‘My Close Friend’: Remembering Reb Berel Chaskind

By Hershel Rosenbluh

On 26 Elul, 5718 (1958), Reb Berel Chaskind passed away.

Reb Berel, born in 5657 (1897), was a chossid and yerei Shomayim who was totally immersed in the ways of Chassidus, a true example of what Tomchei Tmimim accomplished.

In the 5690s (1930s), he was banished from Riga by the government for working to obtain food packages for his fellow Chassidim. The Frierdiker Rebbe advised him to go to Eretz Yisroel. The Rashag was in Eretz Yisroel at the time and arranged certificates for Reb Berel and several others to travel there.

Reb Berel was one of only two people whom the Frierdiker Rebbe referred to as “my close friends.” The other was Reb Yochanon Gordon. His son, Reb Sholom, later remembered being a ben-bayis in the Frierdiker Rebbe’s home. As a child, he would even show the Rebbetzin his new suit that he had received for Yomtov.

When Reb Berel arrived in New York from Eretz Yisroel in 5698 (1938), the Frierdiker Rebbe wrote him a letter describing how the dawn of Torah was rising in America and the sun of Chassidus was beginning to shine there.

And so it was. Reb Berel would farbreng with the bochurim, serving as a living link to the old world of Lubavitch. He had a remarkable ability to describe the ways and conduct of the earlier Chassidim, giving the younger generation a glimpse into a world they had never known.

Reb Berel also has the zechus of being the first person to approach the Rebbe and ask whether the Rebbe would review the notes that were being made of his farbrengens. Reb Berel explained that Anash in other cities wanted to know what the Rebbe was saying, so they were making notes for them. Could the Rebbe review them?

The Rebbe agreed, and so it began.

Reb Berel was also the first person to call the Rebbe by the title Adoneinu Moreinu V’Rabeinu. This took place on Simchas Torah 5711 (1950), the year after the histalkus of the Frierdiker Rebbe, when the Rebbe received the aliyah of Choson Bereishis in the shul at 770.

On Rosh Hashonoh 5714 (1953), Reb Berel became stranded in Brunoy on his way back to the United States. Reb Sholom Ber Butman, who was then a talmid in Brunoy, later remembered his davening on Rosh Hashonoh, the copious tears, and the nigunim.

Reb Berel passed away on 26 Elul, 5718 (1958), at the age of 61. He was interred very close to the Ohel, fitting for a mekurav who was so deeply connected to the Rebbe.