By COLlive reporter
Mrs. Batsheva Kalmenson, matriarch of a large Lubavitch family, passed away on Shabbos, 7 Tammuz, 5774.
She was 91.
Mrs. Kalmenson was the only daughter of the Rov Yechiel and Chaya Sima Rabinowitch, a rov in Berdichev and descendant in a direct line of 25 generations of Rabbonim. She was also an eighth generation descendant from the Baal Shem Tov.
An only child, she married the Chossid Moshe Rubinson, known as the “Karelevitcher,” with whom she managed to escape Berditchev, where tragically her parents were murdered by the Nazis soon after.
They emigrated to Smarkand and then to Tashkent, and eventually to Brunoy, France, where he passed away soon after.
She later married Rabbi Yekusiel Dov Kalmenson, Mashpia in Tomchei Temimim in Brunoy, France, where her son now serves as the Rosh Yeshiva.
She and her husband had an open house, hosting many guests and bochurim of the local Brunoy Yeshiva. Even though they had very little money, there was always room for more, and often the children would give up their bedrooms to accommodate the many guests.
She loved Torah and had tremendous Mesiras nefesh for Torah, Mitzvos behidur and Chassidus.
“She never spoke a negative word about anyone, and always saw everyone in a good, positive light,” a relative told COLlive.
In recent years she lived in Crown Heights.
Her husband passed away in 1988.
She was zoche to have 8 children, 55 grandchildren, hundreds of great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren follow in the ways of Torah and Chassidus, many of whom are shluchim around the world.
She is survived by her children: Rabbi Yechiel Mendel Kalmenson – Brunoy, France, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Kalmenson – New Haven, CT, Rabbi Yisroel Shimon Kalmenson – Crown Heights, Mrs. Doba Vorst – Holland, Mrs. Chaya Uminer – Crown Heights, Mrs. Shterna Spritzer – Crown Heights, Mrs. Baila Goldstein – Crown Heights and Chana Kalmenson – Holland.
The Levaya will take place Sunday, leaving Shomrei Hadas at 10:00 am and passing by 770 at 10:45 am.
The family will be sitting shiva at 569 Montgomery St.
Shachris: 7:30, 8:30, 9:30 am
Mincha, Maariv – bizmano
Baruch Dayan Haemes.
I didn’t know her but reading from what friends wrote, and know mrs. Shterna and one grandaughter, Chani, I am sure all family is great -May Hashem send brachot to all family in schut of mrs Batsheva kalmenson.
Rabbi Sruly and Rebbitzen Chani Altein,
May the neshama of your beautific Bubby have an aliya.
I heard from my mother who lived as neighbors in France, that when Mrs. Batsheva was pregnant with her twins, she would say Tehilim all the time with one request to hashem, that her newborns should grow up to be Talmidei Chachamim, that’s all she had on her mind when she was pregnant with twins!
Her prayers were answered big time.
Dear Bailoh we all share in the loss of your mother may she be a malitz yoishor for klal Yisroel and pray for hisgalus melech Hamoshiach now!
Sholom and channa G
Boruh dayan emet !!
to tne Vorst and Kalmenson families.Our heartfelt nichum aveilim wishes to all of you.Memories going back almost 50 years.
Very few in the world like her. She was From a different era. Pure and holy… And she leaves a legacy of a most beautiful family…who follow in her ways….
She was a very special bubbie totally selfless always worried about everybody else
BDE
She radiated such holiness whenever you encountered her. She really saw the world around her through a prism of Kedushah. She was from a totally different generation…
We can learn so many special things from Bubby Kalmenson z’l: her love for Hashem and Torah, commitment to negel vasser and tehillim, her hachnasas orchim and ahavas yisrael, and constant yearning for the coming of Moshiach…..may we be zocheh speedily!
When we passed Brunoy France 50 years ago and had no place to live or eat, she took us in and even though her home was small, she always had enough for all of us and acted as our mother. For many of us we no longer had family as they were either stranded in Russia or killed. She was a family member to all of us and will always be missed.
She was such a special lady, aidel, so gentle,greeting everyone with a smile,always seen with a tehillim, and used to do Hachnossas orchim with joy and making feel the person so welcome even when she lived in a small apt and had not much in those times around 35 years ago in France.
i still remember it like like it was today.
Boruch dayon ho’emess
May there be sim his by yidden.
May Hashem Comfort the family.
She will be greatly missed.