A memorial event will be held tonight to mark the first yahrtzeit of Rabbi Yaakov Yisroel Reich a”h, a father and grandfather from Crown Heights who started the “Kehos Book Club” and later published many Sifrei Chassidus. The event will take place at 7:00 PM at his home, 1301 President Street.

The evening, featuring divrei hisorerus and shared memories, is open to men and women, family, friends, and community members to honor his memory.

R’ Yaakov Reich was born in Switzerland. He came to the USA to study and earned his PHD in Mathematics. He was a Professor of Mathematics at Baruch College for fifty years. While studying in university, he met and married his wife, Esther, and they moved to Crown Heights 

During the 1980s, with the Rebbe’s bracha, he ran Kehos. He established the “Kehos Book Club” where people could pre-order Sifrei Chassidus and the Rebbe spoke about this Book Club at Shabbos Hey Teves Farbrengen 1992, Parshas Vayigash, that this helps with the Pidyon Shvuyim of the Sefarim.  He received many brachos and encouragement from the Rebbe regarding his work with the Sefarim and this was one of his life missions. 

His home was always open and he welcomed thousands of guests from all over the world over the years. In addition, he did a lot of gemilus chasadim and he had a special Ahavas Yisroel.

He was very mekushar to the Rebbe and was zoche to have several yechidus with the Rebbe and had complete faith in the immediate coming of Moshiach.