1/21 The Jewish world lost a giant Rabbi Shalom Edelman 83 years old passed away from Coronavirus on the second day of Pesach.
Rabbi Edelman served as one of the Chief @Chabad representatives to #Morocco for over 60 years

2/21 The Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Schneerson of rightous memory was deeply concerened about the Jewish communities in Muslim countries and Sephardic Jewry in particular. The first emissaries he sent to open Chabad in 1950 were to Morocco.

3/21 Rabbis Yehuda Raskin and Rabbi Shlomo Matusof who predeseaced Rabbi Edelman were all sent by the #Rebbe to build the oldest and now longest running Chabad institutions and centers in the world.

4/21 At the peak of their service the Jewish community had over 250,000 members and the large schools and synagogues and social services organizations they and their wives and staff were the leading educational and religious services for Moroccon Jews.

5/21 Rabbi Edelman and his wife Gittel and Mrs. Raizel Raskin never left Morocco and continue to service the 2,500 members of the Jewish community that remain in Casablanca.

6/21 Ten years ago they were joined by the dynamic Rabbi and Mrs. Levi Banon who have revived many educational programs and religious services for the youth and younger generations that live in Morocco today.

7/21 6 months ago, the day after Yom Kippur I stopped in Casablanca with my son Menachem after conducting a Yom Kippur Service in Malabo, Equatorial New Guinia. Rabbi Banons 11 year old son Mendy took us around Casablanca.

9/21 Without any prior notice, we visited Rabbi Edelmans synagogue and in the complex is the humble apartment where he and his wife have lived for decades.

10/21 We entered going back in time witnessing a sight from a world bygone. They greeted us as if they had been waiting for us for days,welcomed us into their home. Rabbi Edelman was sitting in front of an open Sefer surrounding by thousands of Sefarim.

11/21 It was very hot outside and he was sitting with a fan blowing above, wearing woolen Tzitzis and black suspenders. He peppered Menachem with questions about what he is learning in Yeshiva, his knowledge of the laws of the upcoming holiday of Sukkot.

12/21 Rabbi Edelman and his wife Gittel regaled us with stories of their 60 years of dedicated service to the Jewish people of Moroco and Rabbi Edelman kept telling us that in this Chabad House you are not far from 770 or the Rebbe,

13/21 It is specifically in these remote outposts where every person matters, where the captain never leaves the ship, as long as other passengers are on board and they can teach Torah to another person who would not be able to if they had abandoned ship.

14/21 Rabbi Edelman told my son how he looked up to his great-grandfather Reb Zavel Edelkop when he lived in Paris, France and he taught him Tanya.

15/21 His children live all over the world, they would visit them from time to time and during the year many grandchildren would visit them. Rabbi Edelman was still teaching every day to at the Kolel in his building with over 20 seniors regularly attending

16/21 This year for Sukkot he didnt have any grandchildren visiting and they were overjoyed with our drop-in visit. Before we left he showed us a folder letters and telegrams from the Rebbe that gave them strength, direction and perseverance for the many decades.

17/21 In one letter the Rebbe wrote to them: Praiseworthy is your lot that divine providence gave you a beautiful portion. Educating and drawing near the hearts of the Jewish people to their father in heaven, the reward knows no limits.

18/21 “In addition to the Reward of a Mitzva is a Mitzva, more, the above are among the deeds that a person eats the fruits of in this physical world and eternally in the world to come. They include teaching Torah and acts of lovingkindness.”

19/21 This is the main divine service in our generation before the advent of the coming of Mashiach, this is the way to attach yourself to G-d truthfully therby transforming darkness into the ultimate light”

20/21 The Rebbe concluded by writing a line from Tanya written by the Alter Rebbe in Igeres Hakodesh (End of Chapter 9, quoting from Yeshayahu 52.8) May we merit to see each other eye to eye, with the return of G-d to zion.” With major blessing and success in all the above.

21/21 A towering light has gone out and the captain of the Moroccon ship has ascended on high. We pray for a full recovery of all those infected by this terrible virus and an end to this pandemic that we can celebrate joyously this Passover.

22 If you know a @Chabad #Chabad @Lubavitch #Lubavitch Rabbi or Rebbitzen let them know a special Mitzva you will do this week to honor the memory of the Rebbes longest serving Shliach in the world. Or share it here.