It is with great sadness that Matzav.comreports the petirah of Rebbetzin Miriam Karelenstein a”h, who passed away this evening at the age of 83, seven years after the passing of her husband, the renowned gaon Rav Gershon Karelenstein zt”l, rosh kollel of Zichron Yerucham.
Born in London on 14 Adar 5703 (1943), she was the daughter of Rav Meir Raphael Springer zt”l, a pillar of the London kehillah and a leading member of Agudas Yisroel in Europe, and her mother Mrs. Esther a”h. In this home, she absorbed a profound love for Torah and mesorah.
In her youth she studied in Gateshead, where she became known as one of the outstanding personalities of the seminary. Later, she moved to Eretz Yisroel and became like family in the home of Rebbetzin Greineman a”h, sister of the Chazon Ish.
She married Rav Gershon Karelenstein, a dynamic builder of Torah institutions who established Yeshivas Tiferes Tzion and Kollel Zichron Yerucham. With great dedication she stood by his side, supporting his far-reaching efforts for Torah and chesed with both body and resources.
Together, they built a home of Torah and dignity, meriting children and sons-in-law who are all accomplished talmidei chachomim. She was known for her compassion toward the needy, her closeness with gedolei Yisroel, and her devotion as a loyal emissary on behalf of pure Torah chinuch.
Drawing on her familiarity with English, Rebbetzin Karelenstein was the first to publish English-learning materials for Chinuch Atzmai schools, crafted in the spirit of mesorah. Her work sparked a revolution in teaching English while safeguarding Torah values. In time, she was appointed supervisor of English studies in Chinuch Atzmai, a position she held for decades with unwavering commitment to ensuring that secular studies would never compromise religious principles.
She leaves behind generations devoted to Torah. Her eldest son, Rav Chaim Zev Karelenstein, is rosh kollel of Ateres Shlomo in Elad and Achisamach and author of many seforim. Her son Rav Yosef Karelenstein serves as a maggid shiur at Yeshivas Beis Shmaya. Her sons-in-law include Rav Mordechai Drebkin, maggid shiur at Yeshivas Rabbeinu Chaim Ozer and a R”M at Yeshivas Givat Rokach in Bnei Brak, and Rav Zalman Strenger, rov and dayan of the Rav Kahaneman neighborhood, serving under Kehillas Mishkenos Yaakov in Bnei Brak. Her daughters, too, are distinguished educators, among them a leading mechaneches at the Rav Wolf Seminary.
All of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren follow in her and her husband’s path.
The levayah took place tonight at her home on Rechov Avraham Ben David 22 in Bnei Brak, proceeding to the Ponovezh cemetery, where she was laid to rest alongside her husband, near the kever of Maran Rav Shach zt”l.
Yehi zichrah boruch.
{Matzav.com Israel}
