Rebbetzin Sarah Pam a”h

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candle-small4[Levaya and shivah info below.] It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Rebbetzin Sarah Pam a”h, the wife of Rav Avrohom Pam zt”l, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Torah Vodaas. Klal Yisroel has lost anisha chashuvah, a gem of a person, who stood at the side of her illustrious husband throughout their almost 60 years of marriage, providing the support he needed so that he could devote himself undisturbed to his limud haTorah, harbotzas haTorah and efforts on behalf of Yidden around the globe.

The Rebbetzin was 94.

Rebbetzin Pam was a daughter of Rabbi and Mrs.  Chaim Aryeh Balmuth zt”l. Rav Chaim Leib was a talmid chochom and had learned in a kollel in Reisha, Poland, before emigrating to the United States. Rav Chaim Leib was among the very few laymen in America who owned Talmudic works such as the Chiddushei HaRashba and Shitah Mekubetzes. In America, Rav Chaim Leib was among the founders of the Rayim Ahuvim shul in Brownsville, Brooklyn. After Rav Chaim Leib and his family moved to East Flatbush, he would walk for two hours on Shabbos to daven at Rayim Ahuvim.

The Rebbetzin’s mother passed away suddenly at a young age, and the Rebbetzin and her three sisters were raised by their devoted father.

rav-pamIn 1943, the Rebbetzin and Rav Pam married. When the shidduch was first suggested, Rav Chaim Leib consulted with his neighbor, Rav Yitzchok Hutner zt”l, who praised the young talmid chochom and advised that the shidduch should be pursued. The Rebbetzin shared Rav Pam’s appreciation for Torah and greatly valued his yearning to devote his life to teaching the devar Hashem. For the next 58 years, until Rav Pam’s petirah in 2001, the Rebbetzin made possible Rav Pam’s undisturbed concentration in Torah studies and his involvement in various inyonei haklal, including Shuvu, the renowned network of Torah schools in Eretz Yisroel founded by the rosh yeshiva. Her sacrifices throughout the decades, from their early years in East New York to their later years in Kensington, were recognized by Rav Pam, who continuously thanked her, praised her and gloried in her. She worked for many years as a teacher, supporting her husband and family and always serving as a source of insight and inspiration to those who came in contact with her.

In the introduction to his sefer Atarah LaMelech, Rav Pam describes the chashivus of his Rebbetzin. He writes:

“Hashem did further wondrous kindness for me in sending me an aishes chayil, the mainstay of my home, through whom all our household’s needs are cared for. She has withheld from me all domestic issues so that I can devote myself to learn and to teach. Also, in the raising of our children, her spirit has been faithful to my own, so that with a united approach and goal we merited, with Hashem’s help, that they all go in their forbears’ ways and Torah is their lifelong occupation.

rav-pam-younger“May Hashem grant her a long and pleasant life, and may the words ‘A glad mother of children’ be fulfilled through her, forever and ever.'”

In recent years, the Rebbetzin resided at the home of her granddaughter, Mrs. Blumy Koppenheim, on Regent Drive in Lakewood, where she was niftar this afternoon.

She will be sorely missed by the bnei hayeshiva, friends of the family, and the remaining members of her generation.

The Rebbetzin and the rosh yeshiva merited to raise a beautiful mishpacha of talmidei chachomim and bnei Torah. Their three children are Rav Aharon Pam of Kensington, Brooklyn; Rav Dovid Pam, rov of Khal Zichron Schneur in Toronto, Canada; and Rav Asher Pam, rebbi at the Lakewood Cheder in Lakewood, NJ.

Levaya info will be posted when it is finalized.

Yehi zichrah boruch.

Update:

The levaya will take place tomorrow morning at 8:30 a.m. at Beth Medrash Govoah in Lakewood, NJ.  At 10:30 a.m., the levaya will continue at  Shomrei Hadas Chapels, on 14th Avenue, in Boro Park. The aron will then be taken to Yeshiva Torah Vodaath, located at 425 East 9th Street in Kensington.  Kevurah will take place at the Mt. Judah Cemetery in Queens, NY.

The family will be sitting shivah at the home of R’ Eliyahu Pinchos and Blumie Koppenheim, grandchildren of the Rebbetzin, at 179 Regent Drive in Lakewood, NJ.

{Yossi Schneider-Matzav.com Newscenter}


11 COMMENTS

  1. Baruch Dayan Haemes

    Those of us that knew the Rebbetzin Z”L, knew how much she appreciated her husband’s dedication to teaching Torah, and how much she put up with as people came to the house (myself included) at all hours of the day and night.
    She taught for many years First Grade in the New York City public school system and had the greatest respect for the Midinas Hachesed that we live in. Every legal holiday, one would see the American Flag flying from a pole in front of the Rebbe and Rebbetzin’s house.
    Yehe Zichro Boruch.

  2. Baruch Dayan HaEmes

    Boruch HaShem, I was privileged to be a student at Torah Vodaas and to specifically take part in the Yoreh Dayah and Parsha HaShavua Shiurim given by the Rosh Yeshiva, ZT’L.

    After the Petera of the Rosh Yeshiva, I have been privileged to have periodic consultations with, Yibodel L’Chaim Tovim V’Aruchim, one of the sons of the Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Asher, Sh’lita.

    Of course, as this superb article explains, all of this very excellent chinuch that I have been privileged to have from the Rabonei Pam is greatly due to the Rebbetzin, A’H.

    Y’ehei Zichra Baruch

  3. One time, I attempted to have a (telephone) consultation with Rav Mordechai Gifter, ZT’L. In relating my situation, I mentioned my earlier attendance at Torah Vodaas. At this point he interrupted me and angrily exclaimed:

    “WHY ARE YOU CALLING ‘ME’??”

    “YOU WENT TO TORAH VODAAS — YOU HAVE RAV PAM!!!!!”

    “HE’S A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL, PERSON!!!”

    (Over and over and over again, he repeated this statement:)

    “HE’S A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL, PERSON!!!”

    “HE’S A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL, PERSON!!!”

    “HE’S A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL, PERSON!!!”

  4. (continuation of previous comment)

    It is well known that Rav Yaakov Kaminetzky, ZT’L, stated that Rav Pam, ZT’L, was “The Chofetz Chaim of America.”

    I once heard a Talmid of Torah Vodaas remark that Rav Yaakov had further stated that if Moshiach would have come during that period, then Rav Pam would have been the Kohein Gadol.

    Again, as this superb article explains, all of this very excellent greatness of Rav Pam was greatly due to the Rebbetzin, A’H.

    Y’ehei Zichra Baruch

  5. Here it is, January of 16, and I have just discovered this site. My mother, Gertrude Stauber Gevirtz, z”l and Sarah Pam, z”l were good friends from their childhood well through my own. How well I recall her sweet smile and generous spirit as well as the delight my mother took in her friendship. I benefitted greatly from the attentions and insights of my other’s life-long friends from her Brownsville days.

    I am pleased to learn that Rebitzin Pam was well cared for by family. As youngsters, her sons had something of a reputation for being adventurous, but we understood the direction in which they were headed.

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