New Biography About R’ Yitzchak and Zelda Nemes

A new biography written by Rabbi Zusha Wolff was recently published about the life of the Chassidic stamp dealer, R’ Yitzchok Nemes, and his wife, the distinguished educator, Mrs. Zelda Nemes OBM. Written in Hebrew, it is titled “Shnayim Shehem Echad.”

R’ Yitzchok, of blessed memory, was a survivor of the Holocaust who became a successful stamp dealer with an international reputation, maintaining close relationships with various countries and governments. R’ Yitzchok was a yireh shamayim, a man of outstanding character, and a devoted Lubavitcher Chassid who was deeply connected to the Rebbe, to whom he was devoted body, soul, and wealth, and he was fortunate to be drawn near to the Rebbe in remarkable and rare ways.

His entire life was a continuous chain of acts of kindness, public service, and sacred activities that sanctified Hashem’s name on a wide scale, including in countries where only a few Torah-observant Jews lived. R’ Yitzchok was especially known for his great dedication to “The Tefillin Campaign,” in which he personally participated in all weather conditions and health situations, and he also financially supported the activists involved in this global initiative, especially in the Holy Land.

His wife, Mrs. Zelda Nemes, of blessed memory, was a special personality, a woman of valor and a renowned educator who dedicated almost sixty years of her life to the holy work of educating Jewish girls.

Some people stand out because of their exceptional talents, while others stand out because of their broad outlook. Some excel in leadership and authority, while others shine with their magnetic charisma. Some have expansive hearts, and others stand out for their selfless devotion to others.

And there are those whom G-d has blessed with a combination of these qualities. Mrs. Zelda was one such person. She possessed an extraordinary and rare personal combination. She was exceptionally talented, sharp, and quick-witted. She had authority and charisma and was firm in her opinions, at times even strong in her views.

Mrs. Zelda had a special nobility, an inner dignity that is not commonly found, and rare strength that turned her into a natural leader. Along with this, she had an enormous and compassionate heart, with deep care for others and an extraordinary level of selflessness.

Throughout nearly six decades of teaching, she taught thousands of students and shaped three generations within the same families. She treated the sacred task of education with great devotion, and beyond her teaching hours, she was a role model for her students. Mrs. Zelda embodied the perfect image of the educator, and thousands of her students remember her fondly and miss her dearly.

Inside the book

The new book begins with R’ Yitzchok’s childhood in Finland before World War II, describing his family’s miraculous rescue from the Nazis by G-d’s grace, their arrival in New York, his studies at 770 Yeshiva, his close relationship with the Rebbe, his worldwide stamp business, which received deep involvement and guidance from the Rebbe, his remarkable work in the Tefillin Campaign, and his efforts to bring Jews closer to their Heavenly Father, earning him the title “A Jew of the Baal Shem Tov.”

A special and extensive chapter in the book also reviews the history of Zelda’s family, the Kaminetzky family, in pre-war Russia, their life in the Chassidic town of Klimovitch in Russia—a large and distinguished family connected to Rabbi Mordechai Posner, brother of the Alter Rebbe. It also recounts the tragic events that befell them during World War II and the Holocaust and their aliyah to the Holy Land.

The book continues by describing Mrs. Zelda’s vast contributions as an educator of generations, her leadership role as chairperson of the Neshei U’Bnos Chabad organization in Crown Heights, and her many acts of kindness as a woman of valor who used her rare talents with deep concern and exceptional generosity.

With the publication of the book, the Nemes family says, “Many are those who had the privilege of knowing our dear parents, through our father’s efforts in spreading Judaism, from the thousands of students our mother educated at Beis Rivka and Beis Yaakov, and from the many who benefited from their acts of charity, kindness, and hospitality.

“It presents a living and fascinating description of the deeds of our beloved parents, and we are certain that all who come across the book will find it deeply interesting and will adopt valuable lessons from their inspiring life stories and good deeds.”

The book has generated great interest among the thousands of Mrs. Zelda’s former students around the world, who remember her as their “teacher for life,” as well as among the extended family members—families such as Feibushner, Kaminsky, Gopin, Rivkin, Levin, and all the descendants of the Chassidic town of Klimovitch.

The book was published in an exquisite and impressive edition. It contains 300 pages in full color and is accompanied by a long collection of beautiful photographs of the Rebbe, fascinating and valuable historical documentation, and more.

The new book is now available at Kehot in Kfar Chabad and “Heichal Menachem” in Jerusalem and will soon be available at bookstores in Crown Heights.