1920 - 9th of Kislev 5722/1961
By Rabbi Michoel Seligson
Horav Hachossid Reb Uriel Zimmer was born in 1920 to Reb Avrohom and Mrs. Gitel Zimmer in Vienna Reb Uriel ’s Commitment to Yiddishkeit His sister, Mrs. Ruth Prochi recalled: “In 1934 our family immigrated to Israel and settled in Haifa. Our father was offered a position to market farm products in Ramat Hasharon and therefore we relocated to Tel-Aviv. This is where the turn began in the life of the young Uriel. While studying at the gymnasium in Herzelia, he learned Chaim Nachman Bialik’s poem “Hamasmid”. This poem was about a yeshiva bochur who studied day and night. Uriel was basically a curious person and he began researching what it meant to be a yeshiva bochur. He visited a yeshiva in Tel-Aviv and he was touched to the core of his Nshama. He then began visiting different yeshivas and shuls, and interested himself in the fulfillment of Mitzvos, and over the course of time he became a full-fledged religious person.” “His central problem was the gymnasium, which was a dignified place. Suddenly Uriel , one of their students, began wearing a yarmulke and peos. Despite the harassment and embarrassing comments that Uriel received from both students and teachers, he stubbornly maintained his religious tradition. Uriel stood out in an obvious manner. When the graduation picture was taken he was the only student with a yarmulke and peos.” “This new phase stirred up a commotion at home. I remember when our mother angrily screamed at him to stop growing peos. Our parents were concerned with what our friends, relatives and neighbors would say, but Uriel’s decision was final. At one point, our mother threatened to cut off his peos while he was sleeping. I do not know if she really meant it but for a long time he slept with a plastic that covered his peos.” “After he completed his secular studies, he went on to study at the university in Jerusalem where he specialized in Asian studies and languages. At the time he lived in Meah Sheorim, Jerusalem, where he became closer to Yiddishkeit and to the ultra religious group, the Neturei Karta, and to its leader Reb Moshe Blau.” At eighteen, he became engaged to Miss Raizel Zeidel, who was then fourteen-years old and one of the children who had come from Iran to Israel. Their wedding was to take place in four years. After they married they lived in the Shaarei Chesed neighborhood of Jerusalem. Mrs. Zimmer was a generous and a talented person who assisted her husband in his work. E d i t o r o f t h e J e r u s a l e m Newspaper His sister discussed his work. “I remember it as vividly as if it just happened. This was in 1948 during the battle to take Jerusalem. Uriel was the editor of the newspaper “Hakol” and felt a responsibility to publish, though there was a battle raging. This was the only newspaper that was published during the fighting. There was no electricity and the entire layout of the paper was done manually. He would return home with a black shirt. There was a limited amount of water at that time and therefore they were unable to clean his shirts.” At this time Reb Uriel’s father became closer to the lifestyle of Torah and Mitzvos. Although Reb Uriel conducted himself as a religious Yerushalmi with all its adherent stringent customs, he began attending Tanya shiurim and Chassidish Farbrengens in the Lubavitch shul in Meah Sheorim, Jerusalem. A Visit at the Refugee Camps At the end of WWII, many Jews remained in refugee camps throughout Europe, lonely thorns rescued from a fire. Various organizations came to their assistance and sent agents to help them resettle. The economic condition in Israel did not permit the dispatch of many such envoys. Reb Uriel, who had a warm and sensitive Jewish heart, traveled to Europe with his own money as a representative of Agudas Yisroel. By Hashgacha Protis, he came to a refugee camp in Poking, Germany which had a large group of Chabad chassidim. Reb Uriel, who was already acquainted with Chabad Chassidim, rejoiced when he met this new group of chassidim and participated in their Farbrengens and the shiurim of Chassidus. When he returned to Israel, he published his impressions of chassidei Chabad in a number of religious publications. In many of his articles he would use the name “A. Gitel” as a pen name. His relationship with Chabad chassidim gave him the encouragement to connect to chassidus Chabad. On a regular basis he began participating in shiurim and farbrengens and in time learned how to say L’chaim on vodka. Reb Uriel loved Chabad nigunim that touched the strings of the Nshama. In 1949, through his connections, Reb Uriel assisted with the establishment of Kfar Chabad. In later years, he served as the secretary of the board that distributed German reparations to Jewish victims of the Nazi persecution and concentration camps in WWII. Reb Uriel Connects to the Rebbe After the histalkus of the Previous Rebbe in 1950, Reb Uriel was hesitant to connect to the Rebbe because of different false rumors that he heard. It was many years after his marriage and he did not yet have any children. He and his wife came to New York for treatment. On one occasion, he visited with the Rebbe in Yechidus and asked many questions regarding Chabad. The Rebbe responded to his questions during a Yechidus which lasted more than four hours. After the Yechidus he wrote to a dear friend, “It is not what we thought or figured. He has clear answers to all the topics that are on the agenda.” As a result of this Yechidus, he became very close to the Rebbe and merited many Yechidusen and numerous letters from the Rebbe. Reb Uriel lived in Williamsburg, and when the Rebbe would farbreng at the close of a Yom Tov, he would immediately travel to Crown Heights after Yom Tov to at least be there during the latter part of the Farbrengen. In one of his letters he wrote that the Rebbe had advised him to utilize his talent in writing and he told the Rebbe, “I will do what the Rebbe will instruct me”. Reb Uriel’s Talents Over the course of the next ten years, from 1952 till 1962, with his heart and soul he was a committed chossid of the Rebbe. During these years he worked as a translator in the United Nations. The many languages that he knew opened up doors to people who worked at the U.N., including the Russian ambassador. Working for the Rebbe His talents were also mobilized for the Rebbe’s holy work. For many years, he was included in the Rebbe’s secretariat. Rabbi Leibel Groner recalled, “He had a talent in writing, speaking and understanding. He was a linguist and was familiar with 15 languages, as well as being a discrete individual. These were the qualities that were necessary to work in the secretariat, where he worked as a translator of the Rebbe’s correspondence.” Rabbi Tuvia Blau of Jerusalem recalled. “The Rebbe wrote annual messages to the Jewish nation for the forthcoming Rosh Hashana and Pesach holidays. The letters would be translated by Reb Uriel who transmitted them to Reb Tuvia Blau to be published in Israeli newspapers and in centers of Anash. Rabbi Groner continued. “He spoke with great excitement. His opinions were extreme. He considered himself a Chabad chossid but his opinions were the same as the Neturei Karta. Since he didn’t live in Crown Heights, he would stay with us over Shabbos in order to participate in the Rebbe’s Farbrengens.” The Rebbe wrote his responses in Hebrew and Reb Uriel would translate the letters into the various languages in which the original letters to the Rebbe were written. On one occasion when Reb Uriel translated a letter into Portuguese and then showed it to the Rebbe, the Rebbe made some corrections. For Reb Uriel this was a total surprise, since he assumed that the Rebbe did not read Portuguese. Multi Functional Tasks In the late 1950’s, Reb Uriel translated the Tanya in Yiddish, assisted in preparing the Rebbe’s Sichos “Likutei Sichos” for publishing, wrote an essay about Judaism and Chassidus in Arabic, and an English booklet on Mezuza. He also participated in the publication of the various Yiddish and English Lubavitch periodicals. In his last months, he was instructed by the Rebbe to write a book about tznius. Reb Tuvia Blau related that Reb Uriel, although older than him, would correspond with him and sent him his diaries in which he described the Farbrengens and Yechidusen with the Rebbe. This relationship continued for six years. Reb Tuvia Blau learned then that this relationship had been initiated at the personal directive of the Rebbe.
Kiruvim from the Rebbe
From Reb Uriel’s letters we learn the special kiruvim that he merited from the Rebbe. Reb Uriel recalled two experiences. In 1956, at the farbrengen on the last day of Pesach, the Rebbe instructed Reb Uriel to say L’chaim on a full cup. First for himself and then for the newspaper “Der Yid” of which Reb Uriel was an editor. In Tishrei 5717, prior to the Shabbos Breishis Farbrengen, Rabbi Hodakov approached Reb Uriel. He informed him that when the Rebbe heard the Gan Israel campers singing the Jerusalem version of Hoaderes Vhoemuna - tzu vemen tzu vemen in Hebrew, English, and other languages, he was delighted. The Rebbe asked if it was possible for Reb Uriel who was multilingual, to sing this nigun with the children in different languages at the Farbrengen. Reb Uriel wrote, “You can imagine how uncomfortable it was for me to make kuntzen, perform tricks, in the presence of thousands of people and the Rebbe Shlita. I had no choice, I had been commanded. I know how much you are interested in details. I can tell you from memory the languages that we sang in; Hebrew, English, French, Russian, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Czech, Polish, Arabic, Turkish, Italian, Dutch and Hungarian.” Reb Tuvia Blau characterized Reb Uriel. “He was a colorful and talented individual. Primarily, he was very knowledgeable. He was a brilliant person combined with a very wonderful and sensitive personality. He was literary in many languages, as well as being a great Torah scholar. In his articles he would include numerous quotes from our sages. He edited the newspaper for Agudas Yisroel but his opinions were as extreme as Satmar chassidim.” The Rebbe’s Shluchim In 1949, Reb Uriel was editing the newspaper “Hakol” and began a campaign against Zionism. In the late 1940’s, Reb Uriel needed to relocate to the United States and began writing for the religious newspapers connected to Satmar. The Satmar Rebbe did not always a g r e e i n policy with Lubavitch, but t he re were except i o n s . I n one of his conversations with the Satmar Rebbe, the Satmar complimented Lubavitch. “When I need to send a shochet to a distant city, I hope and wait to see him return with his Yiddishkeit and chassidus intact, but when the Lubavitcher Rebbe sends his shluchim to the most distant areas, not only do they remain G-d fearing and complete, but they also add more baalei tshuva to Torah and Mitzvos.’” Reb Uriel’s relationship with Chabad did not sit well with some of his acquaintances. They would ask him why the Rebbe who was against the Zionist ideology, did not take a public stand against Zionism. At a Yud Tes Kislev Farbrengen, the Rebbe instructed many chassidim to say L’chaim. Then he turned to Reb Uriel and said, “Horav Uriel is probably now thinking, why I don’t speak about the topic which he holds that I need to speak about. Let him say L’chaim and rinse this down.” “When I reached the Rebbe he told me, ‘I wanted to speak about it, but they don’t allow me.’ He then blessed me with unusual brochos.” In 1956, Reb Uriel visited Israel. In response to Reb Tuvia Blau’s letter to the Rebbe that there was a potential for Reb Uriel to spread chassidus there, the Rebbe wrote “It is my hope that there be no need for someone else to urge him to do so. During his visit, everyone should utilize all the potentials to spread chassidus not only in Jerusalem but everywhere and in all circles.” The Rebbe instructed Mrs. Zimmer, to establish contact with Nshei Chabad branches in Israel and through them, establish chassidus shiurim in other circles. At that time, a sharp letter was published in Jerusalem against the study of chassidus Chabad. The Rebbe sent Reb Uriel to meet with the leader of the Neturei Karta, Horav Amram Blau, with a successful outcome. The Rebbe wanted to implement chassidus in a practical sense and begin a new Tanya shiur. When Reb Uriel returned from Israel and entered into Yechidus with the Rebbe, the Rebbe told him to that he wanted a Chassidus shiur in the Neturei Karta shul which would be accepted by the Neturei Karta. A shiur was started with Rabbi Avrohom Hersh Cohen, as the maggid shiur. In addition to the missions to other circles of Chassidim that the Rebbe sent Reb Uriel, he was also dispatched by the Rebbe on various shlichusen, some of which are known and some which remain secret. Some related to the United Nations, and some were personal contacts with great Torah personalities. An example of a mission is when the Rebbe sent Reb Uriel to verify the curriculum of the Yeshivas Hamekubolim. To this date, it is not known what was the background of his mission to this yeshiva. On the list of the Reb Uriel’s shlichusen for the Rebbe, was his membership in the delegation which visited the White House in support of chinuch. On another occasion, he traveled to a distant city in the United States to inspire the Jewish residents to Yiddishkeit. Reb Uriel‘s Mesiras Nefesh In late 1961 Reb Uriel was already ill with the disease and was confined to a wheelchair. One day he received the news that his father had suffered a massive stroke and the doctors were not hopeful. Reb Uriel expressed his wish to travel to Israel to visit with his father one last time. After seeing his father, his family assumed that he would be returning to the United States. But Reb Uriel surprisingly informed them that he was on the Rebbe’s mission and would be stopping in Australia and Europe, visiting different communities. “You are traveling on a shlichus in a wheelchair?!” The family could not comprehend this. But Reb Uriel remained firm despite all opposition. Together with his wife he traveled to Australia and Holland. The trip was msiras nefesh for him. With the assistance of the Chabad representatives in Holland, his mission brought about a great awakening in many Jews. On his last Shabbos on this world, Reb Uriel Farbrenged many hours with his audience. Not in vain is it inscribed on his matzeva, “He involved himself in spreading chassidus with mesiras nefesh.” On his way back home to United States, he stopped in London where he was nifter on Friday, the 9th of Kislev 5722 at the age of 42. His resting place is in Enfield, London. Reb Uriel left no children but left a great legacy. The Rebbe designated a person to recite kaddish for Reb Uriel and many children were named after him. His Jerusalem friends who greatly revered him, eternalized his memory by naming a shul, a street, Rechov Ariel and a neighborhood, Shichun Ariel after him. Bais HaKneset Chabad in the shechuna of Agudas Yisroel was built in his name with the Rebbe’s personal involvement. After his ptira, Rabbi Wineberg reflected on Reb Uriel. “Reb Uriel was a Chossid, a gaon and a talented person who fought with vigor. When one met him in person however, his image was one of modesty and humility.” “How symbolic was the day of his ptira! Reb Uriel was nifter on the ninth of Kislev, the hilulo of the Mitteler Rebbe and the eve of his redemption. People who stood at this bedside at his last moments recalled that he was singing the Mitteler Rebbe’s nigun and then mentioned that it was the date of the Mitteler Rebbe’s histalkus and the eve of his redemption”. “Here in 770 on that Shabbos morning, the Rebbe instructed that chassidim should sing the nigun Hoaderes Vhoemuna.” Reb Tuvia Blau recalled that in Reb Uriel’s last hours, many times the call, in which is hidden the true chassidus, came from his mouth, “Rebbe! Rebbe!” Yehi Zichro Boruch! May Reb Uriel, a legendary Chossid, who as a young boy totally committed himself to Torah and Mitzvos on his own despite the opposition of those around him, who consistently grew and accelerated in the standards of Torah and Mitzvos, who utilized his knowledge and multi-lingual talent to guide people to Torah and Mitzvos, and merited to translate the Rebbe’s letters and teachings to people worldwide, in addition to being dispatched by the Rebbe on various missions, and who with modesty and sensitivity captured the hearts of many Jews; inspire us to commit ourselves to grow and improve, as well as guiding others by utilizing all our talents, and fulfilling the missions which we were given by the Rebbe, and thereby enhance the entire world and thus bring the ultimate redemption We should speedily witness “The ones who dwell in the dust will awaken and rejoice” with Horav Hachossid Reb Uriel Zimmer among them.