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27 Tishrei 5764 - October 23, 2003 | Mordecai Plaut, director Published Weekly
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NEWS
Rebbetzin Martha Lorincz, o"h
by Betzalel Klein

A large gathering, including roshei yeshivos and talmidei chachomim, participated in the levaya of Rebbetzin Martha Lorincz, o"h, the wife of Rabbi Shlomo Lorincz, ylct"a.

Born in 5682 (1922) in Cologne, Germany, she lost her father and moved to Eretz Yisroel with her family in 5694 (1934), joining the Eida Chareidis of Jerusalem community, which was very rare in those days.

In 5708 (1948), while war raged in Eretz Hakodesh, with the Chazon Ish's blessings, her husband traveled abroad for an extended period to raise funds for chareidi institutions in Eretz Yisroel. She found herself alone with her children and when her state of health declined dramatically she summoned inner strength to overcome her difficulties in order to allow her husband to continue engaging in zikui horabim.

During this period the chareidi sector in Eretz Hakodesh had to confront severe problems such as autopsies, military conscription for girls and difficulties in obtaining exemptions for yeshiva students. The Lorinczes were widely known for extending help to people in these situations. Because handling the dead was such a delicate matter that could not be delayed for even a few hours, they were constantly woken up in the middle of the night, but were glad to offer assistance.

When the authorities started jailing girls for refusing to be inducted, Rebbetzin Lorincz went with her husband to the jail to make their release more pleasant and to spare them from having to negotiate themselves.

A dedicated mother, Rebbetzin Lorincz would always say, "A Jewish woman does not seek gratification outside [the home]-- real gratification comes from taking care of the children's upbringing and education."

When the Iron Curtain fell and thousands of Jews began to arrive in Eretz Yisroel, she set up an assistance program for new Russian immigrants, matching each family with an adoptive family to provide material and spiritual help.

More than three years ago she became very ill and had to undergo a complicated operation shortly before Pesach. Lying on the operating table she told her family members, "Just because I'm sick right before the chag does not mean people in need have to suffer," and proceeded to sign Kimcha dePischa checks for Russian immigrants.

On Tzom Gedaliah she returned her soul to her Maker. After the levaya set out from her home in the Mattersdorf neighborhood of Jerusalem, a hesped was delivered by her husband, who thanked Hashem Yisborach for the opportunity to spend sixty years with such a great woman.

While visiting HaRav Shach in his home, HaRav Lorincz recounted, he took the trouble of serving them himself and said, "For Rebbetzin Lorincz I ought to bring the chair myself."

Rebbetzin Martha Lorincz o"h is survived by her husband; her sons-in-law HaRav Chaim Ozer Gurewicz, one of the roshei yeshivos at Gateshead, HaRav Elozor Halevi Shulsinger, HaRav Yehuda Aryeh Schwartz, the rov of the Nachalat Siroka neighborhood in Bnei Brak, HaRav Meshulom Zushia Zahn, a ram at Yeshivas Nachalas Moshe in Jerusalem; her sons, HaRav Yosef Aryeh, rosh kollel Divrei Shir in Bnei Brak, HaRav Moshe, a ram at Yeshivas Kehillos Yaakov Chazon Yechezkel, HaRav Yitzchok, a ram at Yeshivas Kol Torah, HaRav Avrohom Yeshayohu, a ram at Yeshivas Or Yisroel; and grandchildren and great- grandchildren following the path of Torah and yir'oh.

 

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