By COLlive reporter
Mrs. Rivkah Lieberman, a descendant of a known Chasidic Mashpia and matriarch of a respected Chabad family, passed away Monday, Tammuz 21 (July 13).
She was 84.
Lieberman was born in the Polish town of Piechowice. Her father was Rabbi Chaim Meir Liss, a known Lubavitch Mashpia who taught Chasidus to locals and later in the Otvotzk Yeshiva.
While Rabbi Liss HY”D was murdered by a non-Jew while in line for a piece of bread, his impact on his daughter was great.
Even in her later years, she credited her father for the Chasidic family she raised in America.
An exception for that time and age, Rivkah Lieberman was learned and educated. When the family fled to China and France, she spent time teaching fellow girls.
In Otvotzk, she was given the rare privilege of a Yechidus with the Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, during which he blessed her.
Elder Chasidim will never forget how she and her mother Esther Baila risked their lives helping refugees get passports in those troubled times.
Among her beneficiaries was Rebbetzin Chana Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s mother. Years later the Rebbe commented about her and her mother, “zi hat es kasher fardint.” (they earned the honor legitimately).
In Paris, after escaping from Russia, she married Rabbi Alter Yissachar Dov Leiberman, a descendant of the Tzanzer Rebbe – Divrei Chaim.
Upon arriving in the U.S. in 1953, the Rebbe instructed her and her husband to partner with Aaron Rubashkin‘s meat store in Boro Park.
Mrs. Lieberman lived for the last 20 years in Miami Beach, where she kept defending Lubavitch whenever criticisms was expressed in her presence.
She is survived by her husband and children, Rabbi Chaim Meir Lieberman, member of Lubavitch Youth Organization in Crown Heights; Rabbi Aron Lieberman – Shliach in Fort Lauderhill, FL; Rabbi Yaakov Leiberman – Shliach and Director of Chabad Kindergartens in Israel; and Tirtza Schapiro, Shlucha and educator in Miami Beach, FL.
The funeral will be passing by 770 on Tuesday, 2:30PM.
I was saddened to hear this news. Rivkah was a Tzadekus. She came from a very illustrious family and leaves behind children, grandchildren, and great grandchild who walk in her path.
May they all be consoled.
Our families go way back with the Leibermans. In recent years Mrs. Leiberman was my neighbor as well. She was the sweetest person you have ever met. Always a smile on her face and was first to greet everyone and ask about their well being. She will be missed.
Hamoka Yenachem Eschem…
To the Lieberman family, may you only have simches from now on
thanks for this nice article