Rebbetzin Golda Schwei a”h, a long-time resident of Montreal who inspired many women over the years, passed away on Thursday. She was just shy of her 79th birthday.
She was born in the city of Leningrad in the Soviet Union to her parents, Rabbi Chaikel and Leah Chanin, Lubavitcher chassidim who supported the network of Yeshivos Tomchei Temimim Lubavitch in Russia.
The family fled to Tashkent in Uzbekistan when World War II broke out and managed to later escape through the city of Lyvov. Her father left most of his money behind to support the underground yeshivos.
The Chanin family ended up in the refugee camp in Pöcking, Germany, and later relocated to the French village of Brunoy, where Rabbi Chanin worked in the administration of the Chabad Yeshiva.
In 5718, Golda got married to Rabbi Isaac Schwei in Crown Heights.
The newlywed couple moved to Montreal, Canada, and upon instruction from the Rebbe, Rabbi Schwei joined the Vaad Ha’ir Rabbinic council. He was the Rosh Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim and helped found Lubavitch Youth Organization and Beth Rivkah in Montreal. He passed away on 26 Iyar 5748 at the age of 53.
Rebbetzin Schwei continued to live in Montreal and inspired many woman and girls as head of the organization “brides and grooms” for over 50 years.
She is survived by her children Mrs. Rikvah Rosenfeld – Bogota, Columbia; and Mrs. Chana Spalter – Crown Heights; grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She is also survived by her siblings Mrs. Sara Katzman and Rabbi Zalman Chanin, both of Crown Heights.
The levaya will be held today at Shomrei Hadas Chapels at 9:30 AM. Kevurah will be at the Old Montefiore Cemetery in Queens.
{Matzav.com}
