Reb Nosson Vogel o"h

Londoner Yiddentum, and the Jewish community the world over lost one of its true treasures last week with the passing of Mr. Nosson Vogel. Hundreds, and perhaps thousands of people packed the funeral chapel and surrounding areas to hear Hespedim by HaRav Yitzchok Meir Hertz, Rov and Rosh Yeshivah of Lubavitch in Golders Green and Hampstead Garden Suburb, and Rav Chaim Halperin, son of Harav Chune Halperin Rov of Golders Green, and one of the Rabbonim in Golders Green. I apologize if the above lines sound like they were lifted from the HaModia or Yated, that wasn't my intention. I don't plan on doing a carbon-copy obituary, but rather a recounting of how I knew him and was influenced by him.

My connection to Reb Nosson began when he was still in good health years ago in London. The warmth he radiated to a total stranger is not something most people do to their own children, let alone otheers. It was the first night of Selichos and Reb Nosson davened for the Amud as he usually would, and like everyhing he did there was a lesson to be learned from the way he davened. Rarely do you see a Yid, not a Rov or Klei Kodesh, but a BaaleBos, daven with such awe, and with such a broken heart, like a child speaks to his father. At times when Simchah was needed the joy on Reb Nosson's face could light up a room. What that taught me was that everything he did was for real, the Ahavas Yisroel was real, the Tzedokoh was real, and the connection to G-d was real.

Reb Nosson was a Yekkishe Yid, born and raised in Germany, and remained that way his whole life. He retained the qualities of being precise, accurate, and fastidious about everything Jewish and Mentshlich, but added the qualities of Hiskashrus to the Rebbe, and the Chassidisher Ahavas Yisroel. He was a tremendous Baal Tzedokoh who gave because he felt the pain of the Yid or the Askon who came to him, and wished to alleviate it. He lead a Torah'dige life in Business too, teaching the unaffiliated Jews who worked at his office about the heritage they lost. His connection to the Rebbe was unwavering, even in a sometimes hostile environment like London, and he wore it proudly. There's much more to be said, especially as far as his connection to Lubavitch, the Rebbe, and the Rebbe's Mosdos, but we'll leave that for another time. Maybe you Londoners could give me a hand too.

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