GOLDEN THREADS OF OUR TAPESTRY
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GOLDEN THREADS OF OUR TAPESTRY
Harav Y. Reuven Rubin Shlita
Klall Yisroel lives in a zone of existence that defies time or understanding. We march through golus in all its myriad digressions, with changes that take the breath away. How do we survive? In which way do we capture the elixir of kedushah despite the whirlwind of tumah that soaks the very air we breathe?
It is the love of our Yiddisha mothers that inspires, regenerates and ignites that which we take for granted but live by with our every action. Quietly and with holy tzniyous our holy women create the atmosphere that graces the Jewish experience with majesty.
This morning, I received a phone call I have been dreading for some weeks. My sister-in-law, Chave Fiege Ehrenriech had lost her brave battle against the dreaded disease, and with her passing the illumination that had been carried by her so bravely was snuffed out. Chavie was the only sister of my Rebbetzin Chaiky AH and although two years stood between them, in truth they were one in soul. The nifteress suffered ill health from her early years, yet she persevered and did so with a beaming smile. Hers was a chein that bespoke caring and consideration. She helped others on so many levels, and did so despite her own challenges. Married to HaRav Yankel Eherenriech Ztl she became his devoted helpmate, and was the proud mother of generations of holy children and grandchildren that have never strayed from the varmah Yiddishkeit she instilled in them. From where did this gentle unassuming soul gather her solid love for Hashem? She was a daughter of a firedika Gerrer chossid, HaRav Shlomo Grodzinsky Ztl and his soul mate Yehudis, daughter of HaRav Elimielch Gordon Ztl formally of Vilna. The Bobover Rebbe Rav Shlomo Ztl once expressed his amazement that two people, coming from such different worlds, one a Gerrer chossid who had seen the Sfas Emes, the other born to a rav from Vilna, had been brought together after the milchoma and been blessed in creating a new generation of torah true children, all of whom were filled with uncompromising Yiddishkiet. Chavie was the oldest child, and remembered her early years in Lakewood where her father was the official shochet. From this bedrock of kedusha, she grew up and was steadfast in her will to marry a Chasidisha Torah scholar that would share in creating the next link in the eternal chain of Yiddishkeit. Her husband, Rav Yankel came from Hungary, his holy father was the world renowned goan, the Shimlower Rav Ztl. Again, the disparity of backgrounds was stunning, yet it worked so well that they were in fact one entity.
Her passing sets me back personally, I knew first-hand how much her Yiddishkeit meant to her, how much respect she had for the holiness of her husband’s torah, and how much she doted on her daughters. As each one married and began building their own torah homes, they always looked towards their parents for an example of how strong a holy home can be. She was a light; her sparkling laughter gave strength to so many others. Her only sister, My Rebbetzin Chaiky, was so humbled by her strength. She often spoke of her amazement on how her sister could bond with children, often getting on the floor to play games, just to bring some joy to others. Chavie was a shimmering light to our family, her devotion to her husband’s torah, and her insistence that her daughters respect their husbands learning was the stuff of how Klall Yisroel can overcome all obstacles and create new torah vistas despite life’s challenges. Hers was the tzniyousdika light that ignited those around her to strive for kedushah, she was made of the stuff that allows our march through golus go further, and all who knew her was blessed by her illumination. On a personal note, I thank The Eibishter for allowing my life, and that of my family to be part of her life. She was the exemplary of how the humble can be true giants. May she be a malitz yosher for all her family, and may her merit bring strength to her loving children at this difficult time.