Friends, family, and the entire South African chareidi
community were deeply saddened at the news of the sudden
petirah of Mrs. Zipporah Lieberman, wife of yibodel
lechaim tovim Reb Tzvi Lieberman. Mrs. Lieberman was
niftar in Yerushalayim on leil Shabbos Parshas
Vayeitzei. Their home had been a prominent landmark of the
Johannesburg chareidi community for over thirty-seven years.
From her humble home began the whirlwind that transformed
Johannesburg -- and, indeed, all of South Africa -- from a
small kehilloh of several families to a grand mokom
Torah with yeshivos, kollelim, Bais Yaakov schools
and hundreds of South African bnei Torah families
gracing the Torah world today.
Mrs. Lieberman was born in 1922 to the highly respected Emanuel
family in Frankfurt. She traced her lineage to Reb Mendel of
Zell, who was famous for his askonus, as were many
members of the Emanuel family. She emigrated with her parents
and sisters to Eretz Yisroel in 1934. Shortly thereafter
she lost both her parents. Their uncle, HaRav Boruch Kundstadt,
zt"l, founder of Yeshiva Kol Torah, took them under his
wing until her marriage to R' Tzvi Lieberman in 1945.
In 1960 the family moved to Johannesburg, joining the Adas
Jeshurun community founded by her uncle Reb Jonas Emanuel
zt"l and led by her brother-in-law HaRav Yaakov Salzer
zt"l.
Their home became a beis va'ad lechachomim and was the
first stop for almost every rosh yeshiva and meshuloch
arriving in Johannesburg for over thirty-seven years. Visitors
received a warm welcome and basked in the comfort of its
heimish atmosphere. Her husband, yibodel lechaim
tovim, could always be found learning with chavrusos
or with one of the many beginners that he painstakingly taught.
She was quietly in the background ready to offer refreshments,
meals or anything that was required. Many of these beginners --
among them doctors, lawyers, and other professionals -- became
prominent members of South Africa's chareidi community.
With the goal of improving the chinuch for boys in
Johannesburg, Reb Tzvi turned to his brother-in-law, Rav
Salzer, zt"l in 1965. Together with several ba'alei
batim, they started Yeshiva Toras Emes High School with 5
boys. Despite many difficulties, the yeshiva grew and today
produces many fine bnei Torah. It was an elderly,
regular guest to the Liebermans' Shabbos table -- impressed
with the exceptional warmth and hachnosas orchim -- who
bequeathed the yeshiva a large grant, allowing the yeshiva to
survive its difficult first years.
With great mesiras nefesh, she unquestioningly agreed to
send her sons away to overseas yeshiva gedolos at the
young age of fifteen or sixteen, although she was well aware
that she would not see them for two or three years at a time.
It was a great zechus for her that this set an example
that many other families later followed.
In 1969, Reb Tzvi was the driving force behind the move to
start a kollel in Johannesburg. Unfazed by the fact that few
people had even heard of the concept, Reb Tzvi worked day and
night to raise funds and recruit the appropriate
yungeleit for this dream: with the support of his
aishes chayil. Despite the financial hardships caused by
her husband neglecting his business affairs to build up the
kollel, Mrs. Lieberman continued her unquestioning support.
Her quiet yiras Shomayim and her extraordinary living
example of the ma'amar Chazal, "Eizu isha kesheiroh -- osoh
rotzon ba'aloh," enabled her husband to pursue a vision of
turning Johannesburg from the Gold Mining Capital of the world,
to a Capital of Torah.
An incident illustrating this steadfast support occurred
shortly after the first families were on their way from
overseas to join the kollel in Johannesburg. The South African
government, stung by attacks on its apartheid policies by the
clergy, suddenly cancelled all immigration visas issued to
foreign clergy, including those issued to the kollel families.
Several families who were in transit were now left in
impossible positions, having left their previous positions and
sent all their possessions ahead.
The situation became desperate at the months went by and no
visas were forthcoming. Enormous pressure was now building up
on the family, as Reb Tzvi desperately tried to keep his dream
alive. Mrs. Lieberman, however, did not hesitate or waver in
her support of everything her husband undertook.
Finally, almost bederech nes, a breakthrough occurred.
Rav Salzer sent a young congregant to Pretoria, the state
capital, to see if anything could be done. The young man, who
had served in the South Africa Army, was surprised to find that
the official responsible for approving visas was an old army
acquaintance. Immediately, the visa issue was resolved and,
shortly thereafter the yungeleit arrived in South
Africa.
The impact of the kollel on the South African Community cannot
be adequately described. Within weeks there was standing room
only at the kollel, as hundreds came to be inspired and
challenged. Dozens of new families joined the chareidi
community and, within a very short period, Torah learning and
Yiddishkeit were thriving on South African soil. Much of
this would not have transpired without Mrs. Lieberman's quiet
and unfailing support of her husband's every move.
Oma, as she was known to her close family, always had an
exceptional ability to be dan lekaf zechus, regardless
of circumstances. Always interested in others, she rarely spoke
about herself.
Despite suffering from a number of physical disabilities, she
was always careful not to burden anyone. In fact, in all areas
she had very few needs, made few demands, and concerned herself
only with complete compliance with her husband's wishes. She
will always be remembered for her kindness and selflessness and
her beautiful smile that made everyone feel at home.
No doubt she will use her exceptional koach of limud
zechus in front of the Kisei Hakovod to be a true
meilitzah yosher for her husband, her family, and all
of Klal Yisroel in these troubled times.
