By Hershel Rosenbluh

R’ Moshe Yosef Sklar, a former long-time Crown Heights resident and a tomim who remembered many of the great chassidim of yesteryear, passed away Friday, 19 Shvat, after an illness.

He was 86 years old.

Born in New York in 1939 to his father Reb Elya Nochum, a tomim who learned in the town of Lubavitch, who served as a shadar for Colel Chabad and a member of the board of Agudas Chasidei Chabad.

As a bochur, Moshe learned in the Lubavitcher Yeshiva at Bedford and Dean, in Montreal, and in Lod under the great mashpiim. He had a great geshmak in davening and in chassidishe nigunim and would often daven b’arichus even during the weekdays, and especially on Shabbos and Yomtov.

Moshe married Rochel Schorr, daughter of Reb Yakov Schorr, who was the head of the “Malochim” shul in Williamsburg and a brother of Rav Gedalia Schorr, rosh yeshiva of Torah VoDaas. At the time, Reb Yankel’s appearance in 770 at the ufruf was a topic of discussion.

He lived in Crown Heights for many decades. In recent years, he moved to Kensington, Brooklyn, to be near his family.

R’ Moshe was a baal shmuah who publicized several hora’os that he received from the Rebbe and that were heretofore unknown to chassidim. You could always count on Reb Moshe to tell you about 770 of yesteryear, when he was one of a few Anash children who lived near the Rebbe.

He is survived by his wife Rochel, children R’ Shneur Zalman – Eretz Yisroel, R’ Sholom Ber – Flatbush, R’ Shmuel – Kensington, Chana Feigel – Kensington, R’ Yanky – Wisconsin, R’ Mottel – Kensington, R’ Yisroel – Flatbush, Chava Esther – Lakewood, and R’ Eli Nachum – Kensington, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He is also survived by his sister, Mrs. Chana Sklar-Israel Levy of Monsey.

He was predeceased by his son Aron Yitzchok of Chicago in 5778.

The levaya will take place on Sunday at 11:15 am at Cong. Tiferes Levi Yitzchok (Ginsberg), 1526-38th Street, Brooklyn, and will pass by 770 at 12:00 pm.

Shiva info to follow.

Baruch dayan ho’emes