Last week, a large throng of Bnei Brak residents, headed by
roshei yeshiva, rabbonim and dayanim accompanied the
righteous Rebbetzin Devorah Wilensky o"h, eishes
chover to the av beis din of Tel Aviv, HaRav
Yechezkel Hacohen Wilensky zt"l, on her last earthly
journey.
Rebbetzin Devorah o"h, was born in 5674 (1914) in
Slutsk. She was the daughter of HaRav Usher Sandomirski and
Rebbetzin Feigel. Her father was a ram and a
menahel ruchani in the Slutsk yeshiva, headed by
HaRav Isser Zalman Meltzer. In this home, which was totally
devoted to Torah, she received her basic education, and
throughout her life, her father's mesirus nefesh for
Torah was her guiding light. It was with great longing that
she frequently told her children and grandchildren how her
father had risked his life to spread Torah.
In 5691 (1931), she came with her family to Eretz Hakodesh,
where her father was appointed rosh yeshiva of the Or
Zoreiach yeshiva in Yaffo. Later on, her parents opened a
guest house in Tel Aviv, frequented by many gedolei
Yisroel.
She married HaRav Yechiel Wilensky, one of the finest
students of the Lomza yeshiva of Petach Tikvah and, indeed,
one of the finest yeshiva students in Eretz Yisroel.
Throughout her life, she devoted herself to enabling her
husband to study undisturbed, assuming full responsibly for
the maintenance of their household. In Tel Aviv, she was
well known for her remarkable chesed, and would send
food packages to the poor and unfortunate.
After the petirah of her illustrious husband, she set
up a kollel in his name. She gave it all of her
support. She was happy to live each month so that she could
support the kollel for which she used the pension of
her husband. She also helped publish his
chidushim.
On motzei Shabbos 18 Shevat she was hospitalized, and
returned her pure soul to its Maker in the hospital suddenly
the next day. Her levaya, which left from the beis
medrash in Ramat Elchonon where she had davened,
was attended by a large crowd. Before the levaya
left for the cemetery, hespedim were delivered.
HaRav Eliezer Ozer, rosh kollel of the Lomza Kollel of
Petach Tikvah, spoke about her refinement and the manner in
which she helped her husband at all times. HaRav Benzion
Felman, a rav of Nachlas Moshe, noted that she symbolized
the previous generation's greatness. Her son-in-law, Reb
Shmuel Chaim Domb, spoke about her love of Torah, her noble
character traits and her modesty. Her son-in-law, HaRav
Shmuel Palei cited her deep love of Torah. He related that
when she heard about the Shabbos desecration caused by the
moving the turbine last year, she burst into bitter
tears.
Prior to the closing of the grave, her son HaRav Sholom
Wilensky delivered a hesped, in which he noted her
trait of being satisfied with little.
She is survived by two sons, Reb Yaakov, a prominent
avreich in Bnei Brak, and Reb Sholom, director and
founder of the Toras Yechiel yeshiva, Bircas Moshe yeshiva,
two kollelim and the cheder Zichru Toras Moshe, as well as
by two daughters, one married to Reb Shmuel Chaim Domb, the
other to Reb Shmuel Palei. She is also survived by
grandchildren and great-grandchildren, all of whom are
continuing along the path she charted for them during her
lifetime.
She is buried in the Netzivei Ponevezh cemetery in Bnei
Brak, beside her husband.
