Together with Jews around the world, we mourn the passing of Rabbi Yehoshua Binyomin Gordon, of blessed memory, who passed away yesterday morning.
We extend our condolences to his wife, children and grandchildren, to his many hundreds of students in Southern California and beyond, and to his tens of thousands of students through Chabad.org. Rabbi Gordon was also looked up to as a role model of a warm and dedicated chasid by hundreds of Shluchim.
Rabbi Gordon has a special place in the hearts of the members of the JEM team. In addition to being an avid fan and supporter of our work, he often served as a source of wise counsel and an encouraging voice during difficult times.
As recently as last Wednesday afternoon, despite his terrible illness, Rabbi Gordon insisted on speaking on the telephone in order to personally express his enthusiastic blessings and to lend his good name to a JEM initiative.
Foremost, Rabbi Gordon was a teacher, and the testimony he generously shared in his My Encounter with the Rebbe interview about his interactions with the Rebbe is rich with life-lessons. In the following clip, Rabbi Gordon speaks of the Rebbe’s directive to him and Mrs. Gordon as they first set out for The Valley.
May his memory be a blessing.
Rabbi Elkanah Shmotkin and the JEM Team
Watch full-length videos of the Rebbe: go.jem.tv/YT (microdonation)