Rabbi Nochum Stilerman, 84, AH

Rabbi Nochum Stilerman, who grew up in Crown Heights near the Rebbe and went on to raise hundreds of millions for Jewish organizations, passed away in Yerushalayim. His sister, Mrs. Bassie Pinson, is sitting shiva in Crown Heights.

Rabbi Nochum Stilerman, who grew up in Crown Heights near the Rebbe and went on to raise hundreds of millions for Jewish organizations, passed away in Yerushalayim.

He was 84 years old.

Born to Holocaust survivors, his early years were shaped by his family’s perseverance. After the war, his parents spent four years in France at a DP camp before arriving in the United States in 1951. Settling in Crown Heights, his father opened the neighborhood’s first shomer Shabbos grocery store, where young Nochum delivered orders.

In an interview with JEM, Rabbi Stilerman shared memories of those times:

“In the early 1950s, when I was about nine years old, I became a delivery boy for my father. Using a three-wheeled pushcart, I would make the deliveries to his customers – and we had some famous customers. Among them was the Rebbe and his wife – Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka, the Rebbe’s mother – Rebbetzin Chana, and the Rebbe’s mother-in-law, the widow of the Previous Rebbe.

“One day – it was in 1953 or 1954, as I recall – a Lubavitcher named Yankel Lipsker came to my father and said he wanted to open another grocery store in the neighborhood, just one block away from ours. My father said to him, “There isn’t enough business for one family, how can there be for two? Besides this, the wholesale distributors of kosher products won’t deliver to you, since they are already delivering to me.”

“But Lipsker pleaded, “I need to make a living.” So my father said, “Let’s go to the Rebbe; whatever he says, I will do.” They went to the Rebbe, who heard both my father’s and Lipsker’s arguments. And then he said, “Under ordinary circumstances, Mr. Stilerman is correct. The two of you can’t both make it. But I assure you that the Almighty will provide a livelihood for both of you.”

“My father heard the Rebbe and, because he totally trusted the Rebbe, he said okay. Not only did he allow Lipsker to open a competing grocery store, but he loaned him the money to do so!

In recalling his visits to Rebbetzin Chana, he related:

“I most vividly recall making deliveries to the Rebbe’s mother, Rebbetzin Chana, who was always very cordial to me, offering me a glass of milk – hot in the winter, cold in the summer – whenever I came.

“I grew very fond of Rebbetzin Chana. She was a joyful person, exuding a lot of optimism, always with a smile on her face. She gave me the feeling that she was like my Bubby, that she really cared about me – the little kid schlepping her groceries.

“One time, I asked her, “Rebbetzin, what is the Rebbe’s favorite prayer?” I don’t know what put that question into my head, but I was a teenager by then, about to go to college, and I wanted to know what the most important prayer is, so that I could have a single prayer to recite with total concentration.

“She answered, “All the prayers are important, but yes, there must be one that is more important than the rest. I don’t know what that is for the Rebbe. But the next time he is here, I will ask him on your behalf.”

“The following week, when I delivered to her, she said, “I am so happy to have an answer to your question.” She paused, and I waited with great anticipation to hear the answer.

“It’s a very short prayer,” she said. “It’s the very first prayer we say in the morning, Modeh ani le’fanecha – I give thanks before You, Living and Everlasting King, that You restored my soul to me with compassion; great is Your faithfulness.”

“I was surprised but also very happy to hear it. And I adopted this prayer as my own personal favorite as well.”

Rabbi Stilerman went on to become a major fundraiser for many Jewish organizations, raising hundreds of millions of dollars and training others to successful fundraising.

Rabbi Stilerman is survived by his wife, Denah, and children: Mrs. Tzippy Thall, Mrs. Esti Yarmush, Rabbi Yisroel Stilerman, Mrs. Ahuva Weinberger, Rabbi Yosef Stilerman, Rabbi Avrohom Yeshaya Stilerman, and Rabbi Shlomo Stilerman, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He is also survived by his sister, Mrs. Bassie Pinson.

He was predeceased by his brother, Rabbi Pinchos Gruman of Los Angeles.

Mrs. Pinson will be sitting Shivah in Crown Heights from Thursday to Motzei Shabbos.

Address: 972 Lincoln Place

Hours:
Thursday – 11am to 3pm; 6pm to 9pm
Friday – until 12pm
Motzei Shabbos – until 10pm.

Boruch dayan hoemes.

Discussion

We appreciate your feedback. If you have any additional information to contribute to this article, it will be added below.

  1. Baby in the song a bris in moskvah by reb yum tov erlich was reb nuchem as he himself recounted.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


advertise package