Serebryanski, Rabbi Aharon

סרברנסקי, אהרן

Rabbi Aharon Serebryanski (July 12, 1932 – April 14, 2019) was a shliach of the Rebbe and director of the Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch in Melbourne, Australia, and was considered one of the prominent emissaries. He was born in 1932 (5692) in Kharkov, Soviet Union, to Rabbi Yehoshua Shneur Zalman Serebryanski and Mrs. Bracha.

During his childhood, marked by the turmoil of World War II, he and his family relocated to Samarkand, where he was educated in underground "chederim." At his bar mitzvah age, his family joined the well-known escape from the Soviet Union, and he continued his studies at Yeshivas Tomchei Temimim in the Pocking Displaced Persons camp, and later at Tomchei Temimim in Brunoy.

In 1949 (5709), his father was sent to Australia by the Rebbe Rayatz, along with a group of Chassidim, to strengthen the local Jewish community and spread Torah and Chassidus throughout the continent. He and his brother were chosen as the founding core of Yeshivas Tomchei Temimim in Shepparton, where R’ Moshe Zalman Feiglin, the leader of the Chabad settlers on the continent, resided. The yeshiva was established two months after their arrival, on 16th of Cheshvan, 1950 (5710).

Following the Rebbe Rayatz’s passing, he repeatedly requested permission from the Rebbe to move and study at the central Tomchei Temimim Yeshiva at 770. However, the Rebbe instructed him to continue learning at the yeshiva in Australia, where he was needed. The Rebbe also began to draw him close, providing personal guidance and encouragement, urging him to learn English to better communicate with friends and those he encountered.

Alongside his studies, he devoted his free time to organizing summer camps and recreational programs for local Jewish youth.

In 1962 (5722), he married Mrs. Zlata Skolnick (who passed away on September 3, 2023), and they lived in Crown Heights for a few years, where he taught at the Chabad elementary school in the Bronx. During this period, he had the privilege of serving as the ba’al koreh (Torah reader) at the Rebbe’s minyan on several occasions.

In 1970 (5730), he returned to Australia at the direct request of the Rebbe and was appointed as the first shliach and representative of Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch in Melbourne. In this role, he focused on spreading Chassidus, distributing Chabad literature, establishing a charity fund, raising funds, building mikva'os, overseeing the translation of the Tanya, and more.

In addition to his extensive activism, he regularly delivered Torah classes and was known for his dedication to learning.

He was considered one of the leading shluchim of the Rebbe worldwide and was honored several times to read the pan klali of the shluchim during the International Shluchim Conference.

He passed away at the age of 86 on the 9th of Nisan, 2019 (5779).

חבדפדיה

Shiurim in this topic

3598. Gratitude for Reports on Yeshivah Growth and Encouragement to Expand הכרת תודה על דיווחים על התפתחות הישיבה ועידוד להרחבה

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3330. Influence of Avrechim and Students in the Yeshiva השפעת האברכים והתלמידים בישיבה

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3956. Reporting to Others Reveals Hidden Strengths and Inspires Action הדיווח לאחרים מגלה כוחות נסתרים ומעורר לפעולה

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4270. Encouragement for Lag BaOmer Preparation and Outreach to Students עידוד להכנה לל"ג בעומר ולהפצה לתלמידים

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4412. Encouragement to Share Chabad Content in Local Publications עידוד לשתף תוכן חב"ד בפרסומים מקומיים