09/04/2026
On my way home from Montreal tonight, after visiting my father’s resting place, as we mark four years since his passing.
The Rebbe often emphasized “V’hachai yiten el libo” that those of us who remain must take to heart the lessons of those no longer physically with us.
My father, Rabbi Shalom Leib Eisenbach, was the best father a child could ask for.
He was only eight when his own father was killed by a terrorist in Jerusalem and never came home. Perhaps because of that, Abba never went to sleep until every one of his children was safely home, no matter how late.
He lived and breathed the Rebbe’s teachings and gave us a deep love for Torah, the Jewish people and the Land of Israel. That love was not theoretical. With the Rebbe’s blessing, he had the privilege of serving in the IDF.
The first photo, though, captures the Abba I knew.
As a little boy, I would visit his class at the Rabbinical College of Canada almost every day for a quarter to buy a donut. He always greeted me with an enormous smile - and apparently never worried that his already slightly zaftig son might be exceeding his recommended donut allowance. 😂
One day his class was taking this photograph. When he saw me, his face lit up. He gave me my quarter and said, “You’re here already - come into the picture.”
And there I am, a little boy among rabbinical students three and four times my age.
Looking at it today, I realize it captures my father perfectly:
There was always room for you in his picture.
Four years later, we miss him terribly. But his legacy lives on through thousands of students and close to 200 descendants, continuing his faith, love of family, love for the Rebbe, love for Israel and commitment to making this world better.
Abba, we miss you. We love you. And we’re still trying to live inside the beautiful picture you created for us.
May his soul continue to have an aliyah, and may we very soon be reunited with him with the coming of Moshiach.
