RABBI SIMCHA RUBIN, zt”l (1910-2003), Sassover Rebbe, was born in Sassov, Poland,and died in Golders Green, North London, aged 92.

He could trace his family back to the Baal Shem Tov and Rabbi Naftali Tzvi of Ropshitz, and was related to many other Rebbes.

His family moved to the East End of London when he was a child, and when his father died in 1929, the teenage Rabbi Rubin inherited the title of Sassover Rebbe. From that time he became involved in communal activities including chesed and education projects to improve the lives of Jews in London.

He was especially known for his love of people from all backgrounds and for his acts of great chesed. By the 1990s he was said to be personally raising and dispensing £250,000 a year for charity.

Because the Rebbe was a cousin from Rabbi Gerzi’s mother’s side, Rabbi Gerzi met the Sassover Rav at a young age, and was close to the Rebbe from the age of 14, until his death. Rabbi Gerzi spent much time with the Rebbe, helping him to collect and dispense charity, and learning the rich family history, family seforim and hanhagos.

Rabbi Gerzi has said that some of the key things he learned from the Sassover Rebbe were mesirus nefesh, chesed, and perserverance, always being active in supporting and caring for one’s kehilla.

The Sassover Rebbe imparted in me the importance of messiras nefesh to help, aid, guide our
brethren. There was nothing that was too difficult. No wall too high. No river too wide to
cross. He always found a way. His creativity. His ability to think outside the box. Anything to
help another Jew.