By COLlive reporter
Rebbetzin Shula Shifra Kazen, matriarch of a large Lubavitch family, passed away on Motzai Shabbos Tzav, 17 Adar II, 5779.
She was 96.
Known for her unique and unwavering personality, throughout her life Rebbetzin Kazen steadfastly stood up for Yiddishkeit behind the Iron Curtain, first with her parents, then together with her husband, and then as a legendary Shlucha, building Jewish life in Cleveland, Ohio for over 6 decades.
Born in Russia, Rebbetzin Shula, along with her siblings, survived many hardships and relentless persecution while fighting for survival together with her mother, Rebbetzin Maryasha Shagalov (nee Garelik) obm, after the communists arrested her father, the famed Chosid Reb Yitzchok Elchonon Shagalov obm.
Rebbetzin Shula married Rabbi Zalman Kazen obm, son of the famous heroine Mume Sarah Katznelenbogen and a teacher in the underground yeshiva movement of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. The wedding was held in secret, and the only women there other than the bride were her mother and mother-in-law.
Rebbetzin Kazen’s quick thinking and courage saved her family’s life on more than one occasion. On the train escaping Russia, Shula left her sleeping children with her husband and walked to the next car. When she returned, she saw her husband frozen with fear as the conductor yelled, “These are forged passports!” The conductor had noticed that their daughter Esther’s hair was red, and her passport picture showed a brown-haired little girl.
Wagging her finger at her sleeping daughter, Mrs. Kazen said, “I told her not to play with dye! Now look what happened to her hair.” Miraculously, the conductor accepted that explanation.
In 1953, Rabbi and Rebbetzin Kazen arrived from the Soviet Union, via Paris, in New York City together with their six daughters.
With the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s encouragement, Rabbi and Rebbetzin Kazen and their family settled in Cleveland, Ohio where Rabbi Kazen served as Shochet, Rav, Chazan and Mashpia to hundreds of people.
Together the Kazens served the Cleveland Jewish community for over 6 decades, leading the Zemach Zedek Shul, where their commitment and selflessness became legendary. The couple dedicated their time, effort and resources to help Jews regardless of affiliation. Hundreds of grateful families have fond memories of Rabbi and Rebbetzin Kazen.
She is survived by her children, Mrs. Devorah Alevsky, Cleveland, Mrs. Henya Laine, Brooklyn, Mrs. Bluma Wineberg, Kansas City, Mrs. Rivka Kotlarsky, Brooklyn, Mrs. Rochel Goldman, Johannesburg, and hundreds of grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren across the world.
She was predeceased by her daughter Mrs. Esther Alpern, a pioneer of Jewish life in Brazil, and her son Rabbi YY Kazen, founder of Chabad in cyberspace and Chabad.org.
She is also survived by two sisters; Mrs. Rosa Marosov, Crown Heights and Mrs. Rochel Liberow, Brooklyn.
The levaya will take place Sunday, leaving Shomrai Hadas in Boro Park at 1:30 pm and passing by 770 Eastern Parkway at 2:30 pm.
Shiva will be at 658 Montgomery Street # 1C.
To share memories with the family, email [email protected] .
Baruch Dayan Ha’emes – Shula Shifra bas Yitzchok Elchonon Halevi
Grateful for my few encounters with this very special woman when I spent Shabbos in in the kotlarsky home. Her strong confident advice to raising my children , and myself guided me for many years and now I can see her effects as my children raise their children BH. BDE….
Rebbetzin Kazen was an active doer. She would roll up her sleeves and do community work herself. She herself cooked shul meals for the congregants, and invited others to help. She helped do construction renovation in the Zemach Zedek shul on Lee Rd. She found jobs for Russian immigrants. She used to drive Russian immigrants to appointments. She let college students and immigrants stay at her home. She found shiduchim for singles. She arranged for Russian immigrants to enroll their children in Hebrew day school (immigrants who would have otherwise enrolled their children in public school). She ran the kosher… Read more »
Rebezin Shula kazen z”l
Was a very special kind with tremendous ahavas israel
Always greated people with a smile . She cared about every one . She was the biggest from life !
What a legacy she left after her . Such a nice special family shluchim of the Rebbe in all the corners of the world
Please Rebbezin Kazen please beg Hashem , and the Rebbe to bring moshiach down למטה מעשרה טפחים עכשיו ומיד ממש
והקיצו וירננו שוכני עפר והיא בתוכם בגאולה האמיתית והשלימה עכשיו ומיד ממש
ומעתה אל ורק שנשמע בשורות טובות !!!
Henya escorted her everywhere! To shiurim, fahbrengens, simchas. Her daughters and YY were also strong individuals who were no nonsense and so directed. When I first met Henya I was intimidated, but soon came to value her clarity, strength, and humor tossed in to the Chassidisha cocktail of life! May Bubbe Kazen storm the heavens for all of us.
She should have been around to lead us greet משיח. Everyone whoever entered her dalet amos even on the street felt in awe of her and still somehow connected also. Truly a real dugma chaya who will be dearly missed. Baruch Dayan Emes!
Rebbetzin Kazen was truly an Aishes Chayil, an example of what Lubavitcher women and shluchos should be. Lets all take the lessons that she taught us and finally be the example of what Chabad Lubavitch should be in Middos, tznius and Chasidus. May hashem see all our efforts and finally send Moshiach And the Geula now.
#18 there were three of us and we were one of the couples to get married. How could we have managed without her!!!
BS”D In lamed hei I showed up at Morristown. Within a week some bocharim said we are driving to Cleveland to celebrate 3 Chasinas and I should come. I did not have a suit so in Cleveland bought one. But it needed to be tailored. Guess who did it admidst her arranging the 3 Chasinas. What an impression that left. BDE
‘what a powerhouse she was with a Capital P. they don’t make them like her and her husband Rabbi Kazen anymore. I remember in 1975, when I was getting married, she took me under her wing, and guided me step by step. she was the great Facilitator, and I was like a headless chicken running around without my head. She even brought her Russian friends, to add more simcha to the wedding. she always set the record stratight, no fluff with her. it was always about tachlis. Years later walking down Kingston, I saw her ocassionally. she greeted me as… Read more »
Baruch Dayan Ha’Emes…
What a luminary and special woman!
This is an inspiring glimpse into her story and noble life but sounds like just the tip of the iceberg.
May her neshomo have an Aliyah and her family find comfort and strength from the Aibeshter for their loss. “Hamakom yinachem es’chem b’toch sha’ar aveilei Tziyon v’Yerushalayim!”
It’s difficult to believe that this giant of a woman will not be leading us in olam hazeh to great Moshiach. Whenever we would meet walking on Kingston, she would speak words of Torah during our entire walk. Amazing woman, amazing family.
The Kazans were pivotal in our lives as in the lives of so many in Cleveland and beyond. I never say Tehillim without having Reb. Kazan’s presence in my mind to this day… for only one small fraction of an example of our years with her influence… Ruchy Seligman Mark
Rabbi & Reb Kazen were unique in that they treated everyone as their family. Yes they were the Rabbi & Rebitzin but they cared for each person they came in contact with & helped and advised ( even when not asked!) in all areas of life. Who cannot forget Rabbi Kazen driving around town every morning picking up the yidden to come daven in his shul & who cannot forget the hospitality of Reb Kazen serving her guests at all time of the day & night ( and yes there was no question you were going to eat whatever she… Read more »
So grateful to the Kazens who mekareved my son-in-law’s parents separately and then brought them together – and my daughter’s beshert came to be B”H . Just one of the countless good deeds to the Rebbetzin’s credit!
SHe was like a mother, a grandmother. I remember her from my childhood, from my teen years, from my adulthood. When I became engaged to my present husband my mother was no longer alive so I took him to meet Rebbetzin Kazen and get a brocha from her. DId she give him an earful about how a husband should treat his wife. When visiting Crown Heights we would try and visit her. I still remember going with her and my mother to milk a cow so we would have Cholov Yisroel. I have never davened in a shul like the… Read more »
Boruch Dayan haemes !!! What an אשת חיל she was
She was totally right in everything she tried in the Torah
way and did!!lshem mitzva !
Always with a smile for Ahavas Yisroel. To all!!! She always. Greeted me warmly as I visited her. She was a complete Yiras shomayim woman.ill trully will miss her !!!
But will do more mitzvohs for her till
techiyas hameisim And will bring biyas goel hamoshiach NOW
In her kind and firmness ways in shomayim pleading for
Her gantze mishpocho and friends ad Klal Yisroel
.
our family came from sweden to cleveland via the jewish joint they put our first blankets in 1957/8 as my mother said she remembered the older daughter the ginge(red hair come around for the shabbos groups ), then was the chicken shop coventry poultry where we got fresh chickens from rabbi kazen the schotet at the shop, time went on i left on and fast forward to the year 1976 by divine providence we were reunited with rabbi and mrs kazen ….the general of cleveland…( real match for my holocaust parents )… she was the spokes person for chabad of… Read more »
Along with Rabbi Kazen, A”H, they were mamesh icons, and legends. Last of a generation…Katonti.
-PH
In my 10 years working with Russian refugees at JFSA, I was privileged and honored to witness Rebbitzen Kazen’s tireless devotion on behalf of these lost Jews. She became their home .
Such a special women; always went out of her way to say hello even if you were not in her circle. And her family is a reflection of her ahavas yisroel, May her memory be for a blessing.
Saw her few times here in CH events always classy and elegant woman …real old school . BDE
Words I could write would have no justice for the woman she was. I owe my entire life to this woman. She was my introduction to Lubavitch in Cleveland. When I met her, I said G-d sent you to me. My condolence to her entire dynasty.
Hensha
You would do well writing her biography!!
Wow how you just summed up her incredible character in just 1 paragraph!
Get in touch with the family and you can make a very valuable contribution to the book they are about to publish
WHAT A PERSONALITY
ALWAYS MANAGED TO LIFT EVERYONE’S SPIRITS JUST BY LOOKING AT HER
What a woman. I remember as a counselor in Cleveland the mandatory weekly dinner at her house. She insisted on hosting us. You’d have to eat or else! Incredible stories of Russia, the early (hard) years in Ohio, schlepping to NY to the Rebbe with babies. Then the times she spoke at the Kinus workshops…I’m not quite sure how, but she managed to be inspiring, intimidating, and absolutely hilarious all at once. No nonsense. Old school. A devoted Chassidusteh. An icon. Eizen. And the most entertaining. A 400 page biography would not do her justice. BDE.