Mrs. Faygel Minkowitz Remembered at Shloshim

Photos: Menachem Cohen/COLlive

An early Shloshim gathering was marked after the passing of Mrs. Nechama Faiga (Faygel) Minkowitz, on Thursday evening at the Shull on Albany Avenue in Crown Heights.

As the Nifteres was brought to Kevurah in Eretz Israel on Har Hazaisim, Monday Erev Succos, the Shiva concluded with the start of Yom Tov, counting as if 7 days of Shiva elapsed.

Succos itself counts for 7 days and Shmini Atzeres, being a Reggel on its own, counts as 7 additional days as well – for a total of 21 days elapsed of the Shloishim. (or in Chutz L’aretz, with Simchas Torah, as 22 days). The additional 9 or 8 days (to 30) completed the Shloishim on the second day Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan.

A large crowd of over 100 gathered in the Shull, and an additional 200 worldwide participated online via Zoom.

Family and friends joined to commemorate and pay tribute to a very special woman, who together with the help of Hashem, and her husband Rabbi Chaim Mayer, built a beautiful Chassidishe family and an iconic business of fabric and fashion establishment in the city of Montreal.

A siyum Hamishnayos was made by her eldest son, Rabbi Raphael Minkowitz, followed by emotional and uplifting tributes by her only daughter Chana Diament, and by her youngest son, Dr. Yosef Minkowitz.

A special guest presentation was delivered by Rabbi Asher Jacobson, Rabbi of the large shul community Chevra Kadish Beis Jacob in Montreal. As a personal friend of both Mrs. Minkowitz and her husband Rabbi Chaim Mayer Minkowitz, he recounted their enormous impact on the Montreal Anash community for almost 70 years, and described them as models with their deep faith and contributions to others. They were indeed pillars of the Montreal Lubavitch Kehillah.

Additional moving stories and anecdotes were recounted by the grandchildren, led by Dr. Reuven Minkowitz, Rabbi Mendy Minkowitz, a shliach in Elon, North Carolina, by Alexandra Liberman (nee Diament), and Dr. Sheera Minkowitz, (bas Yosef).

An inspirational reading and commentary of Perek 93 of Tehilim, the last perek of her life that Mrs. Minkowitz recited daily, was led by Refoel Minkowitz.

A magnificent Sefer Tehilim was distributed to all, in remembrance of Mrs. Minkowitz’s deep emunah and her love of Tehilim. She would recite all perokim of tehillim relevant to her family with great enthusiasm, and would read the entire Sefer Thilim as well each and every Shabbos.

Just as she recited verses of Tehilim in this world, may she continue to recite verses of praise and song in Olam Habaa. May her Zechus, merit guard and protect us all.