Rabbi Eugene Labovitz, alav hashalom

Rabbi Eugene Labovitz passed away on the third of Sivan at the age of 82. One of the original kiruv rabbonim before it was even called kiruv, Rabbi Labovitz was born in Pittsburgh and was sent to Yeshiva Torah Vodaas in Brooklyn to continue his studies. He attended Brooklyn College and the Mesivta of Torah Vodaas, learning one year in Lakewood where he met Rav Shlomo Carlebach. He returned to Torah Vodaas to get smicha and became a rav in Houston, Texas in 1953.

He met his wife Annette through a congregant in Houston. They married and when a position for a shul in Miami Beach opened in 1958 they moved there. He was the rav of Ner Tamid from then until 1998 and retired after the population there shifted and moved north. The Labovitz’s moved to Woodmere, to be closer to three of their four children.

Together they opened their home in Miami Beach during those 40 years, hosting 15 to 20 at Shabbat meals, with songs, stories, and Torah, inviting the unaffiliated to “taste Shabbos.” Rav Shlomo Carlebach would come to their house teaching, singing sometimes till 3 A.M., recalled Dr. Annette Labovitz. Together, Rabbi and Mrs. Labovitz published four books of stories and later a history series, a timeline of Jewish history through stories. Many were brought to Judaism through their warmth and teachings.

One of their students, Devora Preiss-Bloom, wrote: “what a sweet man he was and how he had a great laugh and always seemed so happy.  It is true that he projected a stately, smiling presence and radiated a fullness of joy, intellect and sincere interest. Through both your and R' Eugene's example I learned what a Jewish house could be like.  Gone was the tight, dark and muted Shabbos of my youth. Instead there flowered a vibrant young couple with four beautiful children who had a higher consciousness and acted in a G-dly way. I will always be grateful to you both and will always think that Hashem sent me "malachim" to show me the way.”

He is survived by his wife, Dr. Annette Labovitz, four children, and grandchildren.

Yehay Zichro Baruch.