Rabbi Berel Zaltzman: The Voice That Carried Jewish Courage Across Continents
Rabbi Chaim Dovber (Berel) Zaltzman was more than a renowned cantor. He was a symbol of Jewish resilience, a devoted Chabad Chossid, an underground activist in the Soviet Union, a Shliach of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, and a man whose powerful voice inspired generations of Jews around the world.
He dedicated his life to strengthening Judaism among Russian-speaking Jews and inspiring Jewish souls through Torah and song.
Born in 1934 in Kharkov, Ukraine, to his father, Rabbi Avraham Zaltzman, Rabbi Zaltzman came of age during one of the most difficult periods for Jewish life under Soviet rule. Religious observance was heavily restricted, yet he became involved in the clandestine Chabad network that worked tirelessly to preserve Torah and Judaism behind the Iron Curtain.
In Samarkand, he was active in the underground Chassidic network that helped keep Jewish education, Chassidic life, and mitzvah observance alive despite danger and government surveillance. This work was connected with the clandestine organization Chamah, directed by Rabbi Moshe Nislievitch.
Following the guidance of Reb Berke Chein, R’ Berel married his wife, Mrs. Chaya Esther, daughter of Rabbi Yehuda (Kulasher) Butrashvili. Together, they built a family rooted in self-sacrifice, Chassidic warmth, and lifelong dedication to the Rebbe’s work.
After leaving the Soviet Union in 1971, R’ Berel came to the Rebbe in New York. The following year, in 1972, he moved to Eretz Yisrael and settled in Nachalat Har Chabad. His years of sacrifice in Russia became the foundation for a new chapter of Jewish outreach and communal leadership.
In 1980, he established a Chabad center in Los Angeles serving Russian-speaking Jews at the Rebbe’s direction. In 1992, he relocated to Fair Lawn, New Jersey, where he founded the Bris Avrohom community, which became a major center for Russian-speaking Jews in the region and beyond.
Rabbi Zaltzman was also widely known as a distinguished Baal Tefillah and Chazzan. His voice carried depth, emotion, and Chassidic feeling. The Rebbe repeatedly encouraged him to sing at Farbrengens and on special occasions, recognizing that his voice was not only a musical gift, but a powerful way to awaken hearts and bring Jews closer to their heritage.
One remarkable chapter in his life involved the recording of his music. Although Rabbi Zaltzman hesitated because of the financial cost, the Rebbe encouraged him to move forward. With the Rebbe’s encouragement, he recorded albums of Niggunim and prayer that became beloved by listeners around the world.
Through those recordings, Rabbi Zaltzman transformed song into Shlichut. His heartfelt melodies, traditional Chazzanus, and emotional Niggunim reached people far beyond the communities where he personally served. For many Russian-speaking Jews, his voice carried memories of faith preserved under oppression and renewed in freedom.
Throughout his life, Rabbi Zaltzman remained deeply devoted to his mission. Whether through Bris Avrohom in New Jersey, his singing, his personal warmth, or his family’s continued work in Jewish outreach, he inspired countless individuals to reconnect with Torah, Mitzvot, and Chassidic life.
He was predeceased by his wife, Mrs. Chaya Esther Zaltzman, who passed away on 9 Tishrei 5765.
Survived by his children
Mrs. Rochel Matusof – Calgary, Canada; Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Zaltzman – Toronto; Rabbi Baruch Zaltzman – Toronto; Rabbi Menachem Mendel Zaltzman – Fair Lawn, NJ; Mrs. Sheina Browd – North Miami Beach, FL; Mrs. Rivka Sirota – Denver, CO and Mrs. Shterna Sarah Kanelsky – Fair Lawn, NJ.
Rabbi Berel Zaltzman’s life story is the story of an entire generation: Jews who preserved their faith under oppression, carried it across borders, and rebuilt vibrant Jewish communities in freedom. Through his singing, teaching, Shlichut, and lifelong devotion to the Jewish people, he ensured that the melodies of Jewish tradition would continue to resonate far beyond the world into which he was born.