Rebbetzin Faige (Fay) Hollander a”h

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candle-small5It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Rebbetzin Faige (Fay) Hollander a”h, wife of Rabbi David Dov Hollander zt”l, rabbi of the Hebrew Alliance of Brighton Beach.

Rebbetzin Hollander was a daughter of Rav Shimshon Zelig Fortman, a rov of the White Shul in Far Rockaway and one of the most prominent Orthodox rabbonim on the American scene during the early part of the last century. Rav Fortman was known as a phenomenal darshan and gave a homiletics class in Yeshiva Torah Vodaas.

Rebbetzin Hollander’s late husband, Rabbi Hollander, was a legendary askan l’sheim Shomayim and confidante of gedolei Yisroel of the previous generation. For over six decades, Rabbi Hollander fought to preserve the integrity of the Torah on the American scene and his undertakings would not have been possible without the unwavering support of his dedicated wife, who stood by him throughout his years.

Rabbi Hollander was a onetime president of the Rabbinical Council of America (RCA), and an American rov who served for more than 70 years in some of the largest and most prestigious shuls in America. His passing a little over a year ago brought an end to an era, and the passing of Rebbetzin Hollander has brought great sadness to the Hebrew Alliance of Brighton Beach and all those who knew the Hollanders.

The Rebbetzin displayed great mesiras nefesh during her lifetime and was a person of such integrity and principle. It is difficult for us to comprehend the sacrifices that she and her husband made on behalf of their unbending, principled stand for adherence to halacha and Rabbi Hollander’s battle to uphold halachic Judaism as ruled by the leading roshei yeshiva and poskei hador.

In one instance, as president of the RCA, an organization with hundreds of Orthodox rabbis, Rabbi Hollander took a stand, insisting on complete compliance with the p’sak halacha. He had no idea how fiercely he would be opposed and even almost lynched for his stance. Even the Rebbetzin was completely ostracized. When they attended the Rabbinic Convention, the “rebbetzins” who had previously been her ‘friends’ ostracized her, almost treating her as a non-entity.

Rebbetzin Hollander stood valiantly at her husband’s side throughout his often stormy life. The mutual derech eretz, honor and respect that each had for the other was a beautiful lesson in shalom bayis and devotion. Rabbi Hollander frequently expressed his deepest feelings that none of his accomplishments could have been achieved without his wife. In addition, she faithfully typed his handwritten weekly articles that he wrote in both the English and Yiddish press, as well as his sermons. Throughout their many years together, she embodied the true eizer kinegdo.

Rabbi and Rebbetzin Hollander did not merit to have children.

Rebbetzin Hollander leaves behind hundreds of mourning congregants and friends, and a legacy of principle and conviction that helped preserve the integrity of Torah-true Judaism on American shores.

The levaya will be held this morning at The Hebrew Alliance of Brighton Beach, located at 2915 Brighton 6th Street, at the corner of Neptune Avenue, in Brooklyn.

Yehi zichrah boruch.

{Dovid Bernstein-Matzav.com Newscenter}


3 COMMENTS

  1. Although they did not have children of their own in the biological sense, all of us who had the zechus of learning from these two are indeed their children, in the same way that the Lubavitcher Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka obm viewed the Chasidim as her children.

  2. Boruch Dayan Haaemes! May her holy neshama beseech Kiseh Hakovod to bring the geulah ve yeshuyah for Klall Yisrael be karov! Amen!

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