Mrs. Chava Wilschanski, wife of Reb Refoel Wilschanski, passed away on Friday night, 29 Adar, 5785 – her 87th birthday.
Born in Budapest in 1938 to Reb Shlomo Zev and Devorah Blum, she fled with her family to British-mandate Palestine as the winds of war swirled around Hungary. After spending time in Israel and a short stint in Montreal, Chava married Reb Yosef Aryeh Friedman. They raised three children together in New York until his untimely passing in 1970.
A short time later, a shidduch idea was suggested for the young widow. Reb Refoel Wilschanski was living in Paris and working for the Lishka, raising his three sons after losing his wife many years before. With the Rebbe’s brochos, the couple were introduced and got engaged, settling in Crown Heights after their wedding, where they had one daughter together.
For many years, Chava worked as a cook in senior citizen centers and old age homes in Brooklyn, and served as a volunteer with Bikur Cholim.
Chava was known for her immense emunah, and the tremendous importance she put into davening every day, and saying Tehillim for all her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
She is survived by her twin sister Mirka Schwartz (Williamsburg, Brooklyn), and children Dina Lebovic (Crown Heights, Brooklyn), Chanie Ceitlin (Toronto, Canada), Rabbi Avraham Friedman (Coral Springs, Florida), and Devorie Reicher (Coral Springs, Florida).
She is also survived by her step-son Rabbi Chaim Elya Wilschanski (Crown Heights, Brooklyn).
She is predeceased by her husband Rabbi Refoel Wilschanski in 2016, while two of her stepsons – Rabbi Schneur Zalman Wilschanski of Morristown and Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Wilschanski of Tzfas, passed away in the last 13 months.
The levaya will be held tomorrow (Sunday), passing 770 at 1pm, followed by the Ohel at 2pm.
Shiva information for Rabbi Avraham Friedman, Mrs. Dina Lebovic, Chanie Ceitlin, and Devorah Reicher:
Shiva will be at 718 Empire Blvd. 11213
Shacharis will be 8:30 am, Mincha at 7:10, and Maariv b’zmano.
Shiva Hours are 10:30 am- 9:30 pm
Baruch Dayan Ha’emes – Chava bas Shlomo Zev.
She always asked about her great nieces and nephews and was genuinely concerned about them. She will be missed.
So sorry to learn about this. She was such a lovely lady and will be sorely missed by all who knew her, especially here in Crown Heights.
When I was a student at Machon Chana many years ago ( in the late 1970s) I was warmly welcomed in Rabbi and Mrs Wilschanskis home on Montgomery St for many wonderful and enjoyable Shabbos and Yomtov meals. I always have treasured those memories. And Rabbi Wilschanski always walked me back to the dorm after a late Friday night meal May Mrs Wilschanskis memory be a blessing for all and a gutte better to bring Moshiach now!