Mrs. Rivkah Junik, 87, OBM

By COLlive reporter

Mrs. Rivkah Junik, beloved matriarch of a large Chabad family, passed away on Friday, 19 Shevat, 5786.

She was 87.

Rivkah was born in Leningrad in 1939, to her parents Reb Baruch and Sara Schifrin.

After escaping Leningrad, as a young girl, her family lived in Alma Ata in Kazakhstan, and greatly assisted the Rebbe’s parents Rabbi Levi Yitzchok and Rebbetzin Chana Schneerson.

She left Russia with many chassidim on the famous escape trains to Poland, eventually making her way to Paris, where she married her husband Reb Dovid Junik OBM.

They settled in Antwerp, Belgium, where Reb Dovid was a Shochet and a sought after Mohel in Antwerp and around Europe. They were from the founding members of the Chabad Kehila in Antwerp and were known to always have a warm and open home, where Rivkah was extremely beloved by the entire community.

After the passing of her husband Reb Dovid Junik in 1994, she single-handedly raised a wonderful family, steeped in Chassidus and Chessed. She brought warmth and happiness wherever she went.

In later years, she moved to Crown Heights. Known for her warmth and caring for all she met, Rivkah had a youthful spirit and constantly befriended those around her.

A resident of the 580 Crown Street building, she was beloved by all the children in the building who called her “bubby” and would knock on her door for cookies, which she would give with a reminder to recite a bracha.

She had in her possession a Tehillim from the Rebbe, which she would encourage the children to recite Tehillim from on Shabbos Mevorchim. She was known for her generosity, always looking for whom she could give more to, and who she could help. She was constantly caring for others, visiting elderly people, and offering her help anywhere she could.

She is survived by her children: Rabbi Levi Junik – Montreal, Mrs. Sara Horowits – Yerushalayim, Mrs. Mali Lifshitz – Antwerp, Belgium, Rabbi Beryl Junik – Crown Heights, Mrs. Chani Hertzel – Crown Heights, Rabbi Hershel Junik – Nachlas Har Chabad, Mrs. Nechama Oster – Toronto, Mrs. Bassy Weiss – Crown Heights, Rabbi Mendy Junik – Crown Heights, and grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She is also survived by her brother, R’ Herschel Shifrin of Crown Heights.

The Levaya will take place Motzei Shabbos, passing by 770 at 9:35 PM.
The Levaya will continue with burial in Tzfas, Israel.

Shiva will be at 1366 Carroll St
Shachris 7-8-9
Mincha and Maariv bezman

Sunday and Monday 2 minyamim
Mendy Junik and Bassy Weiss will be sitting Shiva in Crown Heights starting Tuesday at noon at 1366 Carroll St.

Baruch Dayan Ha’emes.