BD’E — Zidichover Rebbe of Chicago, Harav Yehoshua Heschel Eichenstein, Zy’a

By Hamodia Staff

Hamodia is saddened to report the petirah of Harav Yehoshua Heschel Eichenstein, zy”a, the Zidichoiver Rebbe of Chicago.

The Rebbe had suffered a debilitating stroke several years ago, and his health took a downturn in the past few days.

Rav Eichenstein is a descendent of a prestigious family with lineage stretching back to the great Rebbes of the Zidichov dynasty, and he carried this legacy with chashivus and dedication.

His grandfather, the first Zidichover Rebbe of Chicago Harav Yehoshua Heshel Eichenstein, zy”a, settled in the city and established not only a beis medrash, but indeed was the central point where all who needed assistance turned to. The chessed of the the first Rebbe became the standard of the mishpachah, and each successive generation expanded not only the beis medrash, but indeed added to the chessed projects of the previous generation.

His illustrious father, Harav Avrohom Eichenstein, zy”a, instilled in his son a burning love of Torah learning and ahavas Yisrael. The Eichenstein mishpachah is renowned for generations for its hachnasas orchim, supplying guests visiting Chicago for medical reasons or tzedakah collectors with lodging and food as needed.

Today, the kehillah under his guidance sustains more than 50 programs to benefit the city’s residents and visitors. The Chicago Center, as the century old organization is known today, offers a variety of Torah, chessed, and refuah related programs.

The Rebbe’s beis medrash, Khal Chesed L’Avrohom Zidichov, located at 3135 W Devon Avenue, is a magnet for mispallelim and lomdei Torah from throughout the city. As a Rav, the Rebbe, a noted talmid chacham, was a compassionate leader who saw to it that the needs of his mispallelim were taken care of. His petirah leaves a void for his kehillah and the entire Chicago community.

The Rebbe is survived by tbl”c his devoted Rebbetzin; his son Haraav Pinchos Eichenstein of Chodrov-Chicago, Harav Yissocher Dov Eichenstein of Baltimore; Harav Yechezkel Eichenstein of Marine Park, Brooklyn; and Harav Zalman Leib Eichenstein of Chicago, along with many grandchildren and great grandchildren who continue in his derech.

Yehi zichro baruch.