Dovid Robbins z”l

30
>>Follow Matzav On Whatsapp!<<

dovid-robbinsIt is with tremendous shock and sadness that we report the passing of Dovid Robbins z”l. Dovid was a beloved member of the yeshiva community in the tri-state area and would frequent various mekomos haTorah, where he was greeted warmly by the bnei Torah there. Dovid spent much time at Yeshiva Torah Vodaas in Kensington, Brooklyn, where he would daven, learn and spend time with the bnei hayeshiva. He also visited the Five Towns and Lakewood on occasion and always brought smiles to people’s faces.

Dovid uplifted those who met him with a kind word or some humor, and he always carried himself with humility and gentility. He often graced the seudos Shabbos of neighborhood residents, bringing along good cheer, an ever-present smile, and a kind word for all. He would effusively thank his hosts, always demonstrating immense hakoras hatov for any favor done for him.

While Dovid unfortunately never married and did not have an easy life, he was considered a friend to so many people, particularly bnei hayeshiva. Despite the personal obstacles he faced, he showed great chashivus for tefillah and limud haTorah, always spending time in the bais medrash and around bnei Torah. It was clear that Dovid possessed a special neshamah that was drawn to Torah and kedushah.

Dovid’s sudden petirah comes after he hadn’t been seen for a few days. After a search was undertaken, he was found unresponsive at his home in the Courtelyou Road area of Kensington. Dovid was in his low forties and apparently passed away several days before he was found at his apartment.

The levaya will take place today, at 1 p.m., at Shomrei Hadas Chapels, located at 3803 14th Avenue in Boro Park, followed by kevurah at the Floral Park Cemetery in New Jersey.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Shmiel Gellman-Matzav.com Newscenter}


30 COMMENTS

  1. Wow. What a shock. I hadn’t seen Dovid in about 3 years
    He was always kind and a real mench. I feel like I lost a brother.

  2. As usual, Matzav knows how to say what has to be said in the right words. You should pay this Shmiel Gellman guy double. He is a wordsmith who knows eaxctly how to write what should be written in a bakavodike way.

  3. When I learned in in BMG, Lakewood , there were many Yeshiva Boys who made him feel comfortable when he came, and there were families who hosted him for Shaboss meals with tremendous respect and dignity.

    My thanks to all of them.

    Alteh Bucher

  4. Baruch Dayan Emet. I really second the words of kol hakavod, this article is golden, may we always succeed to be up to these standards in our life. Much honor was brought to the deceased, to the community, and to this website, I am amazed and in awe of you, thank you Shmiel Gellmann, be hatzlacha with all your endeavours.

  5. He was amazing
    He used to come by my house
    And always cheer the kids up
    The amazing thing was that a person with all the obstacles to learning Torah would spend hours a day engrossed in his learning
    . The rosh yeshiva of Lakewood spoke plus rabbi bluth
    And rabbi mermelstien
    At his levaya As where
    Any many other rabbonim present by his levaya
    The crowd was one that would be expected of a rosh yeshiva
    He could have hung out anywhere and he chose to associate with bnei Torah
    Truly amazing!

  6. I am very shaked to hear that he died let me tell a stoy and a lesin that we can lern from
    even a persin has a lat of phiscl prablims stil
    we shuld feed him we are kall yisrel we are brothers

  7. dovid was very self concious about others staring at him etc..we were not careful enough & sometimes not ” echod bpeh vechod belev” we ask mechila
    i remember when dovid was walking the street of kensington the morning his “MOTHER DIED” lost, alone & confused & rebbetzin belsky told him ” you will come to my home & for a week of shiva dovid sat in their dinig room , visitors minyonim,meals & all. ( at that time the belskys had many younger children & they eagerly gave it up all for ” dovid ” yehi zichro boruch & may we be mekabel to be more proactive & careful with these neshamos.

  8. I cant stop crying.. I was just walking home and I happened to see a paper with this sad sad sad news… I loved him.. what a gentle sweet beautiful neshoma… I feel so unworthy to even offer praise of such a wonderful person. He always had a smile and exuded a warmth that just radiated with kedusha. I feel so bad for the many times that I didn’t spend more time with him. I am heaving with such tears and I am not even sure why his death has affected me so terribly. Always offering a joke and humor… Always such a mentch… Always a walking kiddush Hashem…. Abba oyyyy Abba…. you took back one of our crown jewels here in olam hazeh…. we didnt deserve him. we all could and should have learned so much from him… he was sweeter than honey. To think he collapsed all alone and layed there for days… PLEASE… PLEASE!!!! I hope he didnt suffer…. I hope he wasnt afraid!!!! I wish I could just talk to him once more… I wish I could have him over again for a meal on Shabbos…. He would call me from time to time… and now I cringe with busha that I sometimes tried to get off the phone even though I should have been warmer… Dovid… Dovid… Please be moichel me for not be as loving and as a genuine ohayv yisroel like you were…. I will miss you always… Please ask Hashem to bring all young men who are alone in this world…caring friendships and true love… I miss you my friend… I will never forget who you were and how much kovod shemayim you must have brought to Hashem 24 hours a day. I will learn for your aliyas neshoma…. I am so SADDDDD!

  9. Sweet sweet Dovid was a walking talking laughing sweet giant teddy bear of a person.

    My wife and I knew him going all the way back (nearly 25 years ago) to a small yeshiva and shul on 16th avenue and 44th street in Borough Park named “Yeshivas Hamatmonim” which mean “hidden treasures”.

    Without doubt, Dovid was one of klall yisroels greatest gems and treasure. It was impossible not to love this special person. I cant stop crying thinking about how he was all alone in his last moments on this world. Sadly, that’s how it was for him so much of the time… alone…

    Yet whenever he was near, you felt like you were the center of his attention and he always had that twinkle in his eye that never betrayed his life of lonliness. He always tried to crack a joke or a humorous remark just to make others smile and brighten their day.

    The story they say about Rav Yisroel Belsky seeing Dovid walking the streets in a daze many years ago just after Dovid’s mother passed away… and how Rav Belsky told Dovid to sit in Rav Belsky’s own home for the entire shiva period to mourn his mother is an example of the lonliness of Dovid’s life. But it also shows the love his friends had for him and that they would try to help fill the emptiness that Dovid’s life had – but I am afraid, we never really did quite enough.

    Dovid wouldn’t harm a fly…

    Let me rephrase that, HE COULDNT HARM A FLY!!

    There wasnt a single bad bone in his entire body. He was filled only with warmth and love for all – his special neshoma… a neshoma, that was dealt hardships on both a physical level and a mental one too but still never stopped smiling. Anyone who may have seen him as ackward and dared to tease or make fun of him soon realized they were playing with fire and were placing themselves directly in the line of sight of kitrug from bais din shel myla – Dovid without doubt was one of Hashem’s special and most dearest.

    Dovid was the epitome of a walking kiddush Hashem. I loved his inner warmth and inner humility that was a throwback to something from another time. His lovely shining personality didnt reflect the fast paced mad-dashing ways of 21st century life. You could feel he was at peace and that he helped others feel at peace as well. He was so warm and kind when he would try to earn some extra money by selling annual memberships to Kashrus Currents magazine. I had a few subscriptions because I didnt have the heart to remind him that he already signed me up … I wish I did more for him but at least I was able to also make him feel accomplished everytime he would call to ask me if I had a membership. He never pushed, he was so gentle and it was this part of his personality that drew the affections of so many.

    His sense of humor could always elicit a smile from anyone. But the one who never stopped smiling most was Dovid Robbins himself. He had what was seemingly a hard life and in some ways; was so alone.

    Yet no matter what hardship he seemed to be enduring at any time, you would hardly ever be aware of it because his special soul could spin any challenge or sadness into strands of 24K gold with his simchas halayv and simchas hachayim.

    It is such a tragic loss to us all to lose our dear dear friend Reb Dovid.

    He was a Rebbe to us all…

    A Rebbe of derech eretz and middos tovos.

    A Rebbe of ahavas hatorah and yiras shemayim who was filled with ahavas Hashem at all times.

    A Rebbe of ahavas yisroel.

    It was a special honor and zechus for me and my wife to have had the opportunity to have been a small part of his life over the years. Thank you Hashem for allowing our paths to cross one of your lamed vuvs of middos tovos and ahavas hachayim. I will try to purposely and deliberately keep Dovid’s memory alive by giving people a warmer smile and show genuine appreciation for the many blessings that have been bestowed on me and my family.

    I will always miss you Dovid.

    I will never forget you Dovid.

    Please be a maylitz yosher for anyone who is sad and is suffering and ask Hashem to help bring a smile to their faces just like that warm and wonderful little chuckle and smile you always had!!!

    Boruch Dayan H’emes!!!!

  10. this makes me cry

    it seems that the people who have never hurt anyone

    or been involved in machlokes

    they bring out our ahvas yisroel

    please learn mishnayos lillui nishmas reb dovid

    all he has is us his brothrs achainu bai yisroel

    Dovid Ben Yosef Halevi

  11. Dearest Dovid Michael, (of blessed memory)

    I have read so many posts and there is very little left for me to say, except the Nachas you have left your mother and father for the exemplary life you led. The fact that you led your life according to Torah and Mitzvos, and you were a leader, lived the way you wanted, with dignity and respect, not according to the way others felt you should.
    Although quiet, very stubborn and strong in your ways when necessary and not afraid to say what was on your mind.

    You had a heart of gold, and got the most love from your parents. You were treasured as the only son, and you will not be forgotten. you I was alwayson your side and prayed you were alright, although you wanted your privacy.

    It brought me great consolation that you were happy on your 43rd Birthday, B”H. You deseved a lot more happiness although the deck was a hard one you received. I always included you in our simchas.
    YOU WERE NOT ALONE, SO PLEASE NEVER BELIEVE THAT DOVID WAS ALONE. HIS FAMILY LOVED HIM AND WANTED HIM WITH THEM.
    At the end of your life, the crowd you had was one that was standing room only, as the greatest roshei yeshiva stood and spoke to honor your life. (Rosh Chodesh, not eulogies)

    It was a great woman who once told me that it is not always important how long a life you are given, but that you had a good life!

    You are rich with friends that only the rich could envy.
    A smile is worth more than a million dollars, as we live in a sad, self-centered world. and obviously your smile and jokes made the communities a happier place.

    I loved you and you will be etched in my memory forever… I will love you always..

  12. Dearest Dovid Michael, (of blessed memory)

    I have read so many posts and there is very little left for me to say, except the Nachas you have left your mother and father for the exemplary life you led. The fact that you led your life according to Torah and Mitzvos, and you were a leader, lived the way you wanted, with dignity and respect, not according to the way others felt you should.
    Although quiet, very stubborn and strong in your ways when necessary and not afraid to say what was on your mind.

    You had a heart of gold, and got the most love from your parents. You were treasured as the only son, and you will not be forgotten. I was always on your side and prayed you were alright, although you wanted your privacy.

    It brought me great consolation that you were happy on your 43rd Birthday, B”H. You deseved a lot more happiness. The deck you were handed was a hard one, but you always made the best of it. I always included you in our simchas.
    YOU WERE NOT ALONE, SO PLEASE NEVER BELIEVE THAT DOVID WAS ALONE. HIS FAMILY LOVED HIM AND WANTED HIM IN THEIR LIVES. DOVID WANTED HIS PRIVACY AND HIS FAMILY RESPECTED THAT.

    At the end of your life, at your levaya was one that left those standing outside the doors, as the greatest roshei yeshiva stood and spoke to honor your life. (Rosh Chodesh, not eulogies)

    It was a great woman who once told me that it is not always important how long a life you are given, but that you have led a good life! A Torah life you led.

    You are rich with friends that millionaire could not attain.
    A smile is worth more than a million dollars, as we live in a sad, self-centered world. So, obviously your smile and jokes made the communities a happier place.

    I loved you and you will be etched in my memory forever… I will love you and always remember the happy times…

  13. Dearest Dovid Michael, (of blessed memory)

    I have read so many posts and there is very little left for me to say, except the Nachas you have left your mother and father for the exemplary life you led. The fact that you led your life according to Torah and Mitzvos, and you were a leader, lived the way you wanted, with dignity and respect, not according to the way others felt you should.
    Although quiet, very stubborn and strong in your ways when necessary and not afraid to say what was on your mind.

    You had a heart of gold, and got the most love from your parents. You were treasured as the only son, and you will not be forgotten. I was always on your side and prayed you were alright, although you wanted your privacy.

    It brought me great consolation that you were happy on your 43rd Birthday, B”H. You deserved a lot more happiness. The deck you were handed was a hard one, but you always made the best of it. always an optimist. You were included in all of our simchas, never left out ever.

    YOU WERE NOT ALONE, SO PLEASE DON’T BELIEVE THAT DOVID WAS ALONE. HIS FAMILY LOVED HIM AND WANTED HIM IN THEIR LIVES. DOVID WANTED HIS PRIVACY AND HIS FAMILY RESPECTED THAT.

    At the end of your life, by the levaya, you made such an impact that you left those standing outside of the doors, as the greatest roshei yeshiva stood and spoke in honor and remembered your life. (Rosh Chodesh, no eulogies!)

    It was a great woman who once told me that it is not always important how long a life you are given, but that you have led a good life! A Torah life you led.

    You are rich with friends that millionaire could not attain.
    A smile is worth more than a million dollars, as we live in a sad, self-centered world. So, obviously your smile and jokes made the communities a happier place.

    I loved you and you will be etched in my memory forever… I will love you and always remember the happy times…

  14. I don’t think there is anybody sitting shiva so there wouldn’t be a Bais Avel to distribute a Mishnayos chart.

    So why don’t we try over here?

    I’ll start Bli Neder I’ll learn Berachos.

  15. I miss Dovid. I didnt hear about his levaya until now.

    Boruch Hashem H’dayan H’emes.

    Does anyone know of anyone who recorded the levaya?

    Does anyone know if he has any family?

    Is anyone sitting Shiva?

    Does anyone have a picture of Dovid…

    I am going to try and put together a website that will honor this amazing young man.

    It will eventually be dovidrobbins(dot)com

    Can anyone please email to me any pictures or other trubutes about Dovid and send it to friendsofdovidrobbins(at)gmail(dot)com

    Tizku Lemitvohs all.

    Please send me an email

  16. Dear friends:

    Dovid’s sister is sitting shiva in Flatbush. Go to If you wish to contact relatives, and arrange a shiva visit, pls. contact 917-200-5422. His family is making sure that Kaddish is being said for said for Dovid, ZT”L.

    Rabbi Mermelstein is in charge of the Mishnayos. We appreciate all who wish to say Mishnayos for Dovid, as he was the only son in the family.
    Thanks for all of your beautiful comments, Dovid would have been so happy seeing so many loving people cared about him so much.

    The Robbins Family

  17. Dovid,
    It is difficult to read what I am writing, since I have too many tears in my eyes. We Boruch Hashem had the zechus of having Dovid over a number of times for Shabbos and Yom Tov meals. He was mekabal his very difficult matziv, Behava, and he always enjoyed making people laugh at his very cute humor.
    In my eyes,he was clearly a gilgul that needed to undergo these various nisyonous. I am sure that he is now in Gan Aiden, surely having being cleansed from what ever sins that he may have needed cleansing from, from a previous life. Before he would do things he would always ask advice, and yes, he enjoyed tremendously just being in Bais Medrash learning what ever he could. He was very happy to just be sitting in the Koslei Bais Hamedrash with Yeshiva people. That’s where his heart trully was. Dovid, as I am crying, I ask you mechila for not doing enough for you. Yahe zichro Boruch. BL”N i will try to have you in mind when I say Kaddish. What a Neshama, OY, I am crying, really crying.

  18. A book is in the process of being written, including pictures of Dovid over the past twenty years.

    I am truly mourning the loss of my dear brother, Dovid, A”H. I need to find a publisher to get the book, once completed into press.
    If there is anyone here who can assist me please email me. [email protected].
    Thanks in advance.
    Beth Robbins-Stein

Leave a Reply to emes min halayv Cancel reply

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here