Rabbi from Chabad in Jerusalem suddenly collapses and dies unexpectedly
Prominent Chabad-Lubavitch Leader Rabbi Shmuel Gelbstein Passes Away
Rabbi Shmuel Gelbstein, a beloved figure in the Chabad-Lubavitch community and a dedicated member of the Chevra Kadisha Perushim in Jerusalem, passed away suddenly on Friday night due to cardiac arrest. He was 57 years old.
The incident occurred at Rabbi Gelbstein's home in Kfar Chabad, and despite rescue efforts and CPR attempts, doctors were unable to revive him, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Born in Jerusalem, Rabbi Gelbstein continued a distinguished family legacy as the son of Rabbi Yosef Chaim Gelbstein and grandson of Rabbi Moshe Menachem Mendel Gelbstein, founder of ZAKA and chairman of the Perushim Chevra Kadisha.
Rabbi Gelbstein's leadership in this sacred burial society helped uphold the highest standards of respect and care for the deceased in the Jerusalem community. Beyond his Chevra Kadisha work, he was known for his spiritual dedication as a baal tefillah (prayer leader) during the Yomim Nora’im (High Holidays) at the Tzemach Tzedek Shul in Jerusalem and as a devoted worshipper at the Chabad shul on Rechov Chana. Later in life, he resided in Kfar Chabad, where he remained actively involved in community and chesed activities.
Rabbi Gelbstein is survived by his wife, Tzipora Gelbstein, as well as children and grandchildren. His funeral procession departed from 12 Dvar Malchut Street in Kfar Chabad and passed through the "Yisrael Aryeh Leib" and "Beit Menachem" synagogues before ending at the "Shamgar" funeral home. He was laid to rest on the Mount of Olives, alongside his father.
The funeral is being mourned by the Chabad-Lubavitch community and beyond, with many expressing their condolences and appreciation for Rabbi Gelbstein's contributions to the community. The Chevra Kadisha Perushim in Jerusalem, where Rabbi Gelbstein served, is likely to be impacted by his passing.
In recent years, Rabbi Gelbstein dedicated himself to managing the Chevra Kadisha Perushim in Jerusalem, continuing his family’s dedication to Jewish burial rites and community chesed. Prior to his passing, he resided in the Chabad neighborhood in Jerusalem.
Rabbi Gelbstein's contributions centered on his decades-long leadership of the Perushim Chevra Kadisha in Jerusalem, upholding the highest standards of respect and care for the deceased in the Jerusalem community. His life combined spiritual leadership with practical acts of kindness, deeply impacting the Anash and Chabad communities in Jerusalem and Kfar Chabad.
Meanwhile, multiple fires occurred in central Israel for the second day in a row, with firefighters evacuating three individuals trapped in a burning apartment. The exact cause of Rabbi Gelbstein's cardiac arrest is not specified in the article.
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The loss of Rabbi Shmuel Gelbstein, a prominent figure in the Chabad-Lubavitch community, is likely to have an impact on the mental health of those he served at the Chevra Kadisha Perushim in Jerusalem. His dedication to science, particularly in the field of health-and-wellness, extended beyond his work with the Jewish burial society, as he advocated for physical and mental well-being within the community.
