One of First Chabad-Lubavitch Representatives Passes Away

Rabbi Shlomo Matusof of Casablanca, the first Chabad-Lubavitch representative to take up an outreach position on behalf of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, passed away Saturday night. He was 91 years old.

In 1950, Rabbi Matusof was sent by the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory, to Morocco where he established a network of some 70 Chabad-Lubavitch yeshivas serving Jews countrywide. He lived with his wife in Casablanca until recently, when the couple moved to New York.

Rabbi Matusof is survived by his wife and nine children, most of whom are Chabad Shluchim: Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Matusof, Chabad representative to Toulouse, France, Rabbi Yehuda Matusof, Chabad representative to Cannes, France; Rabbi Eliyahu Matusof, an editor at the Chabad-Lubavitch publishing house; Rabbi Yonah Matusof, Chabad representative to Madison, Wisconsin; Rabbi Reuvein Matusof, Chabad representative in Paris; Rabbi Shmaryahu, representative and Chasidic mentor in Brunoy, Paris; Baila Palatinesky of  New Jersey; Rabbi Menachem Mendel, representative in Alberta, Canada, and Aidla Nemanov, of Brooklyn.

Rabbi Matusof’s funeral will pass by Lubavitch Headquarters at 770 Eastern Parkway, Sunday morning at 11:00, where thousands of Shluchim, in New York for the International Conference, will pay respects.