1 year ago

Chazan Tzvi Hersh Tsatskis, 85, OBM

We are deeply saddened to report on the passing of Chazan Tzvi Hersh Tsatskis, who was known for singing niggunim by the Rebbe during Farbrengens, he also received many encouragements from the Rebbe over the years. He passed away on Shabbos, Yud Shevat, 5784 • Full Story

He was 85

Chazan Tzvi Hersh Tsatskis was born on Yom Kippur in 1938, in the city of Kazan, Tatarstan, then part of the Soviet Union. He was educated by the Chabad teachers in the Underground despite the the danger of imprisonment.

In 5730, a Chabad Shliach went to the Rebbe in New York to ask for the Rebbe’s blessing that his family escape Russia. “Less than a year later – at a time when this was near impossible! – we received the green light to go. As soon as we arrived in America, of course we came to see the Rebbe to express our gratitude.” He said later in an interview.

That was the first time he participated in a farbrengen and saw thousands of Yidden gathered together – something which was forbidden in Russia.

He related, “It was amazing to hear the Rebbe speak and to see everyone so happy, singing with such joy. For me, it was an unbelievable experience. During the farbrengen I was sitting by the door as far away from the Rebbe as you could get, and I couldn’t hear him very well from there. But even if I could have heard him, I wouldn’t have understood much.

“Then, something happened—the Rebbe began to distribute wine from his cup, and I saw people lining up to receive it and say l’chaim. I was sitting in the back, debating with myself whether I should join them. I wanted to, but not being a Chabad chassid, I wasn’t sure if I should, until I saw the line coming to an end. And then, on an impulse, I got up and stood at the back of the line. Before long I found myself in front of the Rebbe holding my cup. The Rebbe gave me a big smile, poured wine into my cup, and I said l’chaim. I started to walk away, but the Rebbe called me back. He motioned for me to come forward.

“So I came back, and he gave me an even bigger smile and poured a bit more wine into my cup. I said l’chaim again, and then he spoke to me in Russian: “Don’t have any more doubts.” I was so shaken that I almost fainted. Then he said, “Sing!” And I started to sing the Pesach song, “Who knows one?” except I sang it in Russian: “Ech Ti Zemlyak . . .”

“After that, I was privileged to sing many, many times at the Rebbe’s farbrengens. And every time, it was a tremendous thing for me to do so, standing next to the Rebbe.”

He is survived by his wife, Eda Tsatskis and children, Izzy Tsatskis and Tania Weissman.

The Levaya will take place on Sunday, January 21, at 1:00 PM
Boulevard Riverside Chapels
1450 Broadway, Hewlett, NY 11557

Shiva will be at Tsatskis Home, 454 Broadway, Cedarhurst, beginning on Sunday evening until Friday 1 PM.

Shacharis Monday – Friday at 7:00 AM
Mincha/Maariv Monday – Thursday at 4:45 PM

The family requests no visitors from 6:00-7:00 pm or after 9:30 pm.

Baruch Dayan Haemes

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