Cleveland, OH
Rabbi Leibel Alevsky, 86, AH | Anash.org
By Anash.org reporter
Rabbi Yehuda Leib (Leibel) Alevsky, longtime shliach to Cleveland, Ohio, who directed the local Chabad institutions for decades, passed away on Monday, 3 Iyar.
He was 86 years old.
Born on 1 Sivan 5699 in Chernigov, Ukraine, to Reb Chaim Boruch and Mrs. Sima Chaya Alevsky, his father was drafted into the Russian army to fight the Nazis when he was two years old, never to return. He was raised by his mother and his maternal grandfather, Reb Gavriel Kagan, a tomim from Lubavitch.
After the war, the family joined the mass escape from Russia under false Polish passports. After time in a displaced persons camp in Germany and then in France, the Frierdiker Rebbe directed his family to move to Eretz Yisrael. He enrolled in Tomchei Tmimim in Lod, where he studied in the zal under the mashpia, Rabbi Shlomo Chaim Kesselman.
In 5718, after receiving the Rebbe’s permission to travel to New York, he arrived on his nineteenth birthday, Rosh Chodesh Sivan, and enrolled in Tomchei Tmimim at 770. He quickly distinguished himself and was among the first bochurim chosen for the Shivas Knei Hamenorah (“Kanim”) – a group of fourteen select students, seven in Chassidus and seven in nigleh, designated to deliver shiurim and pilpulim before the entire yeshiva.
Beginning in 5722 and until her passing in 5725, he merited to serve Rebbetzin Chana, the Rebbe’s mother, assisting her in numerous ways and spending many hours in her presence.
That same year, he became the first official employee of Tzach, the Lubavitch Youth Organization, under Rabbi Dovid Raskin. He ran the organization for a decade, taking responsibility for hakhalas kehillos, tahalucha, Shabbosim in outlying communities, shiurim, and the printing of the first four volumes of Likkutei Sichos. He also spearheaded the global Keren Hashishim campaign in honor of the Rebbe’s 60th birthday.
During those same years, he developed a close working relationship with Rabbi Chaim Mordechai Eizik Chodakov, the Rebbe’s secretary and chief of staff, whose yahrzeit also falls on 3 Iyar. In an interview with Anash.org, Rabbi Alevsky recalled how Rabbi Chodakov would summon him late at night during yechidus evenings and offer suggestions for Tzach’s activities. He initially did not always act on them – until he once found that the Rebbe himself referenced those same suggestions during a yechidus, making clear to him their true source.
As the neighborhood of Crown Heights began to change, he also acted as a liaison for Tzach to city officials, securing grants and property to stabilize the community.
He merited rare closeness with the Rebbe, and on several occasions, he was called upon to drive the Rebbe to the Ohel. Recognizing the need for the Rebbe to have communication from the Ohel to 770, he arranged for a car phone to be installed in the Rebbe’s vehicle—a luxury that cost $900 at the time—which the Rebbe utilized to send out hora’os. He also arranged for the permanent “No Parking” zone in front of 770 so the Rebbe’s car would always have clear access.
He married his wife, Devorah, daughter of Rabbi Shlomo Schneur Zalman Kazen, one of the Rebbe’s pioneering shluchim, in Cleveland on Chai Elul 5722. At the yechidus before the wedding, the Rebbe told the young couple: “Az ir vet machen lichtig arum eich, vet der Aibershter machen lichtig bai eich” – when you spread light around you, the Aibershter will illuminate your own space as well.
At the same time of their Chasuna, the Rebbe held a surprise farbrengen in 770, announcing the upcoming “Shnas Hakan” (150 years since the Alter Rebbe’s passing). The Rebbe had Rabbi Hodakov phone the wedding hall so the Chosson could repeat the Rebbe’s words to the assembled guests.
In 5727 (1967), during a yechidus for his 28th birthday, he asked the Rebbe if his mother and sister should leave Eretz Yisroel due to the looming threat of the Six-Day War. The Rebbe responded prophetically that there was no need to worry, as the war would be over in ten days.
In 5732 (1972), he began his shlichus in Cleveland, joining his father-in-law in expanding Chabad activities in the city.
Over the following decades, he led the community and oversaw immense growth. He built a replica of 770 in Cleveland to serve as the headquarters for the Chabad activities there.
He organized groups of mekuravim who would travel together by bus to receive the Rebbe’s brochos by Sunday dollars.
During the events of Shemini Atzeres 5738 (1977), Rabbi Alevsky was instrumental in the efforts for the Rebbe’s health, helping to urgently bring a doctor to 770.
When the bank threatened to foreclose on the Chabad building in 5744, he flew to the Rebbe and submitted a detailed report on the situation. The Rebbe responded, “Azkir al hatziyun,” and within days the full amount was raised in what he described as an open miracle.
He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Devorah Alevsky, and their children: Sarah Freedman – Bahia Blanca, Argentina; Chani Glitzenstein – Maaleh Efraim, Eretz Yisroel; Kaila Sasonkin – Akron, Ohio; Rabbi Chaim Boruch Alevsky – Cleveland, Ohio; Miriam Greenberg – Solon, Ohio; Dinie Greenberg – Shanghai, China; Estie Marozov – Pepper Pike, Ohio; Rochie Sudak – London, UK; Rivky Friedman – Brooklyn, New York; and Rabbi Mendy Alevsky – Cleveland, Ohio.
The levaya will take place today in Ohio at 4:30 p.m. at the Waxman Chabad Center, followed by kevura at Anshe Sfard Cemetery.
Boruch dayan hoemes.
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – The man wanted for the 2024 murder of a Northeast Ohio rapper in Cleveland, was arrested Thursday by members of the U.S. Marshals led Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force.
The U.S. Marshals said Steven Smith, 27, was taken into custody at a home in the 15900 block of Invermere Ave. in Cleveland.
Smith is accused of fatally shooting Carlos Banks, 28, on Dec. 29. 2024 inside an apartment at 5115 The Rising.
This is in the city’s Slavic Village neighborhood.
Cleveland EMS pronounced Banks dead at the scene.
Also known by stage name KashBankx, the 28-year-old had amassed thousands of social media followers with his rap career.
19 News previously spoke with community journalist Jaylyn King who says he’s interviewed Banks multiple times about his music career.
“Normally Cleveland has a set sound that’s really repetitive,’ said King. “He (Banks) was one that stood out and was very different than other artists”.
“This is big because he touched and influenced so many people,” said King “Even outside of music”.
Copyright 2026 WOIO. All rights reserved.
LAKEWOOD, Ohio — It was Sunday morning when Lakewood police discovered a man and woman shot dead inside a home. The shooter then turned the gun on himself.
On Monday, we learned the victims were 33-year-old Amanda Wakut and 35-year-old Richard “Ricky” Eastin. Police say the shooter was 45-year-old Stephen Davis. On Wednesday, friends and family spoke with us about the life Eastin lived.
We interviewed Ricky Eastin’s younger brother, Ian Eastin, over Zoom because he’s currently on his honeymoon in Thailand. You could easily see the resemblance between him and his big brother.
“He was one of the kindest people I know. He would be willing to give his own shirt right off his back,” Eastin continued. “We just got married last week, so I just saw him.”
Eastin said he last talked to his brother on Saturday.
“He was sending us some pictures of- that he took at our wedding, and just asking how our honeymoon was going,” said Eastin.
Then, at 2 a.m., Eastin learned he would never hear from his brother again.
“I just didn’t believe it. I still feel like how is this even possible,” said Eastin.
Police say Ricky Eastin and Amanda Wakut were found shot and killed inside a home on Chesterland Avenue around 4:30 a.m. Sunday.
3 dead in Lakewood double murder-suicide
3 dead in Lakewood double murder-suicide
“You’d see stuff on the news, people get shot or people get killed, you don’t believe it, like it just is unreal,” said Ian Eastin.
When officers arrived at the scene, police said the shooter, Davis, believed to be Wakut’s boyfriend, drove off in a truck. He was later stopped on Warren Road, where he took his own life.
“Ricky was there supporting her because I guess Amanda was going to break up or end stuff with that guy, and I guess he didn’t take the news well, and just started shooting,” said Eastin.
Ricky Eastin’s boyfriend shared photos with us, including one Eastin sent earlier that Saturday. We also spoke to Eastin’s friend Gwendolyn McCrary Williams.
“That really hurt and I’m angry, he didn’t deserve it, they didn’t deserve that,” said Williams.
The two worked on home improvement projects together and had been making plans just last week.
“Everybody just loved Ricky, soon as you cross his path, it was just something about him that just made you want to just always be connected,” said Williams.
That love has shown in a GoFundMe, which has already raised more than $15,000 to cover funeral expenses and support his mother, whom Eastin was caring for.
“It’s crazy how many people, how many lives he’s touched in that just short period of time that he’s lived,” said Ian Eastin.
While Ricky Eastin may be gone, his friends and family say the love and impact he left behind will never fade.
“This wonderful vibrant full of life young guy, loves everybody, he’s gone and I’m going to miss Ricky,” said Williams.
For more information on the GoFundMe for Ricky, click here.
Earlier
On Monday we spoke to Wakut’s friend and business partner, Megann Galehouse, about her. She described Wakut as a mother, athlete and someone filled with joy and laughter.
Galehouse told News 5 she had just talked to her in the days before she was killed, saying what happened seemed surreal.
“She said, ‘Happy Birthday, I love you so much,’ and I said, Thank you, I love you too,’” Galehouse said.
As police search for answers to what happened, Galehouse mourns Wakut and Eastin and is raising money for funeral costs. She’s also raising money to support Wakut’s 7-year-old son, who was with his grandmother when the shooting happened. While it still doesn’t feel real, she hopes people remember Amanda for her light and her spirit.
“She was always joking. I don’t think I will ever forget her laugh. Her laugh was really, really good,” Galehouse said.
For more information on the GoFundMe for Wakut, click here.
Nadeen Abusada is a Cuyahoga County and immigration reporter at News 5 Cleveland. Follow her on Instagram NadeenAbusada or email her at Nadeen.Abusada@wews.com.
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – Cleveland Police gave a tragic update to the SR-176 crash that happened in the southbound lanes near Spring Road on Tuesday afternoon.
Police said two people died in the multiple-vehicle crash that closed the highway for several hours starting around 4:20 P.M.
When officers arrived, they found three vehicles were involved in the crash.
The investigation concluded that a dump truck traveling southbound on SR-176 struck a Jeep Patriot that had slowed. The crash caused the Jeep to continue forward and collide with a Ford E-350 van.
Following the collision, the Jeep rolled over and burst into flames.
The van hit the median and overturned.
The dump truck driven by a 35-year-old male man was not hurt, according to police.
The Jeep was occupied by two people whose ages are unknown were pronounced dead at the scene.
A 71-year-old man and a 70-year-old woman, who were driving the van, were taken by Cleveland EMS to a local hospital for treatment.
The Cleveland Division of Police Accident Investigation Unit is investigating the incident. No additional information is available at this time.
Copyright 2026 WOIO. All rights reserved.
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