[Levaya info below.] It is with great sadness that we report the passing Rebbetzin Shoshana Mendlowitz a”h of Monsey, NY. Rebbetzin Mendlowitz was the wife of Rav Shmuel Mendlowitz, rosh yeshiva of Mesifta Bais Shraga of Monsey and a son of Rav Shraga Feivel Mendlowitz zt”l, the legendary Torah pioneer and menahel of Yeshiva Torah Vodaas. The Rebbetzin passed away late last night.
From the time the Mendlowitzes moved to Monsey in 1950, Rebbetzin Mendlowitz served as a guide and leader to the women of the community. She was a popular teacher at Bais Yaakov of Monsey and served as an eizer kenegdo to her husband, as he led Mesifta Bais Shraga as a leading mosad haTorah. The Rebbetzin inspired people with her unwavering emunah and bitachon, and dispensed advice and chizuk to so many people. With her wide-ranging knowledge of Tanach and dikduk, the Rebbetzin served as an editor for ArtScroll’s Ramban Al HaTorah and was often sought for her expertise in these areas.
The levaya will be held at Mesivta Beth Shraga on Saddle River Road in Monsey. Details will be posted when they become available.
The Rebbetzin is survived by her husband and children: two sons, Rabbi Shraga Feivel Mendlowitz, R”M at Mesifta Bais Shraga, and Rabbi Menachem Mendlowitz of Eretz Yisroel, and her daughters, Mrs. Berkowitz, wife of Rav Zelig Berkowitz of Monsey; Mrs. Lebovits, wife of R’ Yaakov Lebovits of Monsey; Mrs. Greenbaum, wife of R’ Binyomin Greenbaum of Toronto; and Mrs. Lichtenstein, wife of R’ Dovid Lichtenstein of Monsey/Lightstone Group.
Yehi zichrah boruch.
Update: There has been a change of location for the levaya. The levaya will take place at Bais Yaakov of Monsey, located at 11 Smolley Drive, at 2 p.m. From there, the aron will be taken to Kennedy Airport and flown to Eretz Yisroel for kevurah on Har Hamenuchos.
{Cariel Bauman-Matzav.com Newscenter}
BDE
May we hear besurous tovos.
Boruch Dayan HaEmes. Aside from her own character being that of a tzadekes, she was the daughter-in-law of Rabbi Shraga Feivel Mendlowitz ztl, a principal Torah pioneer of Yiddishkeit in America. Her contribution to the evolvement of today’s golden era of yeshivas must be recognized and highlighted. Her very special place of honor in Gan Eden is amongst the immigrant Gedolim such as Rabbi Aharon Kotler, Rabbi Noson Wachtfogel, Rabbi Mordechai Gifter, Yaakov Yosef Herman, and, of course, her father-in-law, MR. Shraga Feival Mendlowitz ZT”L.
Her students in Bais Yaakov of Monsey will remember an unforgettable teacher who conveyed her lessons with love and deep passion. I will never forget many pesukim in Yirmiyahu that I know by heart just by hearing the way she declaimed them, and then explained them. For us, she was a bridge to a different era,with her pashtus, her tzius, her unquenchable ahavas haTorah, her brilliance, all conveyed with warmth and humor. A great loss for Klal Yisroal.
BDE
Over the last number of years I have had the zchus to spend many Shabbosim with Rabbi Mendlowitz and his Rebbetzin, Zichrona Livracha. I dont have the words to describe how special she was, sweet and kind and wholly empathetic to all the people she encountered and their situations, giving advice and encouregement and a brocha with true ahavas yisrael. She was also exceptionally wise and intelligent, and was able to convey the beauty and hashkofa of Judaism with a unique style and dignity and knowledge that caused people to truly listen and understand the message. She was the epitome of a Rebbetzin, and she will be sorely missed. Yehi Zichra Baruch
Rebbezin Mendlowitz a”h was the teacher I always tried to emulate. Chaval al deavdin velo mishtakchin.