The musician, radio personality and author, the late Rabbi Avraham Meir Zigman, a member of Kol Yisrael for more than 40 years, passed away this evening (Monday) at the age of 72.
The deceased, Z"L, was born on the 11th of Nisan 5790 to his father, Menachem Mendel Halevi, and his mother, Zelda Zigman, Holocaust survivors who lived in the Ramot Remez neighborhood in Haifa.
In his youth, he studied at the 'Habonim' school and the 'Hogig' high school in the city, and discovered musical talent.
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Upon his enlistment in the IDF, he joined the Central Command Band, where he served.
His approach to Chabad Chassidism began while he was still a high school student, when he met Rabbi Reuven Donin, the late Rabbi, and had long, in-depth conversations with him. However, at that time he did not begin the process of repentance.
After his release from the IDF, he joined Kibbutz Nachshon, and was sent by the kibbutz management to Jerusalem, in order to acquire additional knowledge in music, and at the same time, in 1971, he began working at the radio station Kol Yisrael.
During his work at Kol Yisrael, he met a Jerusalemite Jew with roots who made him want to get to know Judaism better, and to that end he renewed his connection with Reuven Donin, and later the process took practical expression when he began to observe Torah and mitzvot and became a Chabad follower of the minyan.
Later, he established his home with his wife, Mrs. Miriam, for the Sonnenfeld family, thus becoming the brother-in-law of the influential Donin, who was the first to assist him in the process of conversion.
As part of his work at Kol Yisrael, he served as the editor of the music programs on Channels B and C, and used his work in the media offices to influence his coworkers to establish contact with the Lubavitcher Rebbe, and to increase their observance of the Torah and the mitzvot.
In 1974, he initiated a series of lessons on the Tanya given by Rabbi Adin Even Israel zt"l. The first lesson was broadcast on Lag BaOmer 1974. Following these lessons, the series of books 'Biaor Tanya' by Rabbi Steinsaltz was published.
After forty years, he retired in 2012.
After retiring from Kol Yisrael, Zigman collected rare recordings and established a digital archive on YouTube with dozens of rare songs and compositions.
He authored three books, and composed and wrote songs for many artists.
About two weeks ago, he attended the funeral of his father-in-law, Rabbi Tuvia Peles, zt"l, after which he suffered a heart attack and was hospitalized. This evening, to the shock of his family and many acquaintances and friends, he passed away.
He is survived by his wife Miriam Tibdal Chaim, and his sons: Rabbi Yonatan, the media personality Rabbi Noam of Haifa, Rabbi Zalman of Kfar Chabad, Yonatan, Renana, Tamar, Tehila, Yishai, Nissan and Yinon.
His funeral will leave tomorrow at 11:00 from the Shamgar Funeral Home on the Mount of Olives.
