Rabbi Gershon Mendel Garelik, longtime shliach and rov of Milan, Italy, and founder of Merkos Rabbonei Europe, passed away on Shabbos, Rosh Chodesh Adar.
By Anash.org reporter
Rabbi Gershon Mendel Garelik, longtime shliach and rov of Milan, Italy, and founder of Merkos Rabbonei Europe, passed away on Shabbos, Rosh Chodesh Adar.
He was 88 years old.
Rabbi Garelik was born on 8 Iyar, 5692, to his parents Rabbi Chaim Meir and Rivkah Leah Garelik who served as the shluchim of the Frierdiker Rebbe to spread Yiddishkeit in far-flung villages in USSR. He spent his childhood years in the Soviet Union, where he learned in underground yeshivos.
In 5709, his family moved to Eretz Yisroel, settling in Kfar Chabad. Gershon Mendel continued his studies there, first in the Achei Tmimim Yeshiva in Tel Aviv, and afterwards in Tomchei Tmimim in Lod.
In Sivan of 5715, he traveled to New York to be in the presence of the Rebbe, and spent a number of years studying in the central Tomchei Tmimim in 770. During those years, he studied for and received smicha from Rabbi Yisroel Yitzchok Piekarski.
On Daled Tammuz 5718, he married his wife Basya, daughter of R’ Sholom Posner. The Rebbe was messader kiddushin by the chassuna, which took place in front of 770.
Less than half a year later, in Kislev of 5719, the young couple were sent on shlichus to Milan, Italy. The Rebbe himself came out to escort them as they embarked on their journey. A few days later, by the Rebbe’s Yud Tes Kislev farbrengen, the Rebbe asked that one of Rabbi Garelik’s relatives say l’chaim on his behalf. During the following months, the Rebbe mentioned the couple a number of times by farbrengens.
Upon arriving in Milan, Rabbi Garelik began serving as the rov of the Ashkenazi community, and shortly afterwards he was appointed as the Chief Rabbi of the Ashkenazi community.
Rabbi Garelik served as the Rebbe’s shliach to Milan for 61 years. During that time he built a empire of shlichus in Italy, establishing tens of mosdos and bringing thousands back to Yiddishkeit.
He is survived by his wife Basya, and their children Rabbi Levi Garelik, Rabbi Yosef Garelik, Moshe Garelik, Mrs. Rivkah Leah Hazan, Mrs. Sasha Shaikevitz, Mrs. Shterna Sarah Krinsky, and Mrs. Chana Greenberg.
Levaya and Shiva information will be posted when available.
BDE. So so for the loss of your husband and father. He was a real tzadik. He will sorely be missed. May you all only know from Simchas from now on.
I have a cherished memory of receiving lekach,honey cake from Rabbi Garelik on Rosh Hashanah in Milan when visiting his wonderful daughter Rivky.
I was so very lucky, he will be greatly missed.