Mrs. Shula Hartstein, wife of R’ Mordche Hartstein of the famed Kapota and clothing store, passed away on Tuesday, 13 Cheshvan, 5782.
She was 86.
R’ and Mrs. Hartstein were known worldwide for their Kapota store on New Utrecht Avenue in Boro Park, Brooklyn, which they owned for many decades. They served many Lubavitchers who purchased their Kapotas there as well.
Mrs. Hartstein was born in Romania in 1935, to her parents, Reb Yaakov and Rivka Rosenfeld. She was fortunate to survive the war, and made it to Eretz Yisroel. There she met Mordechai Hartstein from the Hungarian town of Zenta, where the Beirach Moshe of Satmar began his Rabbonus, and where the Hartstein began their relationship with the Rebbe that would last until the Rebbe’s passing, Boro Park 24 reported.
They returned to America, where they settled in Boro Park, and launched their clothing business together. She worked alongside her husband every single day, and continued to run the business after his passing—for a total of six decades.
In this time, Hartstein’s was renowned for its uncompromising quality, and became the preferred locale for the Lubavitcher chassidim to acquire their “sirtuk” frocks.
For all of their years, the Hartstein’s were an important part of the Sigheter Shul, and Reb Mordechai was a revered depository of memories and recollections of prewar Satmar.
Although they did not merit children of their own, the Hartstein’s nieces and nephews were like children to them. Visitors to the store would notice how they were always calling her to the store, sharing their lives with her, and she would travel regularly to spend the Yomim Tovim with them in Eretz Yisroel, Boro Park 24 reported.
She was predeceased by her husband in 2016.
The levaya will take place today at 11:00 am in Borough Park at the Siget Shul, 1511 50th Street.
Baruch Dayan Ha’emes.
So refined and gracious. Always made the experience of buying a new Capota a great experience. She and her husband zl felt so proud to provide Capotas for the Lubavitch community. May she have a lichtiger Gan Eden.
Outfitting heilike Yidden in their Yiddishe levush, and helping us dress as proud Yidden wherever we are
Moshiach NOW
When I was a little girl I used to sometimes go with my father to the store. As I got older and would go to Boro Park to do my own shopping, I would stop in her store frequently to say hello she always used to call me whenever a Lubavitcher boy would come in to her store, and ask if I’d be interested.
BDE
B”SD
I only saw this wonderful person once, but I’m sure of one thing, that she had a long happy & healthy life!! May her pure & holy Neshoma have an Aliyah
Over the years,I remember her during the few times we vsited. while we lived in Crown Heights, LA and later, Israel: I came several times to her store to get my husband a new kapota. she was so elegant and refined. She made sure that his kapota jacket fit just right, and also provided me with alot of covered buttons to take home .She took extra special care, that his garment with two pair of pants, and even some extra material would be ready and packaged well for the flight home to Israel. Feeling sad today. Chana Schoenberg
Truly a special woman, as was her husband.
In my opinion, Hartstein’s was the only place to purchase a consistently well made Kapota. I hope the business will continue to thrive.
i remember 25 years ago getting my first kapota from them. Made sure i had extra room when i would be eating more of my wife’s cooking…. bde
we once came in and when she asked where we are from she recognized that one of her nephews did business in our town. right away, she asked my husband to check on his business when we got home to see if it was o.k.
BD”E…
Mrs Hartstein was always so sweet & accommodating; & she definitely knew her trade extremely well. It was a pleasure meeting with her on those occasions where we came all the way from CA to purchase Kapotas for our family.
Wishing Warm Condolences & strength to all her family. May her Heilike Neshama go directly to Gan Eden.
BDE
Who can forget his boii bsholom when they asked to turn around to see how it looks from the back. And the sweet way she spoke of her husband as mr harrstein. A”H
BDE
It’s so sad to hear that both the Hartstein couple are both gone now. I remember going with my husband 26yrs ago to get fitted for his 1st kaputa that he wore for our chatuna. My husband tries to patch it up. He won’t throw it out because to him, it was such a special garment. My husband always wears it every Shabbos except Yom Tovim & going to shul. He wears a newer one but the very first one is treasured. Condolences to the family they were surrounded by.