R’ Yaakov Tzvi Holtzman, 87, OBM
Rabbi Yaakov Tzvi Holtzman, who merited to serve in the home of the the Rebbe MH”M and Rebbetzin, and moved on shlichus to Antwerp, Belgium, where he lived until recently moving to Crown Heights, passed away on Tuesday, 4 Elul 5781 • Full Story
Rabbi Yaakov Tzvi Holtzman, who merited to serve in the home of the the Rebbe MH”M and Rebbetzin, and moved on shlichus to Antwerp, Belgium, where he lived until recently moving to Crown Heights, passed away on Tuesday, 4 Elul 5781.
He was 87 years old.
He was born on 5 Shvat 5694 to Yitzchok Manis Holtzman in Paris. As a young boy he landed in a Chabad orphanage in Paris following the Second World War. It was in that orphanage that the young boy met the Rebbe MH”M for the first time in 5707 when the Rebbe arrived to escort his mother, Rebbetzin Chana, to New York.
While the Rebbe was in Paris, he visited the orphanage, testing the children on their knowledge and accordingly awarding prizes for their achievements. The young Yaakov Tzvi used the visit as an opportunity to ask the Rebbe if he could himself come to America. In 5709 a visa was arranged for the boy, who subsequently traveled to the U.S. and settled in Crown Heights. It was there that he merited to see the Frierdiker Rebbe. He later enrolled in the central Tomchei Temimim.
It was in 5714 when his relationship with beis horav began. The Rebbetzin had travelled to Europe. In her absence a local cook prepared meals for the Rebbe. Yaakov Tzvi was selected to transport the food and serve it to the Rebbe. He continued to help even after the Rebbetzin returned. He became a handyman, helping with various tasks around the Rebbe’s house, which subsequently became his home away from home.
When he began shidduchim, the Rebbetzin gifted him with several of the Rebbe’s old suits, being that the Rebbe switched permanently from wearing short jackets to wearing a kapote and was no longer using them.
In 5726, the Rebbe instructed him to travel to Antwerp, Belgium on shlichus, where he established the city’s first Chabad minyan, Camp Gan Yisroel, a Chabad seforim store, among several other peulos around the European city.
In recent years, he lived in Beitar Ilit, Eretz Yisroel, and more recently he moved to Crown Heights.
He is survived by his children Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Holtzman – Crown Heights; Rabbi Uri Holtzman – Beitar Ilit, Eretz Yisroel; Rabbi Noach Holtzman – Crown Heights; Rabbi Meshulam Holtzman; and Mrs. Fruma Kraus – Crown Heights.
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