Last week, Rebbetzin Gittel Zaitchik, eishes chover to
HaRav Chaim Zaitchik zt"l, returned her pure soul to
its Maker.
She was born in Vilna, the daughter of HaRav Avrohom Shmuel
Kastzevsky, Hy"d an av beis din in the city of
Podbrezne and Midzel near Vilna. When she was growing up, her
family lived near HaRav Chaim Ozer Grodzinsky, and was very
close to him. When she was eight she merited to see the
Chofetz Chaim, and this zechus accompanied her
throughout her life.
After the Holocaust, she married HaRav Chaim Ephraim Zaitchik
(a second marriage), and together they established a bayis
godol beYisroel. During the first years of their marriage
they lived in France, along with other Holocaust survivors.
They later moved to the United States, where they were very
close with HaRav Aharon Kotler zt'l, whom they helped
in his efforts to spread Torah and mussar.
When they came to Eretz Yisroel they settled in Haifa,
where HaRav Zaitchik used his unique capacities for
chinuch. They moved to Yerushalayim thirty years ago
and established a home which was a veritable beis vaad
lechachomim, a home in which Torah and mussar were
nurtured. Every Shabbos, the finest yeshiva students were
their guests. On such occasions, the rebbetzin would
feed them Shabbos delicacies while they quenched their
spiritual thirst with the divrei Torah of her
illustrious husband. All left satiated from both a physical
and a spiritual standpoint.
Although she and her husband lived in Yerushalayim, they
spread their influence all over the world, through the
guidance they offered and the encouragement they extended to
institutions of Torah and mussar.. They were closely
associated with Mercaz HaTorah of HaRav Gershon Leibman of
France, a childhood friend of HaRav Zaitchik. The
rebbetzin would often speak with yearning about the
period during which HaRav Chaim Shmuelevitz studied with her
husband every Friday. She regarded this as her own
zechus as well as her husband's.
Her husband helped found a minyan in their home on
Shabbosim, yomim tovim and Yomim Noraim. The
rebbetzin would warmly welcome all of the
participants, even providing the small children who had come
with generous treats.
After her husband's petirah the minyan
continued in her home, and this gave her the strength to
continue maintaining her illustrious home. Throughout the
week, she would look forward to Shabbos kodesh and
would display sincere interest in the welfare of the members
of the minyan and their families.
She was known for her outstanding middos, her modesty,
humility, tsniusand histapkus with bare
essentials, as well as for scores of acts of chessed
she performed secretly, including the disbursement of
substantial financial aid to the needy. Frail of body but
brave of spirit, she bore her suffering courageously,
accepting her lot with love. She took special care not to
trouble or sadden others, and would always profusely thank
those who helped her.
At her levaya, hespedim were delivered by HaRav C.
Stanietzky, HaRav Yitzchok Ezrachi and HaRav S. Y. Bornstein,
Beside her home, hespedim were delivered by HaRav A.
Schlesinger and HaRav Y. Hochberger.
She was laid to her eternal rest on Har Hazeisim, near her
husband's grave. With the sealing of the grave, HaRav D.
Freiman delivered parting words.
