Rabbi Yosef Bentzion Raices, 91, AH

Rabbi Yosef Bentzion Raices, a”h, a longtime resident of Crown Heights who was a dedicated melamed for over 50 years, passed away on Shabbos.

By Anash.org reporter

Rabbi Yosef Bentzion Raices a”h, a longtime resident of Crown Heights who was a dedicated melamed for over 50 years, passed away on Shabbos, 15 Iyar, 5780.

He was 91-years-old.

Rabbi Raices was born Tes Elul, in the year 5688/1928, to his parents, Rabbi Shmuel Yitzchok and Altah Yehudis. In his youth, he learned Torah with mesiras nefesh in Soviet Russia.

Accounts of life in Samarkand speak of a young bochur, Yoske Reices, who learned Torah diligently under great duress and hunger.

After escaping Russia with his family they stayed in a DP camp until they were able to emigrate to the USA. There, they settled in Crown Heights were R’ Yossel began learning in the yeshiva at 770.

When R’ Michoel Teitelbaum founded Oholei Torah cheder, R’ Yossel was one of the first to join the staff. He continued teaching, first there and then at other schools, for over 50 years.

Alongside his teaching, R’ Yossel was involved in spreading Yiddishkeit and Chassidus, and especially the Torah of the Rebbe. One of his many activities was driving the ‘Kehos bus’, a bus converted into a library and store of Chassidus seforim, during the summer months.

Reb Yossel was one of the few who had been in Crown Heights from the first day of the Rebbe’s leadership until now.

He is survived by his wife, Rifka, and children, Menachem Mendel – Postville, IA; Shalom Ber – Skokie, IL; Levi – Kharkov, Ukraine; and Chanie Serebryanski – Toronto, Canada; as well as many grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Baruch Dayan Ha’emes

Nichum Avelim

Feel free to share your memories of the niftar.

  1. Baruch HaDayan Emes.
    I am really and truly sorry that this man who was a great person to his family and the rest of Jewry passed away.

  2. Baruch Dayan HaEmes I’m truly sorry to hear of your loss. May the Almighty comfort you among all other mourners of Zion and Yerushalyim. And you should know no further sorrow! משיח כאו!!!

  3. I recall learning in his 1st grade class at Ocean Parkway, in the mid 80’s. I recall he had a very large black bag full of candies. When he wanted to reward a boy, he let the boy place his hand in the bag and withdraw a candy.

    He was a true chassidishe yid. He will be missed.

  4. Baruch Dayan Haemes. I was sorry to hear this news. Hashemshould console you among The mourners of Tziyon and Yerushalayim. The Roth family Miami
    A

  5. Baruch Dayan Emes. I always had fond memories of my first Rebbe in Oholei Torah. I was in his 1st grade cheder class together with his son, Sholom ber and many others who joined me in going to Lubavitcher Yeshiva a few years afterwards. I remember him coming to Gan Israel and other camps in his book mobile selling seforim and books. Always remembering me from his class and greeting me warmly.

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