Baruch Dayan, the truth teller: In the Crown Heights neighborhood, Rabbi Yehuda Leib (Leibel) Posner, one of the oldest and most important Chabad Hasidim in the world, passed away today (Tuesday) at the age of 97.
The late Rebbe, zt"l, was among the first young men sent by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, zt"l, to spread Judaism within the framework of the "Center for Educational Affairs" that was established nearly 80 years ago, and was privileged to enter the Rebbe's units several times. He also well remembered the Lubavitcher Rebbe's arrival in the United States on the 28th of Sivan 5771.
The late Rebbe was born on the 11th of Nissan 1948 in the Holy Land to his father, the late Rabbi Shalom Posner, and his mother, Mrs. Chaya. When he was a toddler, the family moved to the United States, at the behest of the Rebbe, and settled in Chicago.
At the age of 12, he was sent to study at the Chabad yeshiva at the Chabad World Center in 770, which had opened a few months earlier, following in the footsteps of his older brother, the late Rabbi Yitzhak Zalman.
At the funeral of the Rebbe of the Raya Tz, on the 11th of Shevat 5710, he was privileged to hold the Rebbe's bed. He later told Kfar Chabad about this: "The funeral procession of the Rebbe of the Raya Tz was drawing to a close. Throughout the funeral, the crowding was extremely horrendous. Everyone was pushing each other. They did everything they could to get closer to the Rebbe's holy coffin. The many police officers deployed along the entire length of Eastern Parkway were barely able to control the situation and restore order. But I did not let up, I struggled to hold on to the coffin the entire way."
After the departure of the Rebbe, he traveled to California to spread Judaism, on the Rebbe's behalf. He also trained in the art of slaughtering and received a certificate indicating that his slaughtering could be trusted without any doubt.
He was honored to have the Lubavitcher Rebbe arrange the kiddushin at his wedding to his wife, Mrs. Esther Tirza née Primark, which was the first wedding the Rebbe attended after the end of the year of mourning for the Rebbe of Rayatz - and his acceptance of the Chabad presidency.
Over the years, they lived in several places, including the state of Wisconsin and Borough Park.
His wife passed away on Tishrei 12, 5777.
He left behind a seed blessed by God, sons and great-grandsons, great-grandchildren and descendants, who follow the path of Torah and Hasidism, and many of them serve as Chabad emissaries throughout the world.
His children:
Mrs. Hanna Sonnenfeld - Nachalat Har Chabad.
Rabbi Yosef Yitzhak Poizner - Chabad emissary in Skokie, Illinois.
Rabbi Uri Poizner - Crown Heights.
Rabbi Yehezkel Poizner - Crown Heights.
Rabbi Shmuel Poizner - Chabad emissary in Boston, Massachusetts.
Mrs. Bracha Sapochinsky - Chabad emissary in Westlake, California.
Ms. Elisheva Mishulovin - Beitar Illit.
The funeral will take place tomorrow at 10:45 a.m. at the Chabad World Center Plaza-770, and from there it will proceed to Montefiore Cemetery in Queens, where he will be buried.
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