By COLlive reporter
Mrs. Rivka Korf, a pioneering Chabad Shlucha for 58 years who helped plant the seeds of the state-wide empire of Chabad centers, synagogues, schools and social institutions in Florida, passed away on Wednesday, 28 Tishrei 5778.
She was 75.
Born Rivka Eichenbaum, her family was part of the Breslev branch of Chassidim. She studied in the Beis Yaakov girls school system and would write for the Yiddish newspaper Algemeiner Journal.
Boarding with a Chabad family in Crown Heights, her hostess was also a shadchanis. Rivka was soon introduced to Abraham Korf, a Lubavitcher bochur who studied in the underground yeshiva in the hunger-stricken Communist Russia before arriving in America in 1953.
The couple got married outside 770 Eastern Parkway on a Tuesday, 13 Shvat 5720 (February 11th, 1960). The mesader kiddushin at the chuppah was the Rebbe himself, a distinct honor that wasn’t available in later years.
A year after their marriage, Rabbi Abraham and Rivka Korf uprooted themselves from the tight-knit Chassidic community in Crown Heights and headed to Miami Beach on behalf of the Rebbe.
What they encountered was a South Florida community on the verge of a vast transformation with an influx of retirees from out of state and a swell of Jewish immigrants from Latin America and the Caribbean, Chabad.org writes.
By 1960, the state had about 175,000 Jewish residents. Miami had a total of 3 synagogues and only 2 mikvahs in all of Florida. Miami had modern Jewish day schools, they didn’t suit the needs of frum Jewish families.
Unfazed by his sparse and halting command of the English language, the couple viewed every obstacle as an opportunity and forged ahead. Even though money was extremely tight and their welcome wasn’t always certain, they established the Landow Yeshiva in 1966.
“It started off with 6 children,” Rabbi Korf recalled, “then, 32 children the next year, then 67, and then hundreds. As people started hearing about it, it grew.” Along with the school, the Korfs built a synagogue and a Gan Yisroel Jewish overnight camp. They each led Torah classes.
With kosher products hard to come by in those days, cholov yisroel dairy products were almost unheard of. Undaunted, Rabbi Korf headed out to the farms and milked the cows himself. Fifty years later, the Korfs marvel at the thousands and thousands of kosher products available in Florida supermarkets.
Rivka Korf earned fame among area women for her Shabbos afternoon classes on the weekly Torah portion and the Mishnaic tractate known as Pirkei Avot. She also taught public school students about Judaism as part of the release time program at Miami-Dade Public High School.
Leah Weintraub, a Friend of Lubavitch of Florida, described Mrs. Korf as having “a bubbly personality, intelligence, and refined speaking skills that hinted at her sensitivity for others.”
VIDEO: Rabbi Avraham & Rivka Korf on the 50th anniversary of their Shlichus
Mirroring the growth of other programs, today, under the umbrella of the Lubavitch Educational Center, what began as the Landow Yeshiva incorporates a preschool, an elementary school, the Beis Chana High School for Girls, and a rabbinical college. The complex serves approximately 800 students.
Today, Florida boasts the third-largest Jewish community in the United States with about 750,000 Jews. Some 180 Chabad-Lubavitch emissaries are spread throughout the state in some 145 locations.
She is survived by her husband Rabbi Avraham Korf, children Rabbi Yossi Korf – Hollywood, FL; Mrs. Rashi Raices – Postville, Iowa; Mrs. Shevi Sossonko – Miami Beach, FL; Rabbi Benjy Korf – Miami Beach, FL; Mrs. Leah Jacobson – Crown Heights; R’ Mendy Korf – Miami Beach, FL; R’ Motty Korf – Miami Beach, FL; Rabbi Zalman Korf – Walnut Creek, FL; Ms. Sari Korf – Miami Beach, FL; grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
The levaya will take place tomorrow, Thursday, leaving shomrei hadas in Boro Park at 2:00 pm, passing by 770 at 3:00 pm.
The family will be sitting shiva at 1219 President street on Thursday after the Levaya. There will be early shacharis Friday morning as the family will be returning to Florida after Shacharis.
Baruch Dayan Haemes.
What a Zechus to have a new great granddaughter be named during Shivah!
Always warm, smiling, approachable, yet highly intelligent and completely devoted to her family, shlichus and each member of the community. A role model for so many.
Hamakom yenachem eschem b’soch sh’ar evlei Tziyon v’Yerushalayim.
Z. Sasson
Can you please post where they are sitting Shiva in Florida?
I remember Mrs Korf always smiling and looking very busy. Rabbi Korf was an officiant at our chuppah. Mrs Korf your children have shown us such hospitality and ju s t such kindness when we lived in Miami. Your neshoma is so loved. I and my family wish the family a long life. Until Moahiach very soon. Chana simcha k a n d family
BDE.
When I was 15, mid 70’s, I had the z’chus to meet the Korf family for the first time. Chesed was like a must by the Rebbetzin. She told me to the effect that you don’t leave my house without having something to nosh. Subsequently, I had many occasions where I enjoyed a Sabbos or Yom Tov seuda by them.
Now, the activities and successes of the Korf family should only skyrocket, Bli Gevul!
Mrs. Korf was my teacher and I attended the Shabbos Shiurim she would give in South Beach. She was very clear spoken and interesting to listen to.
Wishing the entire family much strength – והחי יתן אל לבו !
Rabbi A. Korf recently emailed out to FL shluchim the announcement of the 187th Chabad center in the State of Florida.
A very special person with a warm heart, a fantastic laugh, and a true gift for teaching and spreading the Rebbe’s words.
Didn’t know her personally but I have been blessed to c her legacy and the amazing school and chabad houses in Florida. Truly a great loss. Moshiach now
A true Eishes Chayil. So selfless and caring. A great loss for her family and all of Kol Yisroel. May the family find comfort in their memories.
I was fortunate to grow up in Miami Beach and was blessed to spend much time with Mrs. Korf. She was a wonderful woman who constantly propelled her husband in all of the Rebbes shluchas. She had a constant smile with a smart wit about her. She will be sorely missed. May she continue to watch over all her kids and her whole community.
I have been saying Tehillim for her every day for years, ever since people were asked to say Tehillim. I never had the zchus to meet her but I know she suffered from an illness for a long time. Hamokom Yenachem eschem…
An amazing human being!
so sorry to hear of this loss for her whole family and the whole state and everyone who knew her. May we merit BIAS MOSHIACH NOW!!!!!!!!
BDE -May the Korf fam get whatever nechama they need! Love to reb Zalman!
What a truly special lovable women !! BDE she will be missed by many many many !
So sorry to hear this. An amazing lady and one of the founding forces of Chabad in Florida. She will be missed.
I believe it’s currently 185 centers and 220 Shluchim.
Rabbi Zalman Korf from Chabad of Walnut Creek is in the middle of a charidy campaign to build a Shul. He obviously has more to deal with today. Please help him reach his goal in memory of his beloved mother, the head Shlucha of Florida https://www.charidy.com/walnutcreek
Baruch Dayan Haemes.
Wonderful special teacher and friend to many. Mrs. Korf was my teacher in grade school and high school, and I considered
Mrs. Korf like an Aunty, special neshama.
Mrs Korf was my Chumash teacher. A brilliant woman with a passion for Chinuch, she was a dynamic and excellent teacher. May her Neshama have an Aliyah.