Last Tuesday night, a large throng participated in the
levaya of Rebbetzin Feigele (Nelly) Schwab,
o'h. The widow of R' Avrohom Schwab, she was ninety
years old at the time of her petirah.
Rebbetzin Schwab came to Eretz Yisroel twenty-eight
years ago with her husband, who had been the head of the
Jewish community of the of Vichy, France and the vital force
behind all of the city's Jewish activities.
Rebbetzin Schwab was a living sefer mussar for all who
approached her for advice. The counsel she so generously
offered was replete with wisdom, discretion and yiras
Shomayim. Chessed was an integral part of her
personality. Her characteristic geniality, smile and joy of
living enabled her to assist all those with whom she came in
contact and to draw people closer to Torah. Many returned to
their Jewish roots due to her influence.
Her home in Europe was well known for its hospitality,
especially to people who had come to avail themselves of the
curative springs of Vichy. On Shabbosim and weekdays, her
home was filled with guests.
Among the great talmidei chachomim whom she hosted
were R' Shmuel Greineman and R' Refoel Baruch Toledano. R'
Shmuel Greineman's visits made a very great impression on Rav
Schwab and his wife, imbuing them with the aspiration to send
their children to Torah institutions in Bnei Brak, and
inspiring them to draw closer to the approach of the Chazon
Ish.
As a child, Rebbetzin Schwab was inculcated with ahavas
Torah by her father, Reb Reuven (Ernest) Halevi Emir, who
despite his heavy schedule as the doctor of Miluz, was
thoroughly well versed in Shas and delivered regular
shiurim in the city. He raised his children according
to the Torah-true way, and merited offspring who became
talmidei chachomim, most of whom reside in Eretz
Hakodesh.
Even though Rebbetzin Schwab came from a well-to-do family,
worldly matters were insignificant to her, and she lived a
very Spartan life, her sole concern being the attainment of
yiras Shomayim. She raised her sons and daughters to
love Torah and to be strong in their emunas chachomim,
and merited sons and sons-in-law who are talmidei
chachomim. Her sons are : R' Yehuda Schwab of
Yerushalayim and R' Moshe Schwab, the rosh yeshiva of
Dvar Avrohom of Marseilles. Her sons-in-law are: R' Yaakov
Posen, a dayan in the beis din of R' Nissim
Karelitz, and a moreh horo'oh in Zichron Yaakov; R'
Yaakov Cohen, head of the Ma'ayenei HaTorah institutions of
Marseilles; R' Yehuda Deutsch and R' Yoel Meron of Bnei Brak.
She was blessed with many grandchildren and great-
grandchildren, all of whom are pursuing Torah in outstanding
Torah institutions.
Even before her marriage, she organized study groups in order
to draw people closer to Yiddishkeit. After her marriage, she
delivered shiurim to women and organized many acts of
chessed. She was the life-force of many of France's
spiritual activities for women.
She will always be recalled for her yiras Shomayim and
her meticulous observance of the mitzvos, beruach Yisroel
Saba.
