Reb Yankel Dalfin, the younger brother of Reb Aharon Dalfin and a former bochur in Tomchei Temimim, passed away Sunday.

He was 78.

Reb Yankel was born in Romania and later raised in Eretz Yisrael before coming to America in 1963. Upon arriving in the United States, his older brother, Reb Aharon Dalfin of Crown Heights, arranged for him to learn in the Lubavitcher yeshiva, where he studied until 5729 (1969).

Among his teachers were Reb Dovid Raskin and Reb Yoel Kahan, while the Roshei Yeshiva during those years included Rabbis Mentlick, Ushpal, and Bukiet. While learning in yeshiva at Bedford and Dean, his chavrusa was Reb Moshe Kotlarsky.

During his years as a bochur, he also merited to have several yechidusin with the Rebbe, receiving guidance in many areas of life and avodas Hashem.

He also had the special zechus of cleaning the Kerestirer mikvah before the Rebbe used it.

In 5736 (1976), with the Rebbe’s brocha, Reb Yankel moved to Costa Rica, years before there was an official shliach in the country. Despite the limited frum infrastructure at the time, he and his wife Yehudis built a warm Torah home, and raised a fully frum family.

Today, their children are talmidei chachomim and respected members of their communities.

His wife, Yehudis, played a central role in supporting and building the family’s yiddishkeit during those early years in Costa Rica.

After many years there, Reb Yankel later moved to Miami, where he davened at the JLC of Chabad on 41st Street. He maintained regular daily shiurim, quietly gave tzedaka in his modest way, and was known for his consistently pleasant and kind demeanor toward everyone he met.

Yehi Zichro Baruch.

His older brother, Reb Aharon Dalfin, is sitting shiva and is available only after first calling 718-771-0702. Please leave a message if there is no answer.