Dear Yossi,
28 years. Even as I write this I have a hard time believing it’s been so long. Your presence still plays a very real, vivid, and tangible role in my life. Your passion and principles inspire me every single day to be the best that I can be.
To those of you reading this, tonight marks the anniversary of my older brother’s passing. Tonight also commemorates the splitting of the red sea. Yossi, too, seemed to split obstacles, going through them to get to the other side, accomplishing his goals. He dived right in to whatever he attempted and gave it his all, fully and with no restrictions. He grabbed life with both hands and LIVED it. And he ALWAYS maintained a positive, upbeat attitude, even in the years during his aggressive treatments in Sloan Kettering. I was his caretaker for two years and I never saw his infectious positivity waver for a second.
Yossi lived for others, caring especially for those who are often ignored. He was selfless and always sensitive to those around him. He did things because it was right and wanting to be of service to G-d and to fulfill his dear Mentor the Rebbe’s calling.
One of his many aspirations that he so deeply desired was establishing a Chabad House. He would often talk dreamily about how one day he wanted to reach out to a community to create a warm and loving place, and as he visited various Chabad centers for Shabbat or events I would hear his ideas develop.
While he was unable to follow that dream personally, I know that it is with his blessings that I am privileged to be his hands and feet in the work that Ettie and I are doing at Chabad of Naples, together with our children—how I wish you could have met them! Yossi, I know if you were here you would be leading an army of light to fight against the darkness so many of us feel today. May we take up the charge in your absence and join forces with the battle you are undoubtedly fighting on our behalf on high.
I miss you my beloved Yossi! You made me a better person, a more real person. Your life was too short, and I miss you terribly, but we will continue to try to incorporate what you taught me from the precious, abbreviated days we spent together. A legacy of pure goodness.
You are forever in our hearts, minds, and actions. To anyone else who has experienced the deep and life-altering loss of a loved one, know that I see you. But also know that the good we do here on earth in their memory helps us connect to them, find a tiny gleaming flicker of solace, and gladdens their soul up above.
If you can, please do some mitzvah — a good deed in Yossi’s honor. I have no doubt that he is advocating for us in the heavens for an end to pain and suffering for all. Let’s do our part to spread kindness and light!
Forever your younger brother,
28 years. Even as I write this I have a hard time believing it’s been so long. Your presence still plays a very real, vivid, and tangible role in my life. Your passion and principles inspire me every single day to be the best that I can be.
To those of you reading this, tonight marks the anniversary of my older brother’s passing. Tonight also commemorates the splitting of the red sea. Yossi, too, seemed to split obstacles, going through them to get to the other side, accomplishing his goals. He dived right in to whatever he attempted and gave it his all, fully and with no restrictions. He grabbed life with both hands and LIVED it. And he ALWAYS maintained a positive, upbeat attitude, even in the years during his aggressive treatments in Sloan Kettering. I was his caretaker for two years and I never saw his infectious positivity waver for a second.
Yossi lived for others, caring especially for those who are often ignored. He was selfless and always sensitive to those around him. He did things because it was right and wanting to be of service to G-d and to fulfill his dear Mentor the Rebbe’s calling.
One of his many aspirations that he so deeply desired was establishing a Chabad House. He would often talk dreamily about how one day he wanted to reach out to a community to create a warm and loving place, and as he visited various Chabad centers for Shabbat or events I would hear his ideas develop.
While he was unable to follow that dream personally, I know that it is with his blessings that I am privileged to be his hands and feet in the work that Ettie and I are doing at Chabad of Naples, together with our children—how I wish you could have met them! Yossi, I know if you were here you would be leading an army of light to fight against the darkness so many of us feel today. May we take up the charge in your absence and join forces with the battle you are undoubtedly fighting on our behalf on high.
I miss you my beloved Yossi! You made me a better person, a more real person. Your life was too short, and I miss you terribly, but we will continue to try to incorporate what you taught me from the precious, abbreviated days we spent together. A legacy of pure goodness.
You are forever in our hearts, minds, and actions. To anyone else who has experienced the deep and life-altering loss of a loved one, know that I see you. But also know that the good we do here on earth in their memory helps us connect to them, find a tiny gleaming flicker of solace, and gladdens their soul up above.
If you can, please do some mitzvah — a good deed in Yossi’s honor. I have no doubt that he is advocating for us in the heavens for an end to pain and suffering for all. Let’s do our part to spread kindness and light!
Forever your younger brother,
Fishey
Mark & Sharon Kreindel wrote...
Judy salzman wrote...
Mark and Wendy Schwartz wrote...
The best of Yossi lives on in you, and we are blessed to have two Rabbi's in one as his presence in your everyday thoughts and actions shows that he lives on through your great leadership and spiritual guidance for your congregants at the (world famous!) Chabad of Naples.
Thais Aland Roberto Alcalay wrote...
Thank you and Ettie ( again and again ) for always inspiring us all with your kindness and love and care … and words and actions !
We are so lucky to have you as our spiritual leaders.
Thank you and Shabbat Shalom !
Mel Mann wrote...
May your brother's Neshama have an aliyah.
His memory is a blessing to you ..............