Rabbi Mordechai Dovber Pupko, a descendant of the Mitteler Rebbe who led Bais Torah Damesek Eliezer “Pupko Shul” in Flatbush that houses a Torah that belonged to the Mitteler Rebbe, passed away.
By Anash.org reporter
R’ Mordechai Dovber Pupko, a descendant of the Mitteler Rebbe who led Bais Torah Damesek Eliezer “Pupko Shul” in Flatbush that houses a Torah that belonged to the Mitteler Rebbe, passed away.
R’ Mordechai Dovber was the son of Rabbi Yitzchok Pupko, a member of the Agudas Harabbonim of the USA and Canada, and Rebbetzin Shifra Freida, daughter of Rabbi Moshe Chaim Yehoshua Schneerson-Twersky, the Tomoshpoler Rebbe of Crown Heights.
R’ Mordechai Dovber was named after his great-grandfather, R’ Mordechai Dovber Schneerson, the original Tomoshpoler Rebbe, who was the son of R’ Menachem Nochum, and a grandson of the Mitteler Rebbe. The name, given to him by his grandfather R’ Yaakov Yisroel of Cherkass, is a combination of the names of R’ Mordechai (Mottel) of Chernobyl and the Mitteler Rebbe.
Rabbi Yitzchok Pupko, who preceded his son as the rav of the shul, had a warm relationship with the Frierdiker Rebbe and the Rebbe. During a yechidus, the Frierdiker Rebbe told him, “I have much nachas from you.” He would frequently visit 770 and attend farbrengens, and had numerous private interactions with the Rebbe, including a 20-minute conversation in an elevator following Mincha in 770. He was also deeply involved in the Rebbe’s initiatives, including the mihu yehudi campaign and shleimus haaretz.
Following the passing of Tomoshpoler Rebbe of Crown Heights, the Rebbe personally visited the family for nichum aveilim, joining them in learning Mishnayos and inquiring about their yichus.
After his father’s passing, R’ Mordechai Ber devotedly led Bais Torah Damesek Eliezer “Pupko Shul” in Flatbush. The family held a Torah that belonged to the Mitteler Rebbe, and it was held in the shul. Every year, around Tes Kislev, the Mitteler Rebbe’s yahrtzeit, he would welcome Lubavitcher bochurim to daven in the shul and use the special sefer Torah.
In an interview, R’ Mordechai Dovber recounted a remarkable miracle surrounding this Torah:
“Our family held two Sifrei Torah—one from the Mitteler Rebbe and the other to R’ Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev. Both were seized by the Russian government.
“In our family, there were two young women who had been orphaned at an early age and grew up receiving a secular education. They worked as clerks in the Russian military.
“Amazingly, despite their background, they understood the immense value of these Sifrei Torah. They had access to the government’s storage facilities, and one day, they boldly entered, retrieved the sifrei Torah, and told the guards, ‘You didn’t see anything, and we were never here.’ Thanks to their courage, we were able to bring the Torahs to the United States.”
Family tradition had it that during the years of the Communist regime, the precious Sefer Torah was hidden in an underground cellar that served as a storage area for food. Over time, the delicate parchment suffered damage due to the harsh conditions. Yet, b’hashgacha pratis, the sacred script itself remained intact, though today, numerous patches can be seen on the back of the parchment, bearing witness to its turbulent history.
Expert sofer Rabbi Eliezer Zirkind of Crown Heights examined the Sefer Torah and concluded that based on its script and parchment, it predates the Mitteler Rebbe, and it’s likely that the Mitteler Rebbe received it.
“The sefer Torah reached us in no simple manner,” R’ Mordechai Dovber said, “but for Chabad, we gladly make it available.”
Yehi zichro boruch.
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