The Chabad-Lubavitch community is mourning the passing of Rabbi Avraham Korf z”l, the longtime head shliach to the state of Florida and one of the earliest Chabad emissaries in the United States. Rabbi Korf passed away on Tuesday at the age of 92, after 64 years of dedicated shlichus, during which he helped transform Florida into a vibrant center of Jewish life and learning.
Born in 1933 in Kharkov, then part of the Soviet Union, Rabbi Korf was the son of Rabbi Yehoshua and Rebbetzin Chaya Rivka Korf. Despite the harsh repression of Judaism under Communist rule, his parents instilled in him a deep and unwavering commitment to Yiddishkeit. They raised their children with fierce devotion to mitzvah observance, Chassidic values, and mesorah, even under the most dangerous conditions.
In 1942, the Korf family managed to escape Kharkov on the last train out, making their way to Samarkand, Uzbekistan. There, despite his young age and limited formal Torah education—having grown up in an environment where traditional melamdim were nearly impossible to find—Avraham Korf pleaded with his father to allow him to join a clandestine yeshiva that had opened in the city. His persistence bore fruit, and he soon began to flourish in Torah learning through great toil and determination.
In 1947, the family managed to flee the Soviet Union, eventually arriving at the displaced persons camp in Poking, Germany. A year later, they relocated to France, where young Avraham studied at the Tomchei Temimim yeshiva in Brunoy. During those formative years, two towering Chassidic figures left a profound mark on him: the legendary mashpia Reb Nissan Neminov, who embodied bittul and kabbolas ol, and Reb Bentzion Shemtov, who passionately urged the yeshiva bochurim to devote themselves wholly to Hashem.
In his youth, Rabbi Korf journeyed from France to New York to be near the Lubavitcher Rebbe in the early years of his leadership. Even then, he began spreading Chassidus by teaching in various yeshivos.
In 1961, Rabbi Korf embarked on his life’s mission: to serve as the shliach in Florida. He was only the second Chabad shliach in all of America. Despite not yet knowing English, he immediately began connecting with local Jewish leaders, most of whom were affiliated with Reform or Conservative congregations. Impressively, almost all of them welcomed him and even invited him to speak to their communities. He began giving shiurim to college students, launched a children’s camp, and slowly laid the foundation for the Jewish infrastructure that would soon blossom.
Over the decades, Rabbi Korf brought dozens of other shluchim to the state. Today, thanks to his pioneering work, Florida is home to over 200 Chabad centers, each a shining beacon of Torah and Yiddishkeit. These centers, along with the numerous schools, yeshivos, and community institutions he helped establish, are part of Rabbi Korf’s enduring legacy.
He is survived by his children: Rabbi Yossi Korf (Hollywood, FL); Mrs. Rashi Raices (Postville, Iowa); Mrs. Shevi Sossonko (Miami Beach, FL); Rabbi Benjy Korf (Miami Beach, FL); Mrs. Leah Jacobson (Crown Heights); R’ Mendy Korf (Miami Beach, FL); R’ Motty Korf (Miami Beach, FL); Rabbi Zalman Korf (Walnut Creek, FL); and Ms. Sari Korf (Miami Beach, FL), as well as by many grandchildren and great-grandchildren who continue to carry forward his legacy of mesirus nefesh, Torah, and ahavas Yisroel.
Yehi zichro baruch.
{Matzav.com}