Reuven Lipkind, a longtime resident of Crown Heights, who served for years as gabbai of Frankel Shul and founded Avos Ubanim of Crown Heights, and was involved in many other community programs, passed away on Wednesday, 28 Shvat.
Reuven Lipkind, a longtime resident of Crown Heights, who served for years as gabbai of Frankel Shul and founded Avos Ubanim of Crown Heights, and was involved in many other community programs, passed away on Wednesday, 28 Shvat.
He was 70 years old.
Living in Crown Heights for close to 50 years, Reuven was a dedicated member of the Crown Heights community. He served as board member and gabbai of Frankel Shul for many years and was the founder of the Avos Ubanim program in Crown Heights, which began in Frankel Shul.
Reuven served on the Neighborhood Area Policy board for 20 years and ran as a delegate for the New York Judicial Convention. He served various State Senators, including Marty Markowitz, Carl Andrews, Eric Adams, and Jesse Hamilton as Director of Constituent Services.
He is survived by his wife Arna Lipkind, and children Mendel Lipkind (East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania), Devorah Weprin (Columbus, Ohio), Nechama Azrak (Sheepshead Bay, New York), Chaya Lipkind (Williamsburg, New York), Esther Lipkind (North Miami Beach, Florida), Eliezer Lipkind (Crown Heights), Baruch Lipkind (New York, New York), Rachel Lipkind (Rhinebeck, New York), Shterna Lipkind and Yehuda Lipkind, both of Crown Heights; grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
The levaya will take place tomorrow, Thursday, passing by 770 at 12:00 PM and kevurah at Old Montefiore Cemetery at 1:00 PM.
The family will be sitting shiva at 1703 President Street (men downstairs and women upstairs).
Shacharis 9:00 AM (last day Wednesday 8:00 AM)
Mincha & Maariv b’eman 5:30/6:30 PM
Friday Mincha 2:00 PM
No visitation after 9:00 PM.
Boruch dayan haemes
About 10 years ago, the community was protesting an 11 story homeless shelter aka supportive housing building which was next to three day care centers, and Jewish families. Reuven, as a representative of NYS Sen Jessie Hamilton office, obtained letters of opposition from the senator. Reuven protested with the community during a heavy blizzard, to the point where the color of Reuven’s signature beret was no longer visible from the falling snow.
It was Reuven who invited me to help serve latkes to fathers and their sons at his shul during a religious learning event. It is this experience which further inspired me to fight for the Kingsbrook Shul, which also had fathers teach their sons in a religious setting. Reuven, and his wife Arna, attended tons of Community Board meetings as the representatives of elected officials.
Reuven was a selfless advocate who went out of his way for the Jewish community, even in the face of possible political headwinds. His advice was trusted and relied upon by many,
I hope his legacy of strength and advocacy for the Jewish community can be emulated by others who have the ear of elected officials.
My deepest sympathies go out to his wife Arna, his son, and the rest of their family..
Jay Sorid