It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rebbetzin Chana Hershkowitz a”h, wife of Hagaon Rav Meir Hershkowitz zt”l, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Bais Binyomin of Stamford.
Rav Hershkowitz was one of the gedolei roshei yeshiva and gedolei hador of America. A prized talmid of Rav Aharon Kotler zt”l, Rav Hershkwitz had a profound impact on talmidim over many decades of harbotzas haTorah.
Rebbetzin Hershkowitz was a daughter of Mr. Harry Schiff z”l, a unique baal habayis of a bygone era in America who had tremendous esteem for Torah and talmidei chachomim.
Rav Aharon Kotler zt”l was once attending a function on behalf of Bais Medrash Govoah and was deep in conversation with several distinguished, wealthy baalei batim who were supporters of the yeshiva. Our of the corner of his eye, Rav Aharon noticed Mr. Schiff enter the room. Rav Aharon felt compelled to excuse himself, telling the philanthropists, “You must excuse me. I have to go greet the richest man in America!”
The baalei batim looked bewildered. Harry Schiff made a living, but he was by no means a very wealthy man.
Rav Aharon explained, “Do you know who his sons and sons-in-law are? They are all gedolei Torah. His oldest son is Rav Shea (rosh yeshiva of Mesivta Bais Shraga), his younger son is Rav Yaakov (a close talmid of Rav Aharon Kotler and son-in-law of the Brisker Rov, Rav Yitzchok Zev Soloveitchik), one of his daughters is married to Rav Shmuel Faivelson, and another daughter is married to Rav Meir Herskowitz (a close talmid of Rav Aharon and rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Bais Binyomin of Stamford).”
Rebbetzin Hershkowitz served as the ultimate aishes chayil, making it her life’s mission to support her husband’s harbotzas haTorah and doing everything in her power to facilitate his learning.
Talmidim relate that the rebbetzin so valued her husband’s learning and harbotzas haTorah that she did not look at her efforts as sacrifices. Rather, she viewed them as marvelous opportunities to partner with him in his avodas hakodesh.
The rebbetzin infused their home with such simcha and chashivus for Torah.
Rebbetzin Hershkowitz leaves behind a beautiful Torah family.
The levayah will be held tonight at 9 p.m. at at the Congregation Sons of Israel Holocaust Memorial Chapel, located at 613 Ramsey Avenue in Lakewood, NJ, and tomorrow morning at Yeshiva Bais Binyomin, located at 51 Carlton Road in Monsey, NY, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The aron will then be flown to Eretz Yisroel for kevurah on Har Hamenuchos in Yerushalayim.
The family will be sitting shivah at 371 Case Road in Lakewood, NJ.
Yehi zichrah boruch.
{Matzav.com}
I hope this will serve as proof that Roshei Yeshivah – even ones as great as Rav Aharon Kotler and the Brisker Rav, zichronom li’vrachah, and Rav Shmuel Feivelson and Rav Meir Hershkowitz, zichronom li’vrachah, did NOT view money (and full support) as a primary criteria for picking a son-in-law. They didn’t then and they do not now. Are there exceptions? Of course. Do our Gedolim have reasons for this? Of course.
You can throw Reb Shraga Feivel Mendlowitz into the mix as well (the father-in-law of Reb Shea Schiff).