Last week, the righteous Rebbetzin Miriam Rabinov-Rabinowitz,
o"h, wife of HaRav Shmuel Yosef Rabinov the author of
Divrei Shir, was brought to her final resting place.
Her levaya was well-attended, and led by gedolei
Torah and roshei yeshiva and included many bnei
Torah. She was niftar after an illness in her 82nd
year.
Rebbetzin Rabinov was born in Tzehlem, one of the famous
Sheva Kehillos of Austria, in 5678. Her parents, Reb Sholom
Frishman and Feige, who were among the prominent members of
the community, and they were upright, righteous Jews. In that
home, where her noble and warm character were formed, she
imbibed true emunas chachomim and learned to consult
daas Torah about every aspect of life.
Sensing the impending Holocaust, the Frishman family sent
their children to London where they grew up and were
educated. During that period Miriam married HaRav Shmuel
Yosef Rabinov, author of Divrei Shir and the chairman
of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Europe. Their
home was a beis vaad lechachomim, and gedolei
haTorah visited it often. At such times, the rebbetzin
would cater to all their needs.
Rebbetzin Rabinov-Rabinowitz stood beside her illustrious
husband, and conducted their home, which was a focal point
for the rabbonim of England and Europe, wisely and prudently.
When her husband fell ill and became partially paralyzed, she
served him with outstanding dedication. At that stage in
their lives they moved to Eretz Hakodesh and settled in Bnei
Brak.
There too, the rebbetzin continued to serve her husband with
great mesirus while the door of their home was open to
many visitors and guests. Every Shabbos, many yeshiva
students, mainly British boys who were learning in Eretz
Yisroel, dined at their home. Their home was also visited
regularly by gedolei Yisroel who regarded the
rebbetzin as an exemplary eishes chover.
In 5723 (1963) her husband was niftar. She later
married HaRav Gedaliah Rabinowitz, zt"l, who was
highly acclaimed for his unique shiurim and
droshos, known for their depth and clarity. Many
gedolei Yisroel drew inspiration from his shiurim,
and the rebbetzin helped him to spread Torah from a home
of peace and tranquillity. When he fell ill, she served him
with utmost dedication.
Her second husband's children treated her lovingly. Having no
children of her own, she always participated in the
simchas of her husband's family, even when they took
place overseas.
She dedicated her entire life to Torah and chessed,
and was very involved in tzedoko, hachnosas orchim and
bikur cholim. She visited lonely hospital patients,
encouraging them and bringing them refreshments or money, in
accordance with their needs. She also participated in
gemilus chessed shel emes all her life, on a voluntary
basis.
Far from the public view, she practiced many personal
chumros, some of which became known only when she was
ill and was forced to reveal them to others. She related then
that during the period in which her husband fasted on Mondays
and Thursdays, she also didn't eat meat.
The jewel in her crown of chessed was her hachnosas
kallah enterprise. She not only established Jewish homes
in Israel, but also helped the needy with large grants. She
also founded special tzedoko funds for easy, long-term
loans, subsidizing them on her own by collecting money and
holding fund raising dinners. Until her final day, she was
involved in the important mitzvah of helping needy brides.
Recently, she became very weak and issued instructions to her
family about her tzedoko affairs. On Wednesday, 13
Elul, she returned her pure soul to her its Maker, in the
presence of her family.
Her levaya, which left her home, was attended by HaRav
Aharon Yehuda Leib Steinman, as well as by roshei yeshiva,
rabbonim and many of the finest of chareidi Jewry. HaRav
Moshe Sternbuch delivered a hesped next the Divrei
Shir synagogue. In it he stressed the many chessed
enterprises she had established, and the fact that he had
merited to serve gedolei Yisroel.
HaRav Arye Dunner, who also eulogized her in a weeping voice,
spoke about the greatness of her husband and the immense
share she had in his achievements, especially during his
final years in Eretz Hakodesh. He said that only a month ago
she participated in a ceremony in which a street was named
after her husband, HaRav Shmuel Yosef Rabinov.
HaRav Doniel Rabinowitz noted her great dedication to his
grandfather, HaRav Gedaliah Rabinowitz, whom she helped
throughout her entire marriage to him, enabling him to devote
himself solely to Torah.
At the cemetery words of parting were delivered by HaRav
Moshe Schloss, an outstanding student of her first husband,
HaRav Shmuel Yosef Rabinov. In his hesped, he
mentioned her outstanding character traits.
HaRav Mordechai Gross parted from her in the name of the
family, and noted her outstanding traits. He noted that the
lofty character traits of Rebbetzin Miriam Rabinov-
Rabinowitz's mother were a source of inspiration to her
always.
