Petirah of Rabbi Chaim Abadi zt”l, a beloved mechanech, visionary leader, founder of the Minyan Shelanu and guiding force for countless young people, who was niftar over shabbos at the age of 66 after a lifetime devoted to Torah, chinuch, and boundless ahavas Yisroel. He was a son of Rabbi Yitzchok Abadi ztl a Posek and talmid Rav Aharon Kotler who was niftar 5 months ago.
Levaya 10:00am Sunday morning at the Minyan rt 88 145 Ocean Ave in Lakewood with kevurah in Eretz Yisroel. Livestream link for Levaya HERE
From Matzav.com
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. More