Mrs. Adele Springer, a longtime Crown Heights resident and wife of the renowned chossid Rabbi Itche Springer, passed away on Friday, 20 Teves.

She was 85.

They merited that the Rebbe himself officiated as Mesader Kiddushin at their wedding.

Prior to the wedding, which took place on Rosh Chodesh Tammuz 5719, R’ Itche entered Yechidus and asked the Rebbe to officiate. The Rebbe replied that it depended on the Kallah’s father—specifically, if he would take it upon himself to grow a beard.

At that time, the Rebbe’s agreement to officiate was often conditional on specific commitments, such as growing a beard. When her father initially hesitated, arguing that a beard was fitting only for Talmidei Chachamim, R’ Itche declared to his future father-in-law, “If the Rebbe doesn’t come to the Chupa, neither will I.”

Her father ultimately agreed, and the Rebbe officiated. Later, when her father entered Yechidus and told the Rebbe that he had decided to grow a beard only because the Rebbe had requested it, the Rebbe replied, “Not because I asked, but because it is written in Shulchan Aruch.”

She is survived by her children: Rivky Wolf (Crown Heights), Chani Kagen (Crown Heights), Mendel Springer (Italy), Leah Levine (California), Chaya Schildkraut (Brazil), and Chaim Springer (Crown Heights).

The levaya will pass by 770 today at 12:30, followed by kevura at 1:30 pm.

Boruch dayan hoemes