It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah over Shabbos of Rabbi Chaim Yisroel Abadi zt”l, a beloved mechanech, visionary leader, and guiding force for countless young people, who was niftar after a lifetime devoted to Torah, chinuch, and boundless ahavas Yisroel. He was 66.

As the founder and longtime head of Minyan Shelanu in Lakewood and a widely respected figure in the field of chinuch, Rabbi Abadi leaves behind a legacy that reshaped how an entire generation understands and approaches struggling youth.

For decades, Rabbi Abadi stood at the forefront of one of the most sensitive and misunderstood challenges facing the community: reaching teens who felt disconnected, overlooked, or adrift. Long before the term “at-risk” became widely recognized or addressed, he was already quietly, persistently, and compassionately building bridges. At a time when others struggled to understand the phenomenon, Rabbi Abadi saw not labels, but neshamos, precious souls yearning to be understood, embraced, and guided.

He was a true pioneer. While many were still grappling with what this emerging crisis meant, Rabbi Abadi was already deep in the trenches, forging relationships, developing approaches, and creating environments where young people felt safe, respected, and valued. His work was not theoretical. It was deeply personal. He knew his talmidim. He listened to them. He fought for them. And above all, he believed in them, often long before they believed in themselves.

As the driving force behind Minyan Shelanu, Rabbi Abadi created far more than a place to daven. He built a makom of belonging, a haven where boys who felt alienated elsewhere could reconnect to Torah, to tefillah, and to their own inner greatness. The warmth of his smile, the sincerity of his words, and the depth of his care transformed lives in ways that cannot be measured. In later opening The Chill, he did the same for girls.

Those who worked alongside him describe a man of extraordinary patience and unwavering dedication. There were no “off hours.” Late nights, difficult conversations, and endless emotional investment were simply part of his avodah. He carried the burdens of others as if they were his own, and he never gave up on a child—ever. His approach combined firmness with compassion, clarity with sensitivity, and above all, a deep, unshakable belief that every Yid has a place.

Rabbi Abadi’s impact extended far beyond Lakewood. Educators, rabbonim, and parents from across the country sought his guidance, recognizing that he possessed a rare understanding of the complexities facing today’s youth. He helped shape not only individual lives, but an entire field. Much of what is now taken for granted in dealing with struggling teens—concepts of connection, validation, and individualized attention—were ideas he was already implementing years earlier, often without recognition or fanfare.

Yet despite his influence, Rabbi Abadi remained humble and unassuming. He did not seek honor or acclaim. His satisfaction came from seeing a boy return to shul, from a quiet conversation that restored hope, from knowing that another neshamah had been brought closer rather than pushed away.

His talmidim span the spectrum, many now building beautiful batei ne’emanim b’Yisroel, raising families, and living lives of Torah and yiras Shamayim. Each one carries a piece of Rabbi Abadi within them, a testament to the enduring power of his work.

The loss is immeasurable. A giant in chinuch, a trailblazer in reaching at-risk youth, and a man whose heart encompassed so many, Rabbi Chaim Abadi’s absence will be felt deeply by all who knew him and by countless others who may never know just how much they owe him.

Rabbi Abadi is survived by his devoted wife, Mrs. Fraidy (Wanouno) Abadi, and a wonderful family following his ways, as well as numerous talmidim and admirers whose lives have been forever changed thanks to his impact.

The levayah will be held Sunday morning, at 10 a.m., at Minyan Shelanu, located at 145 Ocean Ave in Lakewood, NJ. The aron will then be flown to Eretz Yisroel for kevurah there.

WATCH THE LEVAYAH HERE:

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}