Today marks 25 years since the yahrtzeit of one of Lubavitch’s most legendary askonim and public figures, Harav Hachosid Reb Berke Wolf AH. He passed away at the young age of 56, in the midst of a life filled with rich and extensive askonus and deep involvement in Chabad affairs. His passing left a profound impact, and the void he left behind is one that is extremely difficult to fill. A figure like Reb Berke, it seems, is truly impossible to replicate.

Born in Yerushalayim on 21 Av 5704, to Pessia and Harav Hachosid Efrayim, who directed and headed all the central Lubavitch institutions in Eretz Yisroel, his life was immediately surrounded by public askonus and shlichus on behalf of the Rebbe. After learning at 770, he returned to Eretz Yisroel and began assisting his father in managing all the different mosdos. He played a leading role in maintaining, developing, and growing the central Tomchei Tmimim Yeshiva.

There was one area, however, where he was especially dedicated: his role as Chabad’s spokesperson in Eretz Yisroel. For decades, he worked tirelessly to represent Chabad in the media and bring the Rebbe’s sichos – timely and often critical – to the Israeli public. He also served as a lobbyist for Chabad causes in the Knesset and across all government institutions.

His connections with the press began at a very young age: he was just a newborn when it made the news that his mother had given birth to him in an ambulance on the way to the hospital – a rather unusual event over thirty years ago. From that moment, his ties with the media grew stronger and stronger, until it became impossible to think of the Israeli press without “Berke” and his regular updates, sent almost daily in the name of “Agudas Chasidei Chabad in Eretz Hakodesh,” P.O. Box 46, Lod.

Due to his unparalleled success in his field, more than once tempting offers came his way to become the spokesperson for one institution or another – including a prominent government office. Yet he steadfastly refused, saying that he was here only to spread Yiddishkeit and Chassidus and to represent the Rebbe.

During one of his many visits to the Rebbe in New York, he asked for a bracha for success in spreading the Rebbe’s Torah. The Rebbe told him: “You will succeed in your work and find favor in the eyes of Hashem and man” – here the Rebbe lifted his eyes and smiled – “and in the eyes of the journalists as well…”

Indeed, Berke succeeded with a strikingly unusual and uncanny ability, enjoying the favor of journalists and excelling in his role far beyond what could be predicted by talent, circumstances, or conditions. It was hard-pressed to find a newspaper or popular journalist who did not hold Berke in high regard. He was considered “one of the family” in newspaper offices, and there was hardly a topic or story that he could not “sell.” Editors often said to him, “Just for you, Berke”.

He was also an integral part of the “landscape” of the Knesset, socializing with ministers and members of Knesset and helping to arrange matters. Thanks to these personal connections, he loved doing favors for fellow Jews and was always willing to run errands or help out, without expecting any thanks.

It was thanks to his close and unparalleled friendships and connections that, before most government ministers even knew anything, Berke was already informed about the Entebbe rescue mission that had just been launched.

Most of the Chabad activities in Eretz Yisrael – the Tze’irei Chabad campaigns, visits of prominent figures to Kfar Chabad, special events of Chabad institutions, and Kehos publications – made it into the media thanks to his personal connections and the “favor” he enjoyed with journalists. 

But above all, it was the news coming out of 770, including farbrengens and the Rebbe’s sichos, including the Rebbe’s timely and urgent messages on Shleimus HaAretz that needed to reach the Israeli public or certain important government ministers, that Berke ensured were distributed. He also circulated the Rebbe’s “Michtovim Klolim” in the press and organized “Siyumim” during the Nine Days on the radio.

Everything he did was aimed at spreading the Rebbe’s teachings and Chassidus, making sure Torah and Chassidus reached everyone – even those far from Yiddishkeit – so that they could become vessels for spreading the word of Hashem.

“For me, any day that Chabad is not in the newspapers or on the radio is considered a day of failure, because in my view, every day should feature news and stories about spreading Chassidus,” he once said in an interview with Bitaon Chabad.

Once, he wrote a letter to the Rebbe in which he apologized and asked forgiveness if his publicity had caused any distress. In the reply he received, the Rebbe wrote (approximately): “How could it even occur to you that anyone would have complaints against you, when you have succeeded in spreading Yiddishkeit in places that one could never have imagined reaching…”

He passed away after an illness on Shabbat Parashat Bereshit, 30 Tishrei 5761, at the age of 56.

Yehi zichro baruch.