by COLlive reporter
Mrs. Pesia Levertov, resident of Crown Heights and matriarch of a large Chabad family, passed away on Sunday, 16 Adar I 5784.
She was 93.
Mrs. Levertov was born in Nevel in 1930, the oldest of three children to Chaim Shneur Zalman and Paya Chasya Pruss (Abolskoi). She was named after her paternal grandmother.
Her father, a melamed and shochet, also worked in a shoelacing factory. Her mother was the youngest of nine children and a pharmacist. When it became difficult to observe Shabbos due to communism, she closed her store.
Her father lived hachnasas orchim, bringing home a guest each night and teaching Pessia and her sister the alef bais and how to read on Shabbos.
At age 10, when the Second World War started, she began working, helping make socks. Her role models were her uncle Reb Yona Poltaver (Kahn), R’ Mendel Futerfas, and R’ Nissan Nemenow.
After the war, she escaped Russia with her family, joining the Great Escape, posing as a Polish citizen. The family crossed the border on Yud Tes Kislev and settled in France. It is known that the Frierdiker Rebbe was doing a special reciting of Oz Yoshir during the moments of the group crossing the border.
The family waited for their papers and then spent five years in Paris, where Pessia attended a school for Jewish orphans and refugees started by R’ Zalman Schneerson.
Her mother became the cook in Brunoy, and a shidduch was made between her and R’ Sholom Levertov, suggested by her aunt. They married in the Chabad Yeshiva in Brunoy, and a year later, their oldest son was born. In 1953, they arrived in New York.
Pessia helped her husband in his jewelry business. The couple were known for their honesty and integrity. They had an open home, welcoming many guests visiting Crown Heights.
She cared for her mother, a young widow, until her passing at 100 years old, with tremendous kibud aim.
Known as a discreet person, she helped the Chevra Kadisha with sewing tachrichim (shrouds) for the dead.
She is survived by her children Rabbi Zalman Levertov – Phoenix, Arizona; Mrs. Baila Vilenkin – Crown Heights; Rabbi Dovber Levertov – Crown Heights; Mrs. Yehudis Lieberman – Ashkelon, Israel; Mrs Dvora Leah Dechter – Crown Heights; R’ Shaul Levertov – Crown Heights; Rabbi Yossi Levertov – Scottsdale, Arizona; and her siblings Mrs. Sara Dubinsky and R’ Shmerel Pruss.
She is survived by many children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, many of whom are shluchim worldwide.
LEVAYA & SHIVA
The levaya will be held on Monday 12:00 PM at 770 Eastern Parkway, 1:00 PM at the all Montefiore cemetery in Queens, New York.
The family will be sitting shiva at 808 Montgomery St, Brooklyn, NY 11213
There will be 4 minyanim:
Shachris: 7:00am, two at 7:30 and one at 8:30
Mincha 5:30 and maariv bzman
Shiva hours 9:30-12, 2:00-9:30 (no visitors between 12-2).
Baruch Dayan Haemes: Pessia Nechama bas Chaim Schneur Zalman
Is R Zalman sitting in brooklyn the entire week or part of the week?
He will be sitting shiva in Brooklyn for the entire week
Will be sitting in NY Monday and Tuesday only
Family is sitting all week at 808 Montgomery St.
Shaul is sitting there only through Tuesday early afternoon.