R’ Yehoshua Safrin, 91, AH

R’ Yehoshua Safrin, son of the Komarna Rebbe and a chossid of the Rebbe, who learned in and supported the Crown Heights Kollel, passed away over Shabbos.

He was 91 years old.

Born to Harav Chaim Yaakov Safrin, a noted talmid chacham and mekubal who served as the Komarna Rebbe in New York and later in Yerushalayim. He was a great-grandson of the renowned Komarna Rebbe, Rabbi Yitzchok Eizik Yehuda Yechiel Safrin, author of Atzei Eden, a commentary on Mishnayos, which the Rebbe cited in discussing the practice of learning Mishnayos for the elevation of a neshamah. The family arrived in America in 1938.

R’ Yehoshua was raised in the Komarna derech of Torah, avodah, and a focus on Kabbalah. He was one of the last talmidim of Reb Reuven Grozovsky at Bais Medrash Elyon in Monsey.

As a bochur, he merited to have yechidus with the Rebbe, during which the Rebbe urged him to study Chassidus and described the effects of one who does not learn Chassidus.

While all his brothers eventually became rebbes of their own, R’ Yehoshua went into business, but dedicated large portions of his day to Torah learning. He also led the Boyaner Shtiebl in Manhattan, where he would share Torah.

R’ Yehoshua became business partners with Reb Sholom Ber Drizin from Crown Heights, and the two became very successful. He was a big baal tzedakah, supporting many individuals and mosdos, including the Crown Heights Kollel.

Alongside his roots in Komarna, R’ Yehoshua constantly maintained a special connection to Lubavitch. He would visit 770 frequently to be by the Rebbe’s farbrengens or to spend time in the Rebbe’s presence.

He had a particularly close relationship with Reb Yoel Kahn. R’ Yehoshua would visit Reb Yoel on numerous occasions, and the two would discuss Chassidus together.

For many years, he had a set chavrusa in the Kollel, where he would spend half a day learning with Rabbi Avraham Hertz. Only after learning would he head to work.

He was knowledgeable in both Nigleh and Chassidus with a wide interest in all areas of Torah. He was a sharp person who was not afraid to speak his mind, speaking about the Rebbe in all kinds of circles.

Yehi zichro boruch