BDE: R’ Yosef Heimfeld, z”l, Boro Park-Toronto

By: YS Gold

The Bobover community today mourns the loss of Reb Yosef Heimfeld, z”l, one of the chashuvim of the kehillah, who moved to Toronto at the behest of the Divrei Shloime of Bobov more than forty years ago. The Rebbe wished to establish a chassidishe community there, and for this he chose the elite from among his chassidim. Reb Yosef was in his 60’s, and had suffered from illness in recent years.

The niftar was born to his father, R’ Mordechai Heimfeld, a Bobover chossid who survived the war. Being one of the first generation of post-Holocaust children, he learned in the Crown Heights Bobover yeshiva. He married, tbl”ch, Reizel, the daughter of the legendary Bobover chossid, R’ Chaim Ber Grunfeld, z”l.

Shortly after their marriage, the Heimfeld’s settled in Toronto, and they established true chassidishe roots there. Reb Yossel was a chassidishe Yid to his very core, and he exuded warmth and a smile to everyone. Most of his life was spent learning and giving to others, and he was known as an exceptionally sweet ba’al tefillah. For many years, he was the ba’al tefillah at the famed “Schiffschul” of Toronto for the Yomim Nora’im.

He would regularly welcome the Russian talmidim of Toronto at his Shabbos table, and it was here that they absorbed his special chassidishkeit and varemkeit.

The niftar leaves behind wonderful Torah’dige and chassidishe generations, most of whom are rebbeim and Kollel yungeleit.

The Levaya took place in Toronto earlier today, and a second Levaya will take place at the Bobover Shul in Boro Park at 7:00pm, after which the kevurah will take place in the Bobover chelkah in New Jersey.

Yehi zichro baruch.