Mrs. Devorah Greenberg, 85, OBM

By COLlive reporter

Mrs. Devorah Greenberg, a humble Chabad woman whose life story included heroic moments and great accomplishments, passed away on Monday night, 21 Menachem Av 5783.

She was 85.

Mrs. Greenberg was born to her parents, Rabbi Aharon and Nechama Leah Chazan, during the oppressive days of the Soviet Union. She was the eldest of 10 children. Her lineage dates back to both the Baal Shem Tov and Maggid of Mezritch.

Her father was from the brave Chassidim who founded and operated the underground Chadarim groups in Tashkent for Jewish children to learn Torah, despite the grave danger of being caught.

When the family moved near Moscow, they built a Mikvah in their house, as well as an oven to bake thousands of pounds of Matzah for local Jews. They also had a minyan in their house.

Once they were able to immigrate to the holy land of Israel, they settled in the city of Bnei Brak. Her father continued his activism to care for and educate Russian-speaking immigrants.

She married Rabbi Moshe Greenberg, who himself had a celebrated past of remaining true to his faith during his 25-year sentence for trying to escape Russia after the Second World War. He was released when the ruthless dictator Joseph Stalin died.

Both Rabbi and Mrs. Greenberg lived their lives connected to the Rebbe and his directives, even while living in an openly hostile environment towards Chabad. Rabbi Greenberg directed the Chabad Shul on Rashi Street in Bnei Brak.

The couple merited to bring 17 children to the world, raising them to all become Shluchim of the Rebbe and working to bring Jewish people closer to Yiddishkeit.

She is survived by her children: Rabbi Naftali Greenberg of Lod, Israel; Mrs. Rochel Levertov of Austin, Texas; Rabbi Yisroel Greenberg of El Paso, Texas; Mrs. Esther Shaikevitz of Kfar Chabad, Israel; Rabbi Yoske Greenberg of Anchorage, Alaska; Rabbi Zushe Greenberg of Solon, Ohio; Rabbi Chaim Greenberg of Beitar, Israel; Mrs. Bassie Shemtov of Brooklyn, New York; Rabbi Shalom Greenberg of Shanghai, China; Mrs. Chaya Wolff of Odessa, Ukraine; Mrs. Rivka Azimov of Paris, France; Rabbi Schneor Greenberg of Commerce, Michigan; Rabbi Shmulik Greenberg of Vancouver, Washington; Mrs. Shterni Wolff of Hannover, Germany; Rabbi Baruch Greenberg of Vista, California; Rabbi Avraham Greenberg of Pudong, China, and Mrs. Chava Kastel of Bnei Brak, Israel; grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She is also survived by her siblings:
Mordechai Moshe Hazan-Bnei Brak, Chaim Meir Hazan-Nachlas Har Chabad, Avraham Yehuda Hazan-Lod, Yitzchak Hazan-Rome, Italy, Sholom Yaakov Hazan-Crown Heights, Chaya Sara Scheiner-Kfar Chabad, Israel, Chana Yehudis Hertzel-Nachlas Har Chabad, Mrs. Cohen-Jerusalem, Mrs. Sheinberger-Jerusalem, Rivka Avtzon-Crown Heights, Mrs. Meirovitz-Bnei Brak.

Baruch Dayan Ha’emes.