BROOKLYN WEATHER

BDE: R’ Yaakov Yecheskia (Chesky) Rubinstein, z”l

BDE: R’ Yaakov Yecheskia (Chesky) Rubinstein, z”l

By: Yehuda Alter

It is with deep sadness that we report on the passing of R’ Chesky Rubinstein, z”l, a pillar of the Pupa chassidus who lived a life of mesiras nefesh and displayed a beaming smile of Emunah and bitachon on his lips despite the countless challenges that he endured. He was 68 years of age.

The niftar was born in Williamsburg to his father, ybl”ch, R’ Leibish Rubinstein, and his mother, Malya, a”h. The Rubinstein’s have been Pupa chassidim for generations back home in Hungary, and the child was named after the “Vayaged Yaakov” of Pupa, zy”a. 

He learned in the Pupa mosdos throughout, and later went to learn in the Makava Yeshiva in Eretz Yisroel, since the family hailed from Makava. There, he developed a lifelong kesher with the Makava Admorim, a connection that continued until the end of his life. 

About 40 years ago, he was in Williamsburg for a Yom Tov when he felt unwell. Thus began a series of health challenges he lived with for the following decades. It was one saga of yisurim, suffering that he accepted upon himself with a smile. 

He occupied himself with chessed and made it his life’s mission—a legacy that will follow him to the olam ha’emes.  He would circulate with pushkas, even when he was very weak and unwell, and was always raising money for various causes.

Once, as he was being wheeled into a surgery, he called one of his nephews with the following request: “I had pledged a certain amount of money for new tables and benches in the shul, and I have not been able to pay it yet. If I don’t make it through the surgery, can you please take care of this debt,” he asked. 

This was the foremost thought in his mind as he underwent surgery. 

Reb Chesky would always donate seforim to the Pupa shul, and insisted on making the Pupa Shul his primary place for davening despite the relative distance from his home. If he was unable to walk, he came by wheelchair. 

His kibud av v’aim was legendary. “When I would go to Williamsburg, he would ask me to call him so he could speak to our father,” related his brother. “Even if he was too weak to make it himself, he made the effort to be in touch, and he sought to honor our mother’s memory by donating seforim in her name.” 

Reb Chesky continued his chassodim wherever he went, and up to the last days of his life—having in mind all of his people whom he would regularly check in on. Sadly, he was niftar early Wednesday morning, having merited to marry off his eldest grandchild just a few weeks ago. 

The levaya will take place at the Pupa beis medrash of Boro Park at 12:00. It will continue to Kiryas Pupa in Westchester, where the Pupa Rebbe will be maspid the niftar who was so close to him. He will then be laid to rest in the Pupa cemetery there, following a life of kabbolas yisurim b’ahavah.  

Yehi zichro baruch. 


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