constantly, and when teaching the daily lesson to his students, he wouldn't look in the book. Every year, he would repeat a Chassidic discourse at the national Yud Tes Kislev farbrengen in Kfar Chabad. He devoted himself to the Rebbe's mivtzoyim and utilized every opportunity for mivtza tefillin, even preferring to take the bus instead of a ride to do mivtzoyim.
When he reached marriageable age, he married Mrs. Devorah, daughter of Reb Yehuda Leib Slonim, who was a mashpia in the Chabad community of Meah Shearim and gabbai of the Baal HaTanya shul, and a descendant of the Rebbe's family.
He served as a mashpia in Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim in Kfar Chabad and gave Tanya classes in Hebrew while Reb Mendel Futerfas gave classes in Yiddish.
His classes became renowned, explaining everything well using many examples from daily life. Additionally, whenever a student would come to class a bit late, he would start from the beginning.
When he was teaching in the Cheder in Lod, he brought a Rambam to class and read to the children the signs of Moshiach from the Laws of Kings in Rambam. After finishing, he asked each child "Do you believe the Rebbe is Melech HaMoshiach?"
He was injured in a car accident on Rosh Chodesh Shevat 1987 and passed away a week later on 7 Shevat at the age of fifty-nine.
Family[edit | edit source]
- His brother Reb Zev Wolf Keselman
- His brother-in-law Reb Zev Dov Slonim
- His brother-in-law Reb Avraham Lisson
- His son Reb Yosef Yitzchak Keselman (Detroit)
- His son Reb Tzvi Hirsh Keselman (London)
- His son Reb Shmuel Keselman
- His son-in-law Reb Yitzchak Yaakov Gelbstein
Further Reading[edit | edit source]
Appendix to Reb Yisroel Alfenbein's book, "The Mashpia Reb Shlomo Chaim Keselman", Sivan 5773 (05.2013)