Rabbi Gedalia Korf, 90, AH

By Anash.org reporter

Rabbi Gedalia Korf, who founded and ran the Ezras Achim organization to help Russian Jewry, passed away Monday.

Rabbi Gedalia Korf, who founded – at the Rebbe’s behest – the Ezras Achim organization to help Russian Jewry with food and financial assistance, passed away Monday.

He was 90 years old.

Born to his father Reb Yehoshua and Chaya Rivkah (nee’ Rubinson) Korf in Kharkov, Ukraine, He was named after his zeide Reb Gedalia Charitonov, who was a son of the ba’al menagen and shochet Reb Avrohom Charitonov of Nikolayev.

When the war came, he escaped with his family to Samarkand, where he toiled in Torah in the Yeshiva there, under dire conditions, with little clothing or food.

Later he was one of the outstanding talmidim in Pocking and in Brunoy.

On Chai Elul 5715/1955, he married Freeda Winter and was zoche that the Rebbe was their mesader kiddushin.

The quintessential Chassidushe Baalebos, work was only a means for Reb Gedalia to make a living, he was immersed in learning and davening.

After Ezras Achim was founded, Reb Gedalia began to volunteer there after work, and after retirement, he took it to the next level, devoting all his free time to the organization.

He is survived by his children Rabbi Yossi Korf – Crown Heights, Rabbi Yankie Korf – Crown Heights, Mrs. Sara Kessler – Montreal, Rabbi Sholom Ber Korf – Delray Beach, FL; Mrs. Dini Ciment – Boynton Beach, FL; Rabbi Alter Korf – S. Petersburg, FL, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

He is also survived by his siblings Rabbi Pinyeh Korf – Crown Heights, Rabbi Avraham Korf – Miami, Florida and Mrs. Batsheva Shemtov – Oak Park, Michigan.

Please do not inform his elderly siblings of his passing.

Levaya and Shiva information will be announced.

Baruch Dayan Ha’emes.

Nichum Avelim

Feel free to share your memories of the niftar.

  1. A true chosid. Dedicated to helping Jews. Was instrumental in establishing current Chabad network in Russia and all of the Former Soviet Union.

    May his family be comforted.

  2. BDE
    A true Yorei Shomayim, a old-time chassidisher yid.
    He really cared about Halocho, and authentic chasidisher values.
    We are losing true gems… Hashem Yerachem.

    P.S. He is named after is ZAIDE Reb Gedalia, not his Elter Zaide.

  3. His zeida r Sedalia charitonov changed his last name to Korf in order to avoid going to the Russian army. He knew someone with the last name korf that had no kids and wrote that he was his child. In Russia if you’re an only child you don’t need to join the army.

  4. As the comment before me wrote. Reb gedalya charitonovs father was reb avraham. Reb avraham had 4 sons reb gedalya, reb aharon, reb shalom and reb moshe.

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